Over the past two years, card issuers have been replacing credit and debit cards in the UK with the ones that include an embedded chip. But from this year, you may find yourself unable to spend your money, unless you have a chip and pin card.

Chip and Pin may sound to any common man like tiny animated duo, trying to fight off the bad guys. But, in reality many people are less than impressed by this gift of technology.

Chip and Pin cards have been introduced in an attempt to stem the tide of card fraud, which reached 252m in the first six months of 2004. Some 127m chip and pin cards were dispatched by the end of January 2006. Some 13m cards are yet to be upgraded and customers without the same would be able to sign.

Ironically, these cards are so effective that some people are unable to spend their own money at retail counters. The chip cards, common in mainland Europe are more secure than the rest because they carry a computer chip which cannot be easily copied and requires a personal identification number (pin) to be tapped rather than a signature, which can be forged.

Consumer groups have warned that the introduction of the chip and pin cards done on the Valentines Day was pregnant with muddle and confusion. They have accused high street banks and card providers of failing to publicize the chip and signature alternatives for the elderly and the disabled, plus also have gone to state that some stores are giving out misleading information about the changes.

A spokesperson (card payment association) stated that if people are finding it difficult to use the number they are sent at random; they can go to a cash vending machine and change it to the one that is easy for them to remember.