Originally Posted by
mcroucher
I've done a search on this site to check discussions on credit card use in Europe and any rejection of cards that don't have a chip in them and there does not seem to have been any mention of this since last summer.
Recently, I've had friends travelling in the UK and in Amsterdam and various areas in France who have had their U.S. $ Visa and Amex cards refused by vendors as the cards did not have the chip in them. Am curious if more travellers may be experiencing this problem recently?
I am aware that vendors are supposed to still accept the other cards but some are not. It has been suggested to carry a printout from the chip and pin website showing vendors are supposed to accept these cards but not sure if there's another alternative.
My local HSBC bank told me when I questioned them about my Visa and Mastercards for upcoming travel they advised me to carry cash in case my cards without the chip were refused! Kind of defeats the purpose of credit cards.
Would appreciate any feedback from other travellers who may have experienced any difficulties with this recently. Also, any problems with Amex cards in Europe if they did not have the chip
Thanks in advance!
The only merchants that don't take the non chip cards are merchants that are solo, switch, electron, maestro, etc card stores. These are not credit cards, they are debit cards. Unless you have a current (checking) account in the country you are traveling you will not have one.
It is the same as merchants in the USA that only accept pin based transactions. Yes I live in the EU 6 months out of the year, so this is not just speculation, but experience.
For these merchants along with the very high % of businesses that are cash only. You will need cash. You can get that without an ATM fee at many bank ATM's (Natwest, HSBC, Bank of Ireland, DB, etc.). The fees will come from your bank if any.