I was told in Paris that the ATM would not accept my card because it had only a magnetic strip. French cards all have the microchip. Instead I went to a money exchange station where I presented my card to get cash. Has anyone else had this experience?
Posted by
Danville, VT
12040 posts
There are occassionally ATMs far outside the typical tourist trail that do not accept cards without a chip, but most ATMs in Paris (and throughout Europe) will accept a card with a magnetic strip. Automated tickets kiosks and unattended gas stations will often not accept cards without a chip, but you shouldn't have this problem with ATMs.
Posted by
Bloomington, IL, USA
9363 posts
You should have tried another bank's ATM - not a money exchange. It probably would have worked in a different bank's machine.
Posted by
New Paltz, NY
9101 posts
Whoever told you that, doesn't know what they are talking about. All ATMs in Paris will accept magnetic strip cards.
Posted by
Atlanta, GA, USA
2745 posts
My ATM worked this week in several machines in Paris and it does not have a chip.
Posted by
Durham, NC
3 posts
Your card should work at the ATMs of the major banks in Paris. The ATMs have signs showing what cards they accept, or you can go to the website for your bank or card company and look up ATM locations near you (not all ATMs work with American Express, for example). Just make sure that you let your bank or credit card company know ahead of time that you are using it abroad. I have also not had any issues with just having a magnetic strip at any store where I have tried to use it; all the larger stores in Paris will have credit card machines that work with the microchip cards and with the magnetic strip cards. Better luck next time!