The deadline for all of us to use our Personal Identification Number along with our Chip and Pin Cards is rapidly approaching.

After February 14^th all chip and PIN cardholders must use their PIN to be sure they can pay with their chip and PIN card.

Many people are already using their PIN, but a few who are not will have difficulty making transactions after the deadline. Sandra Quinn, from the Chip and PIN Programme said: "The countdown has begun but the only people who need to be aware of it are the minority of those with chip and PIN cards who are not using their PINs."

"They really need to get ready if they want to be sure of using their card after 14 February."

If a cardholder is unsure of their PIN they should contact their card company now who will issue a reminder. If a cardholder is finding it difficult to remember their PIN they can change it to a more memorable number at any cash machine. And if they find that their card has become locked they should contact their card company who will advise them on how to unlock it.

However, the Programme is also reminding cardholders and retailers that there are a number of important exceptions who will continue to sign even after February 14th:

• cardholders with any cards which have yet to be upgraded to chip and PIN
• cardholders with cards from countries that have yet to upgrade
• disabled cardholders who have a chip and signature card

In all of the above cases the PIN pad will automatically recognise that a signature rather than a PIN is required.

Latest figures show that by the end of 2005, 99% of cardholders in the UK (41.5 million cardholders) had at least one chip and PIN card in their wallet. In total 127 million chip and PIN cards have been issued since the beginning of the rollout in October 2003 (64 million debit cards and 63 million credit cards).

Over 80% of tills in the UK are now upgraded to chip and PIN and since the beginning of the rollout 770,000 tills in shops, pubs, restaurants and petrol stations have been upgraded to accept chip and PIN cards.