The Stanford travel chip cards contain a small embedded microchip that has the capacity to store information in a secure manner. When making a purchase with a chip reader or a cash withdrawal at an ATM (if chip-enabled), the chip is used to authorize and complete the transaction. Chip technology is prevalent outside of the U.S. and used in over 130 countries.
Cardholders will enjoy greater acceptance when using their Stanford travel chip card, particularly if they are making purchases outside of the U.S.
A chip card adds a layer of security by requiring the chip to produce a unique code for every chip transaction — further protecting the card from unauthorized use. This process makes chip card information more difficult to steal and therefore more difficult to counterfeit.
No; this is a contact-only card. Cardholders will not be able to "tap" to make a purchase. (Examples of contactless technology include PayPass, NFC, RFID, and Apple Pay.)
Instead of swiping the card at a merchant card reader, the cardholder will insert the card into the chip reader. The attendant will likely ask them to sign a receipt to complete the transaction.
If the merchant has a traditional, non-chip reader, the transaction will be completed with a card swipe and a signature. If the cardholder is using self-service (unattended) chip readers, the cardholder will insert the card into the chip reader and may be prompted to enter their PIN into the keypad to complete the transaction.
Internet or over-the-phone (card-not-present) transactions will work as they do today. The cardholder will not enter their PIN, nor will he or she sign.
After the card is activated and the PIN is set, we recommend cardholders complete their first two chip transactions at a chip reader where an attendant is available to sync the PIN to their card, as these chip readers typically have the needed connectivity.
If a cardholder goes to a self-service terminal for their first chip transaction (i.e., PIN has not been synced), he or she may be prompted to enter their PIN several times.
Cardholders are encouraged to program the phone number on the back of their chip card into their mobile device so that it is immediately available in an emergency. Any time a card does not work, cardholders can call the phone number on the back of their card.
If a cardholder loses their chip card, he or she will need to report it as lost or stolen by calling the telephone number on the back of their card. Cardholders are encouraged to program the phone number on the back of their chip card into their mobile device so that it is immediately available in an emergency. You can also contact or call Stanford Travel (1-800-718-4413) if you lose your card. A replacement chip card with a new account number will be issued. The cardholder must call to activate the card and set / confirm their PIN once the new card is received.
Cardholders will be asked to set a PIN when they call to activate their chip card. They should follow the automated telephone prompts to ensure they have set their PIN before ending the call.
Cardholders should call the number on the back of their card if they have trouble setting their PIN. The customer service representative will activate the card and transfer the cardholder to the automated system to set their PIN.
If the cardholder is unable to answer their security questions to validate their identity, he or she will be advised to call the Stanford Travel Card Administration (1-650-723-2772) for assistance.
Cardholders can reset or confirm their PIN by calling the number on the back of the card and following the prompts. After resetting their PIN, the cardholder may need to enter their PIN multiple times in order for the chip readers to recognize their PIN.
Yes, cardholders will keep their account numbers, and card usage will not be disrupted. Any exceptions to this will be discussed with the Stanford Travel Card Administration via phone (1-650-723-2772) or email (travelcardadmin@stanford.edu).
Yes, cardholder expiration dates will likely change during your conversion to chip cards. Here are two scenarios where this may occur:
If a cardholder is receiving a new chip card at the time of their original expiration date, the new chip card will have the extended / new expiration date.
If a cardholder is receiving a new chip card before their original expiration date, he or she will likely receive an extension of their expiration date to minimize impact (e.g., avoid the cardholder having to receive multiple cards in a short timeframe).
Any exceptions to this will be discussed with the Stanford Travel Card Administration.
What is a chip card?