Credit Card use in France

When you ask about a bank check card I assume you are asking about a debit card and not a credit card but your heading refers to a credit card. Which is it?

To specifically answer what I think your question might be - NO. The magnetic strip US style credit/debit card will not work in the automated toll booths, unmanned gas station, etc. It there is an attendant, like at a museum, most likely the card will be accepted because they know how to handle a mag strip card. If a debit card it will work fine in any ATM.

However, from a security stand point it is always recommended that you only use a debit card to obtain cash from a local ATM. A debit card should not be used for standard POS activity. Use a credit card. Better yet, pay cash.

Lew, USA magnetic stripe credit cards are not accepted in toll booths on the French roadways. Do not get into the lanes that are for credit cards only. Use cash and you will be fine. Just have plenty of it. Also, your USA magnetic stripe credit card will not work in the petrol station pumps or in the machines in the metro stations.

Hi from Wisconsin.
Get a card with a chip in it. Our ugliest day in France was the night before we had to return the car to the rental agency with a full tank of gasoline. All the fueling stations were 24/7 but had no attendant which meant we needed the chip to make the pumps operate. Hours of operation are limited, as are the number of gas stations.

Even during the month of driving around rural France we had to be alert to refuel when there was an attendant and even then they had to find the magnetic strip reader under the counter or in the back room.

As of last year, there were very few US providers of credit cards that offer the chip without a gigantic yearly fee. I think we ended up with a card from Citi. Also...withthe chip, I guess a portable reader can "steal" your information so keep the card wrapped in tin foil.

wayne iNWI

Wrapping in foil is an urban myth. Put it in your pocket with the other cards.

Fact check:

Wayner, the kind of chip you're talking about, an "EMV" credit card security chip, is not an RFID chip like you have in the newest U.S. passports. It cannot be read unless the eight gold-colored contact points have been inserted in the card reader (endwise, as opposed to the US sideways "swipe". It simply does not have that technology.

There certainly is much buzz about cards and phones that can be read without physical contact (like "Charlie" and "Oyster" public transit cards .... ), but this discussion thread does not cover such a card.

Otherwise, your post is accurate and helpful. Thank you.

The Europeans are way ahead of us with the chip-and-pin card. Maybe the security breach at Target stores will get our banks and merchants off their collective duffs to bring this overdue technology to us.

One point to note regarding the Chip & PIN / EMV cards we use here in Canada, is that many also have a PayPass (or whatever) RFID chip installed and also have a magnetic stripe (I suspect the magnetic stripe might eventually disappear). I've never heard of any cards being read "remotely", but have seen demonstrations so it's technically possible.