Two-factor authentication credit card

Did the website ask for a phone number or zip code? I ran into problems when the website thought I was in the UK (trying to buy theatre tickets for London). Since it didn't recognize my zip code (phone number another time) it wouldn't accept my credit card. When I read through and made adjustments, the site accepted.

I'll let others comment on Spain, I haven't been there recently. But we have a regular Visa credit card, and it was easily accepted virtually everywhere in Poland, Austria, Germany, Italy, and Slovenia by just tapping it. Sounds like this is an exception case. Have a great trip!

The authentication challenge you're running into occurs because you're sitting at home, trying to buy something via the internet. When you show up in person with your credit card in your hand, you will not have a problem.

It is always smart to travel with at least two credit cards, however, because stuff happens. It can happen anywhere, but Barcelona is perhaps the pickpocketing capital of the entire world. You should have at least one back-up credit card locked up in your hotel room or in a money belt worn under your clothes. I travel with three credit cards and two debit cards myself, because I have a long, sad history of losing cards in Europe, mostly due to my carelessness, but in one case due to a combination of carelessness and a pair of pickpockets in Bulgaria.

Many European websites require credit cards with an extra layer of security—-similar to “Verified by Visa”. You might call your issuing bank and see what they can do.

In my experience, often an American Express card will work online when Visa and Mastercard will fail—-even if the AMEx cannot be used in person in Europe.

I'm concerned that all my purchases in Spain will be turned down.

Be sure to check with your credit card issuers to see if you need to put a travel alert on them. Some require it and some don't. That will help prevent problems once in Spain.

Lola could well be correct here: there's an extra security protocol called "3-D Secure" used by some credit card payment processors based in Europe, that essentially blocks non-compliant US credit cards. When this happens, it just looks like the payment has failed for no evident reason, you may not be able to do anything to correct it, and your bank's staff may be completely oblivious to it, too.

There might be something else going on, but what the OP describes sounds like the 3-D Secure system short-circuiting the transaction.

This typically impacts making online purchases, but can also cause US-based cards to fail in-person at some unattended/automated payment systems (that is, with no human staffing it), examples include some (not all) highway toll machines, gas stations and train ticket kiosks. Personally, every credit card I've ever tried while I was in Europe (and that's a lot) has worked fine, but I've had cards blocked when attempting to charge something from home.

Do a search on "3-D Secure" and you'll find more details. Or, look at this old thread (now closed) for more insights:

3-D Secure credit card payments - wha???

David explained it much better than I did—-I could not remember the 3-D Secure terminology. But it means the charge failed immediately—-it was never presented to your bank, so they never saw it. This was a problem in Spain when we went 10 years ago; I could not purchase Renfe tiickets online until I got a card that was “Verified by Visa”. And that one worked for Sagrada Famalia tickets as well.

But this is only la problem with online purchases. Your card should work just fine when you are actually in Spain.

Will they accept PayPal? Alternatively, check out the WISE multi currency travel card. Seems you can use it for online payments and circumvents the authentication problem.

The Renfe sight for train tickets also “chokes” on non-Spain credit cards. My workaround for all sites is to use PayPal or ApplePay when offered. The added benefit is that your actual credit card is not on record with yet another database.

Thanks for all the great information! It's good to know my credit cards will work in person in Spain. My son's Wells Fargo Visa signature card worked for Sagrada Familia, when he used his computer. The site had locked us out. His card has two-factor authentication. It's disappointing that none of my credit cards have this feature. I'll be buying tickets online for attractions while I'm in Spain. I'll be applying for my son's card today. Thanks again.

we have a regular Visa credit card, and it was easily accepted virtually everywhere in Poland, Austria, Germany, Italy, and Slovenia by just tapping it. Sounds like this is an exception case. Have a great trip!

The difference is you were using Contactless Pay with card present - the OP is getting denied when using their cards for card not present online purchases.

Is it the Spanish website that requires the 2FA or is it your credit card?

When I was in Barcelona, I ran into this problem. Fortunately, my credit card allowed 2FA using my email. But not all sites give me the option to use email. Fortunately, I was traveling in low season so I was able to buy tickets at the door instead of online.

For my recent trip to Portugal, prior to leaving on my trip, I contacted my bank and asked them to disable the 2FA while I was on the vacation. I decided to sacrifice security in order to avoid the inconvenience.