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

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).

Thanks for posting - I, with my Canadian bank issued MC had no problems recently in England, but I've forwarded the link to a friend who's going to Spain soon.

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.

Canadian banks are already issuing chip'ed credit cards and ATM cards. Point-of-sales are starting to convert to reading these cards. I also used my chip'ed card in UK last year.

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.

If they charged a $200 annual fee, I'm sure that many travelers would be happy to pay it.

I never thought I would say this but...Go Wal-Mart!

I don't understand why American banks claim it's "too expensive." Surely they can find a way to make it profitable - they do with every other service they offer.

Anyone know if Americans get Canadian (or European) credit cards wtihout leaving the US (there are Canadian and European banks here in NYC)?

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.

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.

xyz--the wireless terminal at the table isn't limited to chip-and-pin or Europe. I've seen it in use in a Washington DC restaurant, Bistrot du Coin.