> "I'm quite surprised by the blasé attitude the US has to card security."
Currently, if my CC information is stolen, I am not liable for any fraudulent charges. So why would I care?
CC security is for the CC companies and the merchants, not for the consumers. That is why Americans (with the exception of those with Europe Envy or those who are merchants) don't care. There is no reason for them to.
(In past discussions on this, somebody has mentioned that C+P would be beneficial for American consumers because it would mean less confused American tourists in Europe. The typical American does not vacation in Europe very frequently.)
Well, any retailer has to increase their prices by 3% to cover CC charges. Even the simple act of a place insisting on a minimum spend of X on a CC can put you in a situation to spend more than you need to.
You might not think you are paying for card fraud, but it's all priced into the products you buy.
My credit union has absolutely negligible fees and, since I don't carry a balance on my CC, I give them a negligible amount of money as well. The cost of merchant fees passed on to the consumer is not something that I notice and therefore not something that I care about. I really do not have a reason to want C+P.
Currently, if my CC information is stolen, I am not liable for any fraudulent charges. So why would I care?
CC security is for the CC companies and the merchants, not for the consumers. That is why Americans (with the exception of those with Europe Envy or those who are merchants) don't care. There is no reason for them to.
(In past discussions on this, somebody has mentioned that C+P would be beneficial for American consumers because it would mean less confused American tourists in Europe. The typical American does not vacation in Europe very frequently.)