and wonder if it is worth activating it and calling the bank again to tell them now I have a new card going to France. Leaving in 2 days, don't really need more running around to do.
Basically asking if the 2 magnetic stripe only ATM cards I have will work in France just fine, that chip capability offers no access advantage.
In past years (I have not been to France for over a year) I have found that the chipped cards are accepted more places in France. Peter
I don't know what you mean by "places." I would only use it at an ATM.
won't you use it to buy things, either contactless or with the chip and PIN?
No, because it charges for that, 3% I think. It's my back-up ATM card for travel, not primary, the one I use at home.
I use a credit card for buying things, with chip.
Mag stripe ATM cards are guaranteed to be accepted at bank operated ATMs through 2020.
What does that mean? Well, if you use the convenient cash dispenser you find in a bar, coffee shop, or similar place that has no recognizable bank affiliation, you might be out of luck (and you probably will get charged extra fees or a bad rate by the operator of that machine). On the other hand, if you use an ATM you find either inside a bank lobby or immediately outside with that bank's logo on it, your mag stripe card will work and you will pay the lowest cost to get cash. Of course, you should notify your bank of your travel plans before departing.
So to actually answer the question, it doesn't matter if your card has the stripe or the chip (and especially not if it does the wavy thing) if all you might use it for in your travels is to get cash from an ATM as long as the expiration date is NOT during the time you will be traveling.
Thanks Mark, that's what I need to know.
I have contacted both banks already, one via phone the other online since if I call they chastise me for not doing it online. I can't contact the credit card company anymore since they no longer take travel alerts, they say "they will know" if the charges are mine which mostly means that they will put the charge in pending status and send an email asking for my approval, at least for the first one.
I would just add that if you are driving, it will be very difficult to get gas with your card if it only has a magnetic stripe. Most gas stations are unmanned, and they require a chip and PIN to be able to complete your purchase.
We will have credit cards with chips. We won't use the unmanned stations, been there, tried that.
Tom - I think a lot of people didn't read your post carefully and think you were asking about a credit card. That is why you were getting weird answers about not being able to use it for purchases and gas stations, etc...
The magnetic strip ATM card will work just fine in ATM machines.
I have both US and French accounts. I got the same response about my new wavy-chip card as you did, when I called the bank.
