Do you need Pin and signature chipped credit cards in Germany, Switzerland, Austria

I have never heard of "pin and signature", it is either "chip and pin" or "chip and signature".

Automatic (unmanned) machines often only work with "chip and pin". You put the card into the machine and type in the PIN, just like you do at a cash machine (ATM).

If it the point-of-sale is manned, with chip-and-pin it works the same; you put your card into the machine and type in the PIN, and nobody can see what you type in.
If you do not have a "chip-and-pin" card the person should be able to do the transaction the old fashioned way with a signature, but (s)he may be unfamiliar with the method and have to ask a colleague for help. I do not think "chip and signature" is much of an advantage, a signature is still old-fashioned insecure technology.

I would advise to pay for all small transactions with cash, it saves a lot of trouble.

Chris is right, it is a chip card with either a PIN or signature as the primary validation. Most American cards will have signature as the primary validation. Those will work fine anytime you deal with a person but may not work in an unmanned ticket booth. Some chip cards will have a PIN as a secondary validation if the transaction is unmanned. Your card issuer can tell you though many customer service reps really have no clue. I recommend you at least ask for a PIN, it may only work in ATMs for cash advances (at a huge cost of course) but worth trying. And to confuse things even more, some cards will approve transactions under $50 without any validation.

Recently, in France, we used the "old fashioned" magnetic strip / signature cards without any problems. Another card does have a chip and we used it with a PIN. Worked fine. On many occasions we used the same card with only a signature. Go figure. Upon our return we asked the issuing bank for clarification and were never able to get a definitive answer. They said they thought it was up to the merchant. Not sure the bank's left hand knows what the right one is doing. Technology is driving us all to drink. At any rate, I would not worry one minute about a major card being accepted. Just be sure to let the bank know you will be traveling so they do not suspect fraud and freeze your cards.

I did the Germany, Austria and Switzerland last summer and mostly took currency out of ATMs with just my pin. I remember asking customer service from Schwab and VISA about the "chip and pin" and being told I was better off without it.
A few summers ago, I was unable in France to buy a train ticket at a kiosk, in the train station because I did not have the "chip." By the way, the French call the chip the "flea."
I think the more important thing is to have a minimum of 2 ATM or credit cards "just in case."
Have a great trip!

I remember asking customer service from Schwab and VISA about the "chip and pin" and being told I was better off without it.

LOL - Like I said, most customer service reps really have no clue...

pam,

"I remember asking customer service from Schwab and VISA about the "chip and pin" and being told I was better off without it."

I've never heard anything more ridiculous. Why would you be "better off without it" when it will make travel easier in Europe, and allow you to complete transactions that wouldn't be possible without "Chip & PIN" (ie: automated ticket systems, gas pumps or whatever). I've had "Chip & PIN" cards for five years or more, and they absolutely make my travel easier.

This sounds like a lame excuse from someone who.....

• Is all bluster and really has no idea what he's talking about (typical of many C.S. rep's who know only the "party line" that they've been fed).
• Is trying to promote his product, even though he may know that it's inferior to the one the customer is asking about.

At the least, the person who said this is ignorant of the facts (IMO).

Prompted by Ken's remarks, this is the kind of question I would normally look up in Archives but that function seems to be well-hidden on the RS Forum these days: Where can we in the U.S. find actual chip-and-pin cards that work in Europe?

Roy,

:Where can we in the U.S. find actual chip-and-pin cards that work in Europe?"

Based on other posts I've seen here, the Andrews Federal Credit Union in Maryland issues a true "Chip & PIN" card. Apparently anyone in the U.S. can join the credit union, but I don't know the details. I'm sure someone here can provide further information.

There may be a few other institutions as well, but I've never bothered to check.

I joined Andrews FCU last year specifically to get a chip and PIN card for my Europe trip. It's not hard, but there are several steps you have to follow (it's all on their website, you don't need to be military or have any DoD affiliation). First you join a charitable organization for $5 and they give you a code to use at Andrews. Just keep in mind that as a tradeoff for low rates, this and other credit unions don't offer the best in telephone customer service.

I used my chip and PIN card all over France and Switzerland and was never asked for my PIN; it always defaulted to chip and signature, which as noted is really no security at all. I also used a "regular" AmEx and other bank cards and they were always accepted. Apparently it's when you have to deal with unmanned machines that the chip comes into play.

I once found a long list of organizations that offer chip and PIN, they were mostly credit unions. if you do some Google you should be able to find quite a few leads.

Since you are going on one of Rick's tours you probably can get by with your existing mag stripe card because you will not be buying gas, train tickets or paying highway tolls. The chip and signature card is the most useless piece of crap ever invented, it has no advantage over your mag stripe card.

The Andrews Credit Union is a very good route to go although it is a but on the long and tedious side. They are nice people to deal with you will end up with a chip and PIN card and if you open a savings account you can also get an ATM card. Both cards have zero foreign transaction fees. In another couple of years the good old USA will have caught up with the rest of the world and we will all have chip and PIN cards.

Just took my Andrews chip and pin card on its first "international" trip to Canada. I needed to use my pin by itself 2 times, sign once, and no signature or pin at all 2 times. It really seemed to matter more how the merchant had their card readers set than anything else. It was actually very quick and simple to get the Andrews chip and pin card which has no foreign transaction fees. I plan to take it on my trip to Europe this summer.

Thanks so much for all your replies. We will definitely look into all your suggestions. We were in Italy about three years ago and didn't have any problem. We do need to take the train from Frankfurt to Trier, so that is why I thought I should check on the pin as the station may only have a machine. The rest of the trip we will be with the tour, so you are correct in that it probably won't be an issue. Thanks again so much. Lots to think about!

barbaraoneill,
Frankfurt is a very large station. It has will definately have many manned ticket booths, as well as machines.

the only time I've ever had a problem with a 'Murican card was in Germany, at a Burger King or something on a layover in the Munich airport. We didn't have any cash as we were on our way to Turkey (non-Euro country) so I attempted to use the swipe machine and was denied. Luckily they took US dollars, so my boyfriend was able to have his breakfast sandwich (eye roll).

I would say that it's best to have cash as a back-up for places like this, but in all my travels in EU, LatAm, and Asia, this is the only time I've had a problem, and I try to use my cards for points. Some now have chips, but I don't have any PINs. I've been told for almost a decade that I won't be able to use my US cards in Europe, but it still hasn't happened. Of course, I don't drive, so I haven't had to try a gas station, which I hear is the real test...