credit card use in Germany, Scotland & Ireland

Your card may not work at unattended self-service gas stations or unattended freeway toll booths, but it will work anywhere there is a person available to swipe it in a machine.

"Your card may not work at unattended self-service gas stations or unattended freeway toll booths" I don't know about the UK or Ireland, but neither of these exist in Germany. Some German merchants do not accept any credit cards, but these are mostly businesses that a tourist wouldn't use. There are some other businesses that only accept IC cards, but once again, as a tourist, you likely won't encounter them.

We were in Germany last summer and will be there again in September. Last summer our US credit union ATM cards tied to our checking accounts worked fine. I note that you posted credit cards but I can only assume if our regular ATM magnetic strip cards worked so should yours. We do not use a credit card in Europe very often preferring to pay cash as we go. That does get us a discount quite often.

Hey Jana, there was a a similar posting about a month ago. You might want to search and find it as it included links to articles from the NY Times I think and other publications. The only time I've had trouble in Scotland with my card was one of the magazine/newspaper stores and now that I think of it, that was in London. ; ) And yes, you can't use it to by self-service gas. Pam

Reporting from Tralee in Ireland we have had no trouble using a credit card everywhere they accept cards anywhere in England and Ireland. Be aware of credit card conversion charges - if you don't have those charge away otherwise limit it to big purchases. Most bars and restaurants accept cards in larger cities and towns but if you tip expect to do that in cash not as an add on to the card if they ask you if you want to do that decline it because they don't want you too.

My non-chip credit card worked in Germany this winter and in Scotland several year ago. That said, it seems that most locals in Germany seem to pay restaurant charges with cash. You may want to know your PIN. In Norway the automatic ticket machine needed a PIN to complete the transaction.

Jana, If the merchant in Germany accepts Visa/MC, then your US magnetic stripe credit card will go through. I have never run across any problems in Germany paying with either MC or Visa, provided that they take it. Of course, the merchant/establishment may only accept their own the German EuroCard, in which case your Visa/MC won't be accepted. This happened to me at the Dresden DJH (the HI hostel) in 2009 where I was told only EuroCard was accepted.

Thank you everyone for your great advice. It sounds like this should not be too much trouble and that cash is best for smaller purchases. Happy travels!

We were in Ireland just this April, and there were only two places that wanted a "chip and pin" cardpetrol stations. Tod is correct about the conversion charges. We ran into this with restaurants, not shops. I had them cancel the charge and we paid in cash.

Hi Jana, As an American living in Germany for the last nine years, I've never encountered a problem using a credit card in Germany, which includes using ATMs. None of my credit cards or debit card has a chip in it...I just make sure that before I intend to use it, that the business accepts the credit card I intend to use - because some do not. I also did not encounter any problems in Ireland last month either. I did carry enough cash just in case my cards didn't work. I believe you will be okay using your credit cards. Have a great time on you vacation! Patty

We just returned from 2 weeks in Europe, Germany being one stop. we had no problem using our US credit cards. . . .just be sure to gas up at places with an attendant

Just returned from Scotland and no problem with credit cards without chip other than at self-service petrol stations. You also would probably be unable to acquire a chip and pin card from any US bank at this time.