So far, I have had good luck with using my American credit cards at ATMs in Europe and the UK. They usually work fine in expensive boutiques as well. I keep hearing how American magnetic strip credit and debit cards will not work unless they are "chip and pin." Does anyone know of any bank or credit card company that offers this type of credit card in the U.S.?
Posted by
New Paltz, NY
9101 posts
No financial institution in the US offers chip & pin cards. The story that magnetic strip cards won't work in Europe is a bit of an urban legend.
Posted by
Freedonia
15200 posts
Michael's right. About the only places I've heard of problems is at petrol stations and some ticket machines in rail stations. But, you can always buy your ticket from an agent.
Posted by
Tresana, Highlands Ranch, CO, USA
23329 posts
Use a credit card at an ATM is generally not recommended because of the fees involved. Better to us a debit card.
Posted by
Vernon, Canada
32219 posts
Elaine,
Although Europe (and also Canada and other places) are rapidly changing to "chip & PIN" technology you should have no problem using magnetic stripe credit cards at ATM machines or at staffed ticket offices. A few exceptions are the automated ticket machines at Paris / CDG which will ONLY accept "chip & PIN" credit cards (as well as Euro coins), and some fuel pumps (especially at unattended locations).
Most here don't use credit cards for ATM use, as that method tends to have expensive "cash advance" charges.
I've heard that American Express offers one type of "chip & PIN" card in the U.S., however that's not necessarily a good solution for travel as AmEx cards are not as widely accepted in Europe. AFAIK, Visa and MasterCard issuers in the U.S. have NO plans to ever adopt "chip & PIN" technology.
Posted by
Florida, USA
12172 posts
I ran into a couple of out of the way places where they couldn't figure out how to use my card. It was an easy work around, use the nearest ATM and come back (or pay cash if I had it).
In higher traffic areas, the cashier simply said, "No problem." and processed it as no-pin. The register spit out an old fashioned receipt for me to sign.
It's certainly nothing to get overly concerned about.
Posted by
OP
Dallas, TX, US
22 posts
Thanks everyone. I have not been to Europe since 2008, so I need to recalibrate my knowledge before I return this summer. :)
Posted by
Lakewood, Colorado
19109 posts
"you can always buy your ticket from an agent."
Not always. In Germany, a lot of stations these days are unmanned, and those that are manned, have limited hours. Last year I went to the station in Freilassing Germany at about 8:00 to go across the river to Salzburg Hbf. The fare is €2,10 ($3.00 at the time). There was no one at the counter and the automat didn't take cash. I had to use my credit card for $3.00! They charged my 3¢ for currency exchange.
Posted by
Bloomington, IL, USA
9363 posts
Using a credit card at an ATM is considered a "cash advance" subject to immediate accrual of interest at a higher rate than for purchases. You should only use your credit card in an ATM as a last resort if your debit card fails to work.
Posted by
Florida, USA
12172 posts
I don't get cash with the credit card. Like Nancy said, that's an expensive option.
I just went to a nearby ATM to get cash with a debit card. My purchases aren't usually big enough to need cash beyond my daily limit. If I did, I could tap into my wife's debit card to double our daily limit on cash withdrawals.
The few times I pulled out the credit card were for surprise items we liked but hadn't planned for - so didn't have enough cash on hand at the time.