A new UK programme to combat credit and debit card fraud was not expected to impact foreign travellers when it became mandatory in the UK this morning, according to a spokesman for the UK?s Chip and PIN Programme.

Banks, building societies, retailers, card schemes and card companies joined forces to combat crime by introducing the new smart chip equipped cards.

Where UK consumers traditionally signed receipts to verify credit and debit card transactions, as of today holders of the new cards will instead key in their secret four-digit personal identification number (PIN) to complete their transaction.

Programme organisers have however stated that signatures will continue to be the norm for holders of foreign cards or UK cards which have yet to be upgraded to chip and PIN.

Paul Smith from the British Retail Consortium said: ?We want to strongly dispel the myth that old style cards should not be accepted after February 14. Although we believe there have been some isolated incidents where a small number of customers have been turned away because they have old style cards this should not have happened.?

A spokesman for the programme however told this newspaper that his group is still trying to educate ?a few retailers who are slightly confused? about the new programme. If any foreigner holding a signature-only card is asked by a UK businesses to key in a PIN, the spokesman said the cardholder should remain vigilant and point out that their own country still relies on signatures.

UK merchants still have ability to swipe old style cards and in these cases the PIN pad will automatically recognise that a signature rather than a PIN is required.

Spokespersons for the local banks are also confident that Bermuda debit and credit cards which use magnetic strips will not be affected by this change and will continue to be accepted at all merchants, ATMs and banks.

Edward E. Benevides, senior vice president and head of Card Services at Capital G Bank, said however that to assist in preventing fraud regardless of geographical region, cardholders must sign the back of their cards and inform their bank of any travel plans or expected large purchases.

While there is a global move to combat fraud by replacing signatures with CHIPS and PINS, Mr. Benevides said: ?MasterCard and Visa continue to review the global payment systems and will determine on a regional basis when to move to chip and pin based cards.?