Enable Your PIN Before You Travel

Enable Your PIN & PAY Before You Travel

Hey, here are some important travel tips about money that you should take note of before you leave the country. When I travel, carrying money is a balancing act between safety and utility. I wonder how many of us still carry a stash of cash when we travel? It's always wise to carry both cash and credit cards. However, I always keep my cash for those small miscellaneous expenses and use card to pay my major bills. For those who use card, do you know that you have to remember your PIN when you travel overseas? Please take note that before you leave for your holiday don’t forget to enable your payment cards’ PIN to avoid inconvenience for your overseas transactions.

Enable Your PIN Before You Travel

Carrying too much cash with us is a risk regardless of whether we are in Malaysia or overseas; what if we lose our purse, get pick-pocketed or robbed. When I travel, I usually change enough currencies for those small miscellaneous expenses such as taxi, train ticket, street food etc. For the major bills like hotel, shopping and restaurants, I will use my credit or debit card to pay. Do you practice the same? 

I have enabled my Visa card PIN way before I travel to Japan

During my recent trip to Tokyo mainly for Tokyo Marathon 2017, I did quite a lot of shopping at the Tokyo Marathon expo after I collected my race kit and also at ASICS Flagship Store and some boutiques at Harajuku. It’s hard to resist, lucky I have my Visa credit card with me. There are lots of sales, great bargains and innovative Japanese products that are not available in Malaysia at Tokyo Marathon Expo. I purchased the items that I always wanted and wished for before I regret. 

Shopping at ASICS Flagship Store Ginza

Oh yes! I am glad I enabled my PIN on my payment cards way before my trip because some of the overseas retailers and merchants only accept PIN, no more signature required during the transaction. There is no hassle for all my purchases and transactions when I am in Japan. 

Shopping at Tokyo Marathon Expo 2017, The Big Sight

Remember to enable your PIN on your Visa cards before you travel, it only takes a few minutes of your time and then you can enjoy hassle free domestic or overseas trips. Just call or visit your nearest local bank, enable your PIN and enjoy smooth payments during your trip. 

In a nutshell, PIN & PAY is a secure method of payment that uses a PIN or 6-digit secret code, instead of your signature to authorize payment. It is a nation-wide project to migrate from signature to PIN as the standard for verifying for all card purchases. As per Bank Negara Malaysia’s mandate, all banks have switched their payment cards from Chip & Sign to Chip & PIN since June 2016. Most retailers have already migrated to PIN & PAY since 1st January 2017. 

At Tokyo Marathon Expo 2017, The Big Sight

How to use your PIN-enabled card?

At the POS hand your Visa card to the cashier; they will swipe or insert your card it in the terminal; wait for the prompt; key in your PIN and press enter. Collect your receipt and products. It’s done and you are ready to go. Payment via PIN is hassle free. 

For more information about PIN & PAY please visit 
http://www.visa.com.my/personal/features/pinandpay.shtml

*The views expressed here are my own and do not represent views of Visa and associated companies