Originally Posted by
reclusive46
You should ignore the terminal. Although the terminals say Insert card, you can still swipe the card on the magnetic stripe reader. I have experience of this as my UK diners club is still swipe and sign only.
When I tried my United Club card at a TESCO near Hackney, the "insert card" really meant it... The mag reader didn't work.
But yes, I've successfully used my Club card at Fortrum and Masons and other stores.
Originally Posted by
JEFFJAGUAR
The kiosks on the London Underground most assuredly take the archaic American magnetic strip cards as do the main line railroad kiosks.
In Paris, the kiosks run by RATP, the local Paris transit authority most assuredly do take the archaic American cards. However, the kiosks run by SNCF say at CDG for the RER trip into centre-ville (downtown) most assuredly do not.
I have yet to come across a situation in London where one could not use the archaic American cards. Paris is pretty good that way too.
Now, however, try to use your archaic American card in the Netherlands and you will be up the creek without a paddle (or usable credit card which is not chip and pin).
I've had that experience in Norway. In a 7-11 store, each time I swiped, the terminal asks for my PIN (In London and Paris, when I swipe, the terminal will say "signature"). Also got a lesson of "how you Americans can use a CC without a PIN" from the 7-11 manager...
In Paris, at Arc de Triumphe station, my CSP worked at a kiosk near RER A entrance, but didn't at a kiosk near M1 entrance.
But again, the trip was quite DCC-free. In the 100+ times I used my CC in both cities, I only got asked for currency selection for less than 5 times and my choices were all honored, and the rest just charged local currency without any extra input.