Train Ticket purchase using MasterCard at oui.sncf and trainline.eu websites -- a problem?

Why not try it and find out? If you can't use your card anywhere, then try Paypal.

Trainline has not been a problem, but I have not bought any lately.

Paypal´s charges on international transactions hover around 3% if I remember correctly which is why I avoid it.

You should be sure that you have registered with either SecureCode or Verified by Visa before you attempt a purchase with SNCF, Trainline, or LoCo2.

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Paypal defaults to DCC (Dynamic Currency Conversion), but you can turn it off on each individual card you register - so if you register a credit card with Paypal, then opt out of the DCC (forget how but I did it last May), you are subject only to the foreign transaction fee (if any) of your credit card.

Sometimes I have issues using my own debit card on the SNCF website and have to call the company to tell them the charge is coming. I go to France about twice a year, and it's no longer a problem.
When I use my credit card, I rarely have problems.

(My original post was as "ajenson" - now am acady.) Thanks for the replies. I had a long discussion with PayPal and was told it was not possible to suspend the DCC fee unfortunately. So will incur a fee if I reserve using PayPal. Am in the process of trying to get a Secure Code on my MasterCard.

I bought a train ticket online in the U.S. a couple of years ago for train travel in England and could not print out the ticket at home, was told to come to the ticket office at the train station. It did seem to be some issue with my credit card, which they needed to see. Trying to avoid that again by not using a card that might not be accepted. That's why I am not just going to "try it and see what happens" as I fear I may not be able to complete the transaction.

To those of you who have used credit cards and been able to printout an E-ticket at home, do you have this three-digit MasterCard Secure Code or a Verified by Visa code? Sorry if it looks like I am over-thinking this! Thanks Ann.

Here's how to opt out of Paypal's DCC (yes, you can - the rep was wrong, at least for US accounts):

https://www.ogbongeblog.com/2016/10/cancel-paypal-dynamic-currency-conversion-dcc.html

I just checked again and the options are still there in my account for my cards in Paypal.

was told to come to the ticket office at the train station. It did seem to be some issue with my credit card, which they needed to see

That is standard operating procedure for collecting train tickets in the UK. You have to present the actual card used to make the purchase, even if it expired or was cancelled in the meantime. It is so nobody else gets your tickets.

Andrew H - Thanks so much! I just followed the instructions and suspended the DCC on Pay Pal. I appreciate your providing the info! Ann

I've had no problem purchasing French train tickets on SNCF with my credit card from home. After I book, I store all the information on my calendar (in my phone) and make sure I bring the card I used to purchase the tickets. When you get to the station, there are lots of ticket kiosks. They aren't much different than using the boarding pass kiosk at an airport. You tell it you want to print your ticket, it asks for your credit card (I'm thinking I also have the option to use my reservation code and last name), then prints your ticket.

The one problem I have had is thinking a ticket is good for one train when it's actually good for a period of time. I've been corrected, but not fined, for not validating my ticket. The conductor showed me where to look on the ticket. If it says "good from..." or something along that line, it needs to be validated.

Edit: Adding the last tickets I've purchased from home are Paris to Lyon, Sept. 2017, and Paris to Auxerre, Strasbourg to Reims, Reims to Paris, Paris to Le Havre and Le Havre to Paris in May 2017.

I bought tickets on Trainline a few days ago with no problems, as long as I could remember my Verified by Visa password (and it took a few tries). Just make sure you get your MasterCard SecureCode set up first.

Brad - Thanks for your email, but per the Rick Steves guidebook, I should be able to print out a ticket at home and carry that piece of paper with me, not find a kiosk and get the ticket the day of travel. I am afraid that my MasterCard will only work in the way you describe, so I am going to try PayPal, which is what the RS book suggests and apparently allows for an E-ticket to be printed at home. Thanks though. Ann

Bought two sets of tickets on SNCF Oui last month using a Chase Sapphire Reserve VISA, printed them out at home. No problems. Had to put in the 3-digit code from the back of the card.

Just a note to thank everyone who has replied! I appreciate the information and the support it provides! Ann.