ATM/Debit cards in Spain....will they work?

Our credit cards (issued in India) worked just fine at ATMs in many cities in Spain. They were incorrectly rejected at a couple of places (I believe the verification system at The Prado had a problem and the correct PIN was not accepted at a Madrid airport ATM) but I guess that is par for the course.

• Ashwin

First I've heard of it. I need to head out into the street this afternoon. I'll try my card from the US and see if it works. More later...

In some parts of Europe, banks issue debit cards with smart chips embedded in them. US cards don't have this chip, thus some merchants don't have the hardware to read US magnetic strip cards-only smart chip hardware. But as a general rule merchants that deal with tourists will have the hardware to read US cards, merchants that deal mostly with locals may or may not. You won't have any problems with ATM machines, they will always be able to read magnetic cards.

I was under the impression that if a merchant accepts VISA or MC, then they are required to be able to accept a magnetic strip card. They may not like it or do it often, but the old "sign the paper receipt" method is still an acceptable way to make purchases. Anyone have other information? Thanks.

Your're correct, technically all merchants are required to accepts all types of cards. But in life there is the way things are supposed to work and the way they do work. There is no way a cashier at a busy supermarket is going to go out of his/her way to make a phone call and find a old fashioned card machine; especially if that means hold up the line. In fact, Holland which is the worst offender has large signs in English at the train station ticket windows, explaining they will only accept smartchip cards; same goes with the large Albert Heijn supermerket behind the Royal Palace.

My ATM card from a small local credit union worked just fine in all ATMs I tried in Spain last year. I didn't try to make a purchase with it, though.

I just tried my US bank card in an ATM machine. The card does not have a "smart chip", but worked just fine. It is limited to very few options (depending on the ATM), and will not allow deposits, querries, etc., but it gives cash just fine.

Adynata: Thanks for reporting in from Spain. Except for this one inquiry, in the original post, we have not had any reports that American ATM cards don't work in European ATM machines because they don't have the "smart chip." But we have had reports that American cards without the smart chip are sometimes rejected at some gas stations and at some train ticket automatic dispensing machines; and at a few other retail locations (but if there is a person at these retail locations, as opposed to an unmanned machine, usually they can manually run the card).

I have a MC ATM from a So Cal credit union and have no chip. We were in Barcelona and Madrid less than 2 years ago and I had no problem getting money from the ATM.

I am here to testify that in April this year our atm cards worked just fine in Spain. However, as I have said several times on this site, I advise carrying 2 cards linked to 2 different accounts. We have had problems over the years, and in several different countries, with our cards mysteriously not working. The worst was in Spain in 2001 when we couldn't get any cash for 4 weeks. We had to rely on our travel companions. No amount of calling to our bank resolved the problem. I know people like CU cards because of the low charges, but don't obsess over the admittedly outrages fees some banks levy. BTW, I've heard that Capital One doesn't charge for atm withdrawals on their checking accounts.

Thanks for all that. I called Wells Fargo and they have had no notification of this type of thing. I guess when something along these lines happens they notify the banking community.

I was in Spain about 2 years ago. I have a Washington Mutual debit card. Worked fine in Granada and Seville but had problems in Barcelona. I needed cash and went to ATM. No luck. Went to another and another...all said "invalid card". At this point back to the hotel to tell my travel partner. She too has a Wa Mu card and I ask her to try hers. We go out to the ATM and she too had problems. We decided to give to hotel clerk to pay our bill and see if it will work when used that way (instead of ATM) and both cards were denied. At this point I called Wa Mu and the rep said there is networking issues in that part of Spain. (By the way.......why didn't they tell me this BEFORE I left when I called to notify would be out of the country and in that city???!!!!). This was our last day of the trip and we literally spent all morning running around to ATMs! After the Wa Mu call, we accepted that we were out of luck and would have to make due with very small amount of cash we had left and put our hotel room on her Visa credit card. We resign ourselves to the situation and head off for the beach. Walking down Ramblas decide to give an ATM "one last try". Lo and behold........SUCCESS!!!!! Weird b/c we had already tried another ATM of same bank. We both got some cash. Then at airport next day I tried to use Wa Mu card in duty free shop and it was denied. Soooo...if I ever go back to Spain, I will definitely have a "Plan B". However, maybe Wa Mu has made upgrades to the systems since then.

Christy, WaMu gave lots of other Rick traverls trouble. I'm puzzled why its WaMu? Other travelers have used C.U's, even big banks like BofA, without problems... yes WaMu pops up as a problem ATM card.