Why is it when using a Chip ?n? Pin credit card in all the supermarkets that I know, having correctly authenticated the purchase with the credit card pin, I have to show my ID card (which, soon I won?t have) and to add insult to injury I have to sign?  Is there a cultural problem here or am I missing the point.

this happens with your credit card too though right? I’d imagine its the unfamiliarity with pin based systems in spain- they probably don’t realize its unnecessary yet.

Where I live, it?s disastrous.  There are still a large number of shops that just don?t accept payment via any type of card.  Those that do don?t understand how the ?dat?fono? works and don?t understand the significance of the PIN.  All this often makes for some frustrating, embarrassing moments especially when you?ve just dined for ?250 and the waitress comes back and tells you that your card has been rejected, when in reality it?s just telling her to insert the card in the slot that reads the chip.

O so right!!!  I love Spain but why o why does their government not get their economy going for all???  The credit card thing is just one aspect.  I now only expect El Corte Ingles to accept cards. 

In my village over half my transactions are in the black economy.  And the authorities not only do nothing to stop it, they seem to go out of their way to encourage it.

Long live the Republic (I can say that, mi pueblo es Candas en Asturias)

Both local and central government are very happy with the way things are:

1)  They start work at 08:30
2)  They stop at 9:00 for breakfast
3)  They return at 11:00 and work until 13:00 when they stop for ?un cortado? and a smoke.
4)  They return at 13:30 to work through until 15:00 or 14:00 in the summer.
5)  And tomorrow they?re taking the day off ?un d?a de asuntos propios? just before the ?carnavales? and then they?re on holiday for a month.

Love live the ?funcionarios?.