Originally Posted by
Consultette
Regarding my card statement - I was ticked off because I have had to pull out so much cash over the next few days. I am traveling with a swipe debit, chip Amex and swipe Visa.
Unfortunately, the area I am in does not accept any of these cards. American Express I had expected but I have never run into so many problems trying to use my swipe debit. It appears all of them in this part of Amsterdam want chip cards (not American Express) and mainly debit.
Good to know that the tourist areas accept a larger variety of cards. I may need to go there. My hotel and office are in North Amsterdam - I will admit this seems to be about as far as possible from a tourist spot.
I will try searching the internet as well but does anyone know if there is anywhere in Amsterdam where I can buy a prepaid debit card?
I am far from an expert on these things; but the Chip+PIN-Debit system in The Netherlands is AFAIK only compatible with European Chip+PIN-Debit system. I'm pretty certain it would have to be a European based Chip+PIN Debit card.
As a totally unrelated aside, you are a very "brave" person to be using a "swipe debit" while traveling. I wouldn't be able to stomach the possibilities of dealing with a US based checking account being compromised in such a fashion. I'm actually shocked that someone who is traveling internationally would resort to using a swipe debit card; not sure I can see any possible reason it would be a good (aka safe) form of payment.
I feel your pain, but in a general sense, outside of the tourist areas; you are going to have a lot of problems without a European based Chip+PIN-debit card or alternatively a Chip+Pin Mastercard/Visa (where the merchant actually also accepts credit). American Express is definitely the (bad) exception, and as you note, is difficult to rely on as a major card unless you restrict your shopping and dining to high end restaurants and merchants in Amsterdam. (Exception : the supermarket Marqt, which by some miracle accepts Chip+Pin AMEX and all other cards (Chip+Pin) but NO cash)
I do believe, that some merchants can choose to swipe a Visa/Mastercard; but the card in almost all cases has to have a Chip to be accepted.