Chip Card

I don't believe there are any American banks offering the chip cards yet. And you don't need one. You can use regular old ATM cards (or ATM/check cards) in any ATM. It has been reported here that you might have a problem making purchases with a debit card, but in most cases that would work, too.

The only US card that provides chip cards is American Express. But the catch 22 is that AE isn't widely accepted in Europe, and they only issue credit cards, not debit cards.

While there are a few merchants that won't accept our magnetic strip cards, most do. All ATMs are able to accept magnetic cards as well.

"All ATMs are able to accept magnetic cards as well." Not exactly true, although most do. And this has never been a show-stopper, but at most, a mild inconvenience.

There may be one or two ATMs that will not take the strip but I have yet to find it. We just spent 33 days traveling from Amsterdam to Athens to Rome and home and every ATM worked the first time. I think it is very safe to say all ATMs will take the strip.

I suspect that some people have used certain ATM machines, and their card was rejected because of some temporary network issues, and then erroneously blamed it on the chip issue.

What I think I do is fail to study the logo on the ATM machine to make sure it matches the one on my card (or else I stick the thing in wrong as I sometimes due at home). In any case, either another card or a machine on the next corner works just fine. The only other problem I've come across is that the little portable machines they bring to the table might not take a CC, but keying it in at the desk resolves the issue. It's really a huge problem: in a month-long trip it might slow me down as much as two or three minutes.

Here's a chilling thought. Maybe the US banks are waiting until the European banks require the chip cards, then, considering their propensity for hidden fees, they will start issuing them, for a fee. You want a chip card for Europe. That will be a $100 fee (per year). Of course, you don't need one for this country, so they can still advertise a "free" ATM card.

I just got back from Paris and Amsterdam, and I had no problems with my non-chip debit card at restaurants or hotels. Even restaurants where they bring those wireless terminals to the table to process your card worked fine. They simply swipe the card, and it prints a charge slip, which you sign.

I did try my debit card at at train ticket machine in Amsterdam, but that didn't work. I had to go to the ticket office to buy a ticket.

Here's a chilling thought. Maybe the US banks are waiting until the European banks require the chip cards, then, considering their propensity for hidden fees, they will start issuing them, for a fee. You want a chip card for Europe. That will be a $100 fee (per year). Of course, you don't need one for this country, so they can still advertise a "free" ATM card.

I doubt Euro banks will ever "ban" magnetic strip cards outright, but I read an article somewhere a few months ago. The article quoted a US banking industry executive, and he said that while there are no short or long term plans among banks or merchants in the US to adopt chip cards, most of the big banks will eventually issue them to their elite customers who have a lot of cash in the accounts and do a lot of international travel.

Not entirely related, but I have a wireless RFID PayPass chip debit card. PayPass is also being used in the UK and Switzerland. I'm happy to report that I was able to to use my PayPass card in both places this year. In London, Boots, Pret A Manger, and Yo Sushi, all had readers for Paypass. It's was fantastic to just pick up a sandwich and beverage at Pret place my wallet on top of the reader (no pin or signiture required), and not have to fumble with bills, or coins. In Switzerland the only merchant I found that accepted paypass was McDonalds, but I still needed to sign for my transaction, which kind of defeats the purpose of the technology.

Jonathan,

One place where "chip & PIN" cards are required is the automated ticket machines at Paris / CDG. These will only accept the newer credit cards along with Euro coins. It's possible to purchase tickets at the staffed office with "magnetic stripe" credit cards, but there can be LONG queues at times.

Using the ticket machines with a "chip & PIN" credit card seems to be a bit "hit & miss". On my last trip, the first machine I tried wouldn't work at all (even though I'd seen other travellers using it successfully), but the second machine I tried worked well.

Cheers!

I make it a practice to always pay cash in Europe (which I get at an ATM without any fees). The only exception - I arrived at the DB station in Freilassing in August. The only ticket automat only took plastic. I had to put €2,10 for across the river to Salzburg on my credit card (@1%).