Getting cashback using debit card

Never tried that in Italy. Here you swipe your card and it asks you if you want cash back (usually up to $20.00) and you press yes or no. Have never seen one of those machines in Italy so it may not be possible. Anyone out there know?? It's a good question.

I do not recall being given the option, but basically you would be using your card as a debit card for a Point of Sale (POS) transaction. This brings up another issue that in the case of POS transactions in Europe, they have quickly moved to a card that has a chip in it, and this chip is required for POS Debit transactions, otherwise, the transaction goes through as credit.

I've lived in Italy for over 6 years. I have never seen cash back as a posibility at a store. Also a USA debit card will be run as a credit card. It likely won't won't work as a debit card with Italy's system. Cash machines are your best bet for getting cash.

Thanks to everyone who replied!

I learnt that my debit card has several limitations when used in a cash machine: I can only make 6 free transactions per month. Frustratingly, the cash machine is going to charge too every time I use it. So I should minimimize the number of transactions and take more money each time. But then I learnt that there is a maximum daily limit of $500!

So I am thinking of other ways to get money without using the cash machine. I can see point of sale transactions (using debit card directly with merchant) or using cashback as 2 options. Seems like the latter might not be possible. I hope at least that some merchants and hoteliers take debit card directly instead of requiring cash.

Oh, and my credit card charges 3% for every transaction! :(

Thanks,
Raji.