What’s the safest way to go — cash, credit card?
Could someone explain what to watch out for so our credit card information isn’t skimmed? We’re not planning on taking cabs much on our upcoming trip to France (probably only when we’ve got luggage—so to and from airports and train stations). But I’d like to understand this better and protect myself in advance as much as possible.
Thanks!
we check our CC account every night once our day is over. We always get a receipt from every single purchase when we use a CC, whether it's a store, a taxi, etc. and won't be surprised if something isn't as it should be days or weeks down the road and can quickly resolve/dispute it with our CC company. We took several cars for transport and felt very safe and confident. I know unlawful things can happen but we are thankful it didn't occur on this trip or any previous.
hope this helps,
Mitzi
Use Bolts and the Bolt app-had great results the past two weeks in Portugal.
Pay by phone - the merchant (or taxi driver) doesn't get your card details
The wisest thing you can do is add your credit cards to your Apple Wallet. If you use that to pay then there's no skimming of info. If you have it on Apple Pay but use your actual card and it somehow gets lost, stolen or skimmed, when you call your bank they can immediately add a new card to your Apple Pay.
Yes, great point, KD - we used our wallet (both apple and android version) to pay via our phones
Yes, we are Android people and put our credit cards in Google Wallet. We would pay the cabs in Ireland that way, it was very simple and quick. Much faster than digging out a credit card.
First, we have used a large number of taxis over the years with no serious problems. Have found nearly all drivers are honest. But we do follow some simple procedures. We do prefer cash but will use a credit card especially if the fare will be large. So ---- first thing -- make sure the credit card reader is working and he will accept the cc. Make that very clear before getting in the taxi. I follow the route on google map to make sure we are not going in circle. Only a couple of times have we gone a little further than I thought we would but the driver had a decent excuse so I don't know. The probability of your cc being skimmed at a taxi is no greater than any other situation.
When paying in cash we count each bill slowly and careful. There are stories of a 20 euro note suddenly changing to a 10 euro note and your are short. I hand him a ten and say, "Ten ??" in an almost questioning tone. I generally round up just to avoid change. You might look at it and count. Again, we have never had any problems but we are careful, dumb, and slow.
As to cash vs credit. We tend be more cash than many in part because we started in 70s with cash and traveler checks. We tend to use cash below 50 euro oe ao. Big items like hotels, meals sometime, train tickets, etc. are charged. In nearly a years travel over the past 50 years we have never had any problems with credit card or pick pockets, etc. A hard NO and rapid walk away generally solves most problems. But some government training decades ago probably makes us a bit more aware of the surrounding situation.
Just relax, be a little cautious and you will be OK. No substitute for common sense. If it looks wrong -- it is.
No substitute for common sense. If it looks wrong -- it is.
As a relative of mine said recently, "Unfortunately, common sense isn't common anymore".
I prefer to use apps like Uber, Free now, IT taxi or the app linked to the taxi system in the city I am traveling in. The main reason being, there is no discussion as to whether or not the driver can accept credit cards (no dealing with the frequent “machine broken” line), and we both know the total amount due for the ride.
