In message
, at
05:56:21 on Tue, 27 Oct 2009, martin
remarked:
On every attempt, my card wasn't even recognised - not even with a
'card not accepted' beep. I've had no trouble using it in the UK. I
wonder if the north American readers are different?

They are either different, or every one you encountered was broken.
Which is more likely?
--
Roland Perry