Chip and PIn has been around on the continent for many years now. I lived in Amsterdam for several years and the only way to pay is by "PIN". In the UK we are now rolling out Chip an PIN which is why you will frequently be asked to enter your PIN number into a crdit card machine. I am currently rolling out 18,000 chip and PIN machines for my business.
If you do not have a chip on your card you can request one from your bank and have it activated. All banks are required to send out new cars with chips. My own bank has been using them for about a year. Once you have a chip and have had it activated then it will work on the continent.
If you get asked to sign a reciept by a retailer after you have entered a PIN tell him it is not required. There should not even be a line for signature on the reciept.
I would however be interested in how you get the Total credit card as well as my enquiries went unanswered as well!!