Chip and Signature Card

It is not a chip and pin card and is not a substitute for the European chip and pin card. It has no advantage in Europe. Automated toll booths can be a problem just carry cash and same for automated gas stations so just use stations with attendants. Be careful on Sunday as fewer stations with attendants are open.

Based on postings here, chip and signature cards sometimes work just fine in automated system, and sometimes they don't. It seems to depend on the way the particular machine works and how they verify PINs. Your card will have a PIN and many times it will work fine once you enter the PIN. But there will be times it won't work. The problem is you'll never know until you try. So always be prepared with cash or use a gas station during regular business hours.

I'm looking for a credit card that can be used to purchase train tickets at the kiosks in train stations. I know the regular US credit card won't work. Does anyone know if the "chip and signature" card will work?

Short answer is no. Read the above responses.

My Andrews Federal Credit Union chip and signature card worked fine in German and Belgium train station kiosks. From what's been reported previously, that's not the case many places in the Netherlands for any US card, mag or chip.

I am finding it is harder to use a swipe card here (England) - especially in some smaller businesses. The chip and signature card works fine in those situations.

@Bets--sorry to correct you, but I have the Andrews Federal Credit Union card too, and it is a true chip-and-PIN card, not just a chip-and-signature card. During the transaction, it defaults to chip-and-sig first, and then switches to chip-and-PIN if the machine won't accept chip-and-sig. I have used my Andrews card in French train ticket machines and the Paris Metro, and it works. I haven't been to Spain with it yet.

My advice is to Mira is to try your Citibank card in Spain but carry cash as a backup.

Indeed, we often use the pin code and sometimes need to sign in shops. Thank you for correcting me.
FWIW in case anyone wants more info on the AFCU card, it has always worked in unmanned gas stations in France, with the pin code.

Glad to hear the buzz re: the AFCU card; I just applied for one and can hardly wait until June to try it out . Last summer' strip to Spain and France was so confusing with my Capital One card working flawlessly in Spain but zilch in France. With 10 years of travels using the Cap1 card I was a bit puzzled and even called the customer service # . USELESS! "everything is fine with your card Mr. Collins" - except that it didn't work! ATMs were an easy plan B but I sure missed using the credit card on the automated lanes of the autoroutes (oh how I missed my EZ Pass) where the lines were very short and speeding thru.

@Craig, Others have reported that the AFCU card does not work on the French autoroutes. I can't say from personal experience because we have a LiberT pass for the French autoroute tolls.

Is it possible to purchase a chip and pin card in the USA? If anyone knows please advise where to purchase one.

French autoroutes have been privatized and are run by different companies. So while your US chip-and-signature card might work on one segment, it might not work on an autoroute in a different part of France. My mag-stripe-only Bank of America card worked on the autoroute between Paris and Normandy last spring--but if they upgrade their machines that could change. Why take the chance? Always have cash as a backup.

For those looking for a true chip-and-PIN card in the US, you can try Andrews Federal Credit Union. You must join a generic consumer organization for free to qualify for credit union membership--their website will take you through the steps.

@ihfox2000,

"Is it possible to purchase a chip and pin card in the USA? If anyone knows please advise where to purchase one."

I believe THIS is the Credit Card that the others are referring to. Note that the card has the "chip" on the left side. You can "purchase one" by contacting Andrews Federal Credit Union. I'm not overly familiar with financial products in the U.S., so other HelpLine members can provide further information on the process to obtain one.

Cheers!

FWIW the October 2013 issue of Money magazine named the Andrews Federal Credit Union Globe Trek Rewards card, the best for using overseas because of the chip-and-pin technology. You can join AFCU by first joining the American Consumer Council. Just go to the ACC website for further information.

If you have a USAA connection, there's is the real deal. I've had one since the day they came out. Don't need it that often, but it's handy. Swipes work almost anywhere there's a human.

You can also get a real chip and PIN card from the State Department Credit Union. You join an affiliate ( I think my brother joined Consumers Union, free) and then can get the card.