Problem? USAA Switches from Mastercard to Visa
Oct 26, 2015 | 4:35 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2010
Posts: 241
Problem? USAA Switches from Mastercard to Visa
I just learned that USAA will be eliminating Mastercard and forcing all members to switch over to Visa cards. How well received is Visa around the world vs. Mastercard? In other words: will this be a problem?? Thank you
Oct 26, 2015 | 6:07 pm
#2
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I've always found them to be pretty equal as regards acceptance.
M/C is reported to give the better exchange rate for most currencies.
M/C is reported to give the better exchange rate for most currencies.
Oct 26, 2015 | 6:13 pm
#3
Join Date: Nov 2013
Posts: 93
I have never seen a merchant take MC but not Visa. I have seen the reverse numerous times especially in Africa, but MC is catching up.
Oct 26, 2015 | 8:34 pm
#4
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As this Q. is far more a credit card question than about travel, please follow as the thread moves to the appropriate credit card forum. Ocn Vw 1K, Moderator, TravelBuzz.
Oct 26, 2015 | 9:36 pm
#6
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Sam's Club takes MC and AmEx but not Visa, IIRC. And Costco will soon be Visa only. Other than those, both are accepted the vast majority of the time.
Oct 27, 2015 | 12:33 am
#7
Join Date: Jan 2015
Posts: 1,112
As an ardent user of USAA, this is going to be...interesting.
But yeah, to answer the question, most places that take MasterCard take Visa. I have seen one ATM in Germany where they only accepted MasterCard, though.
But yeah, to answer the question, most places that take MasterCard take Visa. I have seen one ATM in Germany where they only accepted MasterCard, though.
Oct 27, 2015 | 2:46 am
#8
Join Date: Nov 2012
Posts: 3,537
Remember that Visa gives worse exchange rates than the other networks almost 100% of the time. Visa rates have a buy/sell spread. MasterCard rates don't. So the odds of Visa being in your favour are exceptionally low (though non-zero).
Oct 27, 2015 | 3:17 am
#9
Join Date: Jan 2015
Posts: 1,112
And I've had a situation where a Mastercard exchange rate was worse than Visa (although this was less than a quarter of a percent). Many people do not realize that Mastercard implements a currency conversion fee and a cross border fee, totaling around 1.1%. This charge is passed on to banks who often pass it to customers. Because they didn't implement the fee, the banks are still able to advertise their cards as no foreign transaction fee. There's a thread on this forum about it.
Oct 27, 2015 | 5:46 am
#10
Join Date: Oct 2013
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You are right about the Illinois DMV. Talk about a pain to find that out after you wait in line.
Oct 27, 2015 | 8:55 am
#11
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Problem? USAA Switches from Mastercard to Visa
I don't know what USAA is, but Visa is the most widely accepted credit card in the world.
Oct 28, 2015 | 5:24 pm
#12
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There are more Visa cards issued then MasterCard but acceptance is equal
Nov 25, 2016 | 11:41 pm
#13
Join Date: Jan 2005
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Received a replacement for my expiring USAA MC and was pleasantly surprised to see it was still a MC w/ 2021 exp date.
I was fully expecting it to be a Visa card based on the information provided by the USAA website.
Crossing my fingers that they won't be sending out a Visa to me any time soon, as this is the only MC I have w/o FTF.
I was fully expecting it to be a Visa card based on the information provided by the USAA website.
Crossing my fingers that they won't be sending out a Visa to me any time soon, as this is the only MC I have w/o FTF.
Nov 26, 2016 | 8:30 am
#14
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But Visa cards issued in the USA are accepted less than Mastercards at some unattended kiosks in Europe, because Visa cards issued in the USA generally don't have PIN capability on a chip purchase, yet some unattended kiosks in Europe (including self-serve gas stations, parking lots, etc) require a PIN for a chip card purchase (and don't accept a non-chip card either).
So unless USAA is going to make an exception and support PIN for purchases on its Visa card, this may result in a bit of decreased acceptance in Europe.
For more on PIN vs signature on chip cards, please see:
Nov 26, 2016 | 2:39 pm
#15
Join Date: Sep 2015
Location: flyover country
Posts: 2,855
My questions are motivated by the situation where I have a Visa and a Mastercard, and the Visa pays a greater reward than the Mastercard. What is the break-even point?
Thanks for any insight.