Debit/credit card purchases in UK

When we used our MasterCard for a purchase in Glasgow, Scotland, on April 10, ’06, the new machine refused it because there was no “PIN number.” We insisted that the assistant try again and she refused. The manager came over and inserted our card again. The machine then said to enter the last four digits of the card. She did so and the card was accepted.

In the new machines they have for Visa and MasterCard, the card is inserted (as in a hotel door), not swiped. However, on the side of the machine there is a place to swipe the card, so as we repeatedly ran into the problem, we advised the staff to insert the card again or swipe.

Incidentally, we had no trouble in tourist areas. Visitors are their livelihood and the problem was solved fast.

JEAN ANDERSON
Olmsted Township, OH