American Credit Cards in Europe
#1
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American Credit Cards in Europe
There have been previous discussions about the problems of using American credit cards in Europe -- saw this article in the Seattle Times and thought it might be of interest: seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/travelwise/2012415247_trpucci25.html
#2
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This confirms what Fodorites have been saying for several years -- that US-issued cards won't work in automated situations (train ticket vending machines, gas pumps) but are accepted where there is a human attendant to run the transaction, and sometimes those humans need a little prompting.
The news is that some US issuers are contemplating dual system cards containing both the mag stripe for use at home and chip-pin for overseas. That should be popular with the Fodor's crowd (unless the cost is too high, of course).
The news is that some US issuers are contemplating dual system cards containing both the mag stripe for use at home and chip-pin for overseas. That should be popular with the Fodor's crowd (unless the cost is too high, of course).
#4
If Wal-Mart convert, the rest will convert.
I still don't understand why at least one U.S. bank doesn't offer the chip cards. After all, they still have the magnetic strip on them anyway, so they would work both in and out of the country.
I still don't understand why at least one U.S. bank doesn't offer the chip cards. After all, they still have the magnetic strip on them anyway, so they would work both in and out of the country.
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I still don't understand why at least one U.S. bank doesn't offer the chip cards.
Don't worry...the moment the banks here can figure out a way to MAKE MONEY by doing so they will jump in big time.
Don't worry...the moment the banks here can figure out a way to MAKE MONEY by doing so they will jump in big time.
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The answer to the last question is almost no...you really have to establish residence in a country and have the equivalent of a social security number to open up most bank accounts...
As far as why, again the banks I am sure have done all sorts of studies and have found the cost of converting all the terminals in the country outweigh their losses due to fraud.
It is, though, in a way in the hands of the eu. If the eu were sudenly to require that as of a certain date, only chip and pin cards will be accepted throughout the eu, I can't believe the American banks will not be forced to re-consider.
As far as why, again the banks I am sure have done all sorts of studies and have found the cost of converting all the terminals in the country outweigh their losses due to fraud.
It is, though, in a way in the hands of the eu. If the eu were sudenly to require that as of a certain date, only chip and pin cards will be accepted throughout the eu, I can't believe the American banks will not be forced to re-consider.
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One of the things that could help, however....in Europe because of chip and pin in restaurants, they bring a wireless terminal to your table and swipe the card right in front of you...none of this giving it to the waiter, taking it to some back room where the information can be coped and/or the card cloned. These terminals should be required for all restaurants in the USA....in most other places, I can keep my eye on the card and usually can see if some hanky panky is going on but not in restaurants.
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