Buying train tickets from machines using a credit card

Been using the card itself just fine, so it isn't demagnetized. Thanks for the thought though.

You need to find out the PIN number for your credit card. Since you are already in Europe, this could be a problem, as your credit card company will need to mail it to you. It's possible you could set it up over the phone, but you will need to call them to find out. All Credit cards have a PIN, but in the U.S. we rarely need to know it (unless you are taking out a cash advance).

The easiest solution might be to use your ATM/debit card to purchase tickets from a kiosk or buy the tickets from a person at a ticket counter or travel agency. I have used my credit card to purchase tickets both at kiosks and in person from a ticket counter. Using the kiosks, I always had to enter my PIN. In person, often they can sometimes charge it without the PIN.

I've tried a bunch of times to use my credit card to purchase tickets at the automated machine. Each time, my card was rejected. I do not have a chip in it, it's got the strip...it simply wont' work. I've learned to have cash to buy. Takes just a little bit of time, but after going though the purchasing process a number of times trying to pay by credit card and it never working, I've settled on cash.

One thing you should note, there are sometimes 2 different machines at the stations. Look at the top of the machine, if you don't see a cash symbol, you can't use it...it takes credit cards only.

Our credit cards are just not up to date as European countries are....

Just got back from Italy and had no problem using credit card in train station kiosks. However, as one poster has said, you need a PIN to be able to do this.

I also just returned from Italy a few days ago, and this was my experience with the Trenitalia kiosks.....

• Every kiosk that I encountered in various stations in the north would only accept credit cards (NO cash). The one exception was the machines adjacent to the Biglietteria in Milano Centrale (bottom floor). Those would accept either cash or credit cards. As my travels in Italy this year were only in a limited area, I'm not sure whether this is true in all parts of the country.
• The machines "knew" what type of card I was using, and processed all my transactions using the "Chip & PIN" method. The card remained in the machine for the duration of the transaction, and a voice prompt (in accented English) when to enter my PIN and told me when to remove the card.

So for those who have successfully used the cash advance number as the "pin", was it processed as a credit transaction, or as a cash advance with the corresponding interest charge?

psugwu, it sounds like you're talking about two different things. The PINs of magnetic stripe cards, as far as I know, can only be used at an ATM for a withdrawal (a cash advance). Chip & PIN cards come with a PIN used for purchases. If you use your magnetic stripe card for purchases, you don't need a PIN. It sounds like the ticket machines require chip & PIN credit cards and don't take magnetic stripe credit cards.

All transactions at ATMs with magnetic stripe credit cards and PINs are considered cash advances and come with immediate interest rates.

psug,

So for those who have successfully used the cash advance number as the "pin", was it processed as a credit transaction, or as a cash advance with the corresponding interest charge?

The answer will probably depend on what type of financial product you're using. Are you referring to a credit card or a debit / ATM card? If you use a PIN with a credit card to buy tickets at a ticket kiosk, it will likely be treated as a purchase with slightly lower interest rates than a cash advance. I'd suggest contacting your financial institution for a definitive answer.

psugwu

Let me elaborate on my previous post.

The credit card I used was the standard magnetic-stripe card typically issued in the U.S. Before I left for Europe, I called my credit card company and told them I was going to Europe and asked them to send me the PIN number for my account, which they did.

When I used the card in the Trenitalia kiosks, I put in the card and, when prompted, put in the four-number PIN. This worked perfectly, and the transaction was processed as a credit transaction (plus a small foreign-transaction fee), not as a cash advance upon which interest would accrue.

If I had used my credit card in an ATM to withdraw money, then it would have been counted as a cash advance and interest would have begun to accrue from the time of the transaction.

I hope this has clarified things for you.

Enjoy Italy!