Chip and PIN
 

I've been wondering about this for a long time. Can a debit card (with Visa symbol - not an ATM-only card) be used as a chip and PIN card in Europe? It seems that way at the grocery store and other stores in the US.

When I was in Copenhagen last year, the guy ahead of me could not get any of his U.S. credit card accepted at a pizza place. When he used his B of A debit card and punched in his PIN, the purchase went through.

I don't use my debit card as all of them charge foreign transaction fee for purchases. I use a PIN capable CC with no forieign transaction fee instead.

Yes it will work. Many places do not accept credit cards but do accept debit cards. Most shops in the Netherlands for instance will not work with a credit card, but happily and preferably accept a debit card. That was also undoubtedly the case in Copenhagen.
Buses in the Netherlands no longer accept cash so either an OV card or a Chip and PIN debit card is essential.

IME, it depends on the country and the particular machine - but maybe my experience isn't current? If you are certain that you need a chip & PIN (not just a chipped card), you might want to get one just to be sure you can use it.

But heti, is it really true that someone can use an American debit card that is not a chip and pin card to work in a shop or at a gas station or at a restaurant? I don't know any Americans who've had any luck using their non chip-and-pin cards here in France. Ours work when we need them too, which isn't often, because we have a Carte Bleue, but I thought that was because our cards are chip and pin from a credit union (World Bank) in the USA, which work worldwide on the chip and pin system. Our regular old debit card from the USA never works anywhere in France. It's confusing.

Is this recent? I had no problems with my chip and sign credit card in Denmark. As for the Netherlands, only the train station ticket kiosks would not accept my non-chip credit card but accepted by non-chip debit card.

I'll have to check with my bank (Schwab) to see if there is a charge for using my debit card like a chip and PIN credit card in Europe. They don't charge for anything else on the account, and I mean anything (no ATM fees anywhere in the world, they provide your checks, etc.), so I bet they don't.

A charge would be less worrisome to me than being unable to use the card. JMO.