Fewer than half of UK retailers are using the chip and PIN system for processing card transactions according to a survey conducted by payments software vendor Retail Logic.
A survey of 498 retailers across ten randomly selected towns and cities conducted after the Janury 1st liability shift found that 51% had not yet implemented chip and PIN technology.
Only 38% of retailers in Oxford were using chip and PIN, while less than half of retailers in Reading (47%) and Southampton (49%) were using the system. Farnham topped the table with 62% of retailers taking chip and PIN payments.
The stores visited in each town ranged from small retailers to the large national chains. Mark McMurtrie, marketing director, Retail Logic, says: "What was disappointing was the number of familiar high street names that are clearly still some months away from completing their rollouts."
Retail Logic says overall smaller retailers appear to be well-catered for with bank-owned terminals, although a number complained that their installations were either not yet connected or they were experiencing operational difficulties including slow transaction times.
McMurtrie says the survey found that mid tier retailers remain exposed and have held back from implementing chip and PIN due in part to a lack of integrated systems suitable for them.
The research also found that some larger operations still have incomplete installations across their estate.