Chase "Blink" Credit Cards

RFID based wireless credit cards are not widely used in Europe. The "blink" feature will be effectively useless, although the magstripe on the back will still work just fine.

"...The "blink" feature will be effectively useless..." Not true. Paypass (blink) is in widespread use in the UK and Switzerland. MasterCard is currently expanding the feature in other euro countries. Some of my favorite merchants in London use it like Pret A Manger, and Boots. Just grab a sandwich, press my Chase debit card against the reader and I'm on my way. I've also used it in Istanbul, Hong Kong, and Tokyo.

I don't use the technology so haven't experienced it first hand but I can say that most places in the UK that serve fast food or nearly fast food offer a tap the card on the reader process, and some are branching out to tapping a phone on the reader. I saw it some in Switzerland and may have seen it at a McD in Freiberg im Breisgow.

I don't have a Chase "Blink" card nor any other card that has this ability. But in London (before the Olympics), we were asked if we had such a card as we were paying at many different kinds of establishments. One place almost wouldn't even let us pay with a credit card because it didn't have this ability. So, London, and I suspect many other places are using this more and more. I will try to get one of these cards before I travel overseas again so I don't get "stuck" without enough cash and a "useless" credit card. I hope this helps.

I have 3 Chase credit cards and 2 chase debit cards and never heard of "Blink". Is it the Chase Sapphire Preferred?

Only a few places in London support the RFID technology - where the card is just tapped on the reader. I've never known any place to deny me, or try to deny me, because my card doesn't have RFID. Is it possible, Julie, that the technology you don't have on your card is the Chip and Pin system, and it was the missing Chip and Pin was what caused the clerk to give you a hard time before you convinced them to swipe the card? More and more places are expecting Chip and Pin only and are very reluctant to swipe... RFID usually has a very low limit, usually £5, but sometimes as high as £15.

Many (not all) card issuers impose a charge for every foreign transaction. Using "blink" technology for small purchases in Europe (and Canada) could be costing you two or three dollars every time. That's an expensive way to save a tiny bit of time.