Please clarify: Is it that the sales clerk refuses to swipe or that the card is swiped correctly but does not work? In France it definitely does not work when inserted in the slot for the cards with chips, but all the machine I have encountered have another slot for swiping a card.

I believe Visa requires merchants to do a manual charge using paper and signature/ID if their equipment won't support a chipless card.

See http://www.chipandpin.co.uk/reflib/Retailer_Post_14_Feb_FINAL.PDF for the Brit merchant mandate. Of course, the rules in Denmark may be very different - but it's obvious that Visa would want merchants to be flexible.

An interesting point made at upgradetravelbetter.com is that if the card networks want truly GLOBAL usage of their plastic, they're going to have to drop the local requirements, or figure out a way to override them that everyone is happy with.

(As a merchant, I think a passport for ID and a valid authorization code from the network is good enough for me.)

Since German credit cards aren't equipped with a chip either, there would be general uproar, if those chipless cards weren't accepted in Denmark. Since nobody here has heared of a problem, it may be related to this one card.

I've been to many merchants which do not have the machine to physically put the card through. Two things are needed: a machine to roll an impression onto the card, and it also needs carbon copies which can be rubbed. This is old technology and it's not available anymore.

I was in a shop in Seoul and the mrechant did have the copies but no machine to roll. He took my card onto the desk and put the copy onto the proper place and rubbed this back and forth. It worked enough that he gave me the clothes and he went off to the bank. That was ten years ago, so this is probably gone too.

Blackduff

Actually, you do not need an imprint to do a manual operation (otherwise, how could they sell things over the telephone?). If you have the paper slip, you can simply write the card information on it and have the cardholder sign as usual.

Also, most of the automatic machines have an option for manually entering the card number and expiration date (and this is the actual system used for telephone sales).

Of course for minor purchases, many merchants feel no need to go through the hassle, as the customer will usually pull out cash when his card is refused.

Nevertheless, I agree that it is hard to believe that Danish stores do not accept magnetic strips if none of the neighboring German cards have chips.

I have rarely encountered a problem in London in using my 20th century technologically deficient magnetic stripe credit card....in the boondocks, I have had a little more difficulty but at least I could communicate with the clerks as American is very closely related to English.

Denmark, I would probably have more of a problem but every one of the chip and pin terminals have provision to swipe magnetic stripe cards...whether the clerks are not trained or don't care or the store feels more secure only accepting a chip and pin card, the magnetic stripe cards are absolutely valid...but since Denmark is not like Holland in that while English and American are widely understood, it is hardly universal.

"Does anyone know of any stores in Copenhagen that will still accept the magnetic swipe cards?"

ejmoes, I used a magnetic swipe Visa card at Magasin at Kongens Nytorv in October. There were no problems whatsoever. I also use my card at my hotel without difficulty.

Anselm

did they actually try - or just tell you it wouldn't work?

If they did try - is it just that the card didn't work? A credit card can easily be de-magnetized.

I have never had any problems except for some automated machines like at petrol stations or for train tickets. But a clerk could always run the charge.

I cannot imagine Danish department stores or other merchants not taking your card. Give us more details . . . .

Thanks for all the great replies so far. I actually called the Illum department store and spoke to someone who seemed to know what I was talking about. The person told me that when they swipe the card if it does not ask for a pin code the card can be used with a signature, but if it asks for a pin then I am out of luck! Just seems ridiculous to me! I am glad to hear Magasin will accept it and I hope some of the other stores there like Diesel, Esprit, H&M...etc. will accept it, I guess it's important to let the clerk know in advance as well that I need to sign for my purchase and not use a pin code.

Oh, and to further clarify this is just a regular US visa platinum card which I have had no problems with at all (up until now ofcourse!)...

so you spoke to one shop assistant on the phone and assumed you can't use the card anywhere??

The machine will recognize that your card is not chip/PIN so it will not ask for a PIN . . . . .

I am starting to find this in Victoria, B.C.
Some stores will kick out my visa when they stripe it and they have to insert it. So far it has not been rejected, but it is a matter of clerical training.
The world it is a changing.

The clerk actually ran the card through the swipe machine and it did not recognize it as it asked for the pin...and I spoke with their customer service department, not a shop assistant - so they apparently knew what I was talking about. Card worked in Magasin though...hoping it will work in H&M as well...

ejmoes: We can only give useful suggestions/advice based on what you tell us. First you say "I actually called the Illum department store and spoke to someone who seemed to know what I was talking about."

Then later you post "The clerk actually ran the card through the swipe machine"

So - I based my comments on your having only telephoned the store, whereas now it seems you were IN the store using your charge card . . . . . .

My husband had the same problem in Copenhagen in November. He had a pin number for the card, but that did not work either. He finally went to a bank and withdrew cash on the credit card. He was pretty upset as our cards have worked in France with no problems. It is a real problem when credit cards don't work!

Most of the stores on Støget will still accept non chip cards. That being said, sometimes you will run across a cashier that doesn't know how to run the cards that don't have a chip and they will just say that they can't accept it.

American pin codes will on the machines in Denmark with your card either. The machines are set up for the Danish card system. So they will have to run it as credit and have you sign the recipt.

If you do use your foreign card beware that many places (including restaurants) will add an extra 5% to the purchase.