Friday, October 17, 2014, President Obama signed into law the Chip and Pin Technology as antidote to America's fast-growing crime---financial fraud and identity theft. To add glitter and to illustrate for more dramatic impact the newly-signed executive order, the U.S. president shared an unlikely story where, according to him, his credit card was not accepted in a downtown Manhattan restaurant in New York City where he brought First Lady Michelle Obama for dinner date. It's like saying the president of the United States also goes through the same credit card scrutiny like any American.
"I was trying to explain to the waitress, 'No really, I think that I've, uh, been paying my bills.' So even I'm affected by this," the president reportedly said.
Enforcement of the new credit card law requires a new embossed credit card with password and PIN code for all government cards issued with personal data available online. This order goes with new machines that will read the new type of credit card that uses an embedded microchip and a PIN code to authorize transactions. This chip and pin cards will hopefully make it much more difficult for hackers to make counterfeit credit cards from stolen card information. Any data found questionable will be immediately sent to the nationwide Internet Fraud Alert System.
This chip and pin card technology will be introduced by credit card companies October 2015.
Meanwhile, everybody is guessing the supposed dinner date happened at Estela on E. Houston Street. The President and First Lady were joined in by trusted senior official Valerie Jarrett. Accordingly, they feasted on burrata with salsa verde and bread, two endive salads, tomatoes and croquettes.
It is said the posh diner's co-owner Dan Barber is a close associate of Sam Kass, who is the Obama's personal chef. During Kass's wedding in August 30, the presidential family was among her guest list.
Given this information, it is quite improbable that the said restaurant would question the president of the United States' paying ability on account of his credit card because the person giving it might just be one of his impersonators making a prank and dating another impersonator. Whatever. Maybe the illustration is successful to justify the new credit card law.
