ALTON stores are making the move over to new chip and PIN technology, but some are undecided as to its worth.

Nearly half of the local stores across the country have taken no action to install technology capable of handling chip and PIN payments that are mandatory by the beginning of next year.

A poll of 500 independent retailers recently revealed just how far behind many retailers are in getting their stores ready for the January 1 deadline.

From that date any retailer without the new system in their store is personally liable for any subsequent fraudulent payments.

The poll carried out by trade magazine Independent Retail News across England showed despite the warnings and a high profile campaign to get retailers on board 59 per cent have taken no action and 47 per cent do not expect to meet the deadline.

Checkout captain Tracy Howard, at Alton Sainsbury's, said that chip and PIN would be in use in its store very soon.

"Staff are being trained as we speak," she said, saying that the system should be up and running by November 11.

Sainsbury's head office said: "We have chip and PIN in seven of our stores. Major roll out begins in November it will be in all stores by early 2005."

Keren Cooksey, a spokesperson for Somerfield said: "Somerfield has been working on introducing chip and PIN technology to its stores for a number of years. Its first pilot store went live in August and the technology will be fully rolled out to the 1,200-store estate by the end of November 2004.

"The roll-out began in earnest in mid-September with about 150stores a week being brought online. Staff will be fully trained on the system and two weeks before each store goes live every customer that pays by card will given a leaflet explaining the new system."

Martin Lake, duty manager of Alton Somerfield, told The Herald the store has just started training staff and has had the equipment for a number of weeks. The store deadline for staff training is November 3, with the system "going live" on November 4.

The story seems to be similar with smaller local stores in Alton.

Occasions Jewellers, in the High Street, currently has the hardware for chip and PIN but are yet to receive the software, but will be using the system as soon as that comes in.

The Secret Garden, located in Westbrook Walk, is already using the system and has been doing so for some time. Because it is a smaller store with less terminals it does not have its own operating system. Roy Bryant, store manager, said there was "no difference in cost to us".

Mr Bryant says that one of the only problems encountered with the system is if the customer cannot remember their PIN.

"Nowadays people have got three, four or five credit cards... If they all have different PIN numbers that's hard, but you can change them all to the one number."

Most customers seem to have taken to the change, but the new system can make some people more guarded, he says.

"One, maybe two, think they can see what we're doing, so I say pick it up, hold it close to your chest if you want to, it's not a big problem."

He said that on the whole "most people have taken to it and are happy with it, they think it is more secure.

"People still stand there with a pen waiting to sign," he said. "You get into the habit."

Mr Bryant added: "I'm really pleased with it."

John Ormond, director of Phillips hardware store, said the shop has yet to introduce the system but will do as soon as it has accreditation from the banks.

The decision was made to switch, "because, at the moment if there are any credit card frauds that cost is carried by the credit card companies. But if, after January 2005 you are not using chip and PIN, the retailer will bare the cost of the fraud, not the card companies."

Training will take place in-house with computer software technicians training senior members of staff, who will then train other members of staff.

Mr Ormond said on the subject of cost: "It is a lot of work and it is very expensive, the cost to us runs into several thousand pounds.

"It costs around £500 for each pad, and we have five terminals and then you've got the software costs, it's going to work out to be three or four or five thousand pounds for us."

He believes this is because the store owns its own equipment. "Some retailers will rent terminals from the bank and banks will cover the cost through the rental charges."

He said the decision to change over "comes down to an individual assessment of the risks".

Because Phillips is a large store, stocking electrical goods, it has made the decision it will be worth changing over.

Woolworth's also became active this week, and Between The Lines, located on Market Street, has been using the system as far back as April.

Manager Kate Harvey said: "It needed doing, so we did it."

However, Natalie Kempster, assistant manager of Clinton Cards, told The Herald the store currently has no plans to switch. Its computer system is too old and the store would need to buy new tills, she said.

The Big Balloon Company also has no current plans to switch, as do Oddbins and The Co-op.