Chip and pin credit card 2015 question
Oct 28th, 2015, 09:13 AM
#81
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Resurrecting an older thread...I just got an email from USAA that my true chip and pin MasterCard will be converting to a chip and signature Visa with an option to set a pin. Does anyone know if this actually works? The rep assured me it did and that nobody stationed abroad is having any problems with this card, but Dublin's experience above would suggest otherwise.
Oct 28th, 2015, 10:08 AM
#82
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Oct 28th, 2015, 10:54 AM
#83
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We just returned from northern Europe. Our chip and signature card was accepted at most places but NOT at transportation ticket machines, which meant in one case going into a nearby restaurant and wheedling them into giving me Euro coins (the only thing the machine would accept other than chip and pin) for my Euro bill.
I talked with our issuer--Bank of America where we bank--shortly before we left and was assured that we would not need a pin because we did not intend to take cash advances on our credit card. No mention was made of the possibility of the card's doubling as a ATM card.
I talked with our issuer--Bank of America where we bank--shortly before we left and was assured that we would not need a pin because we did not intend to take cash advances on our credit card. No mention was made of the possibility of the card's doubling as a ATM card.
Oct 28th, 2015, 11:17 AM
#84
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I think it would be helpful if posters give the full context.
I suspect that when one states "signature card was accepted", I presume it means "the signature card was accepted because I was dealing with a person who could print out a signature slip for me to sign or The amount was below some threshold and the transaction was approved without any authorization on my part.
I used a First Tech Credit Union chip Mastercard, and it worked everywhere in PIN mode in Netherlands and Italy in September. That includes unmanned vending machines! I had a First Tech chip Visa card until summer, but the Credit Union had me switch to Mastercard. The reason? The First Tech representative told me that Visa only offered Chip and Signature cards while Mastercard provided Chip and PIN which a lot of First Tech customers wanted.
I also have a BofA Visa chip card. The card description sheet and the rep made it clear it was only a Chip and Signature card. In Denmark, where many machines have no magnetic stripe capabilities, I could use the BofA CHIP and Signature card only when there was a person who could print out a signature slip. Most U.S. bank representative in areas with little oversea travelers are clueless. They just repeat legal department approved scripts hoping you stop asking difficult questions they don't want to talk about.
I suspect that when one states "signature card was accepted", I presume it means "the signature card was accepted because I was dealing with a person who could print out a signature slip for me to sign or The amount was below some threshold and the transaction was approved without any authorization on my part.
I used a First Tech Credit Union chip Mastercard, and it worked everywhere in PIN mode in Netherlands and Italy in September. That includes unmanned vending machines! I had a First Tech chip Visa card until summer, but the Credit Union had me switch to Mastercard. The reason? The First Tech representative told me that Visa only offered Chip and Signature cards while Mastercard provided Chip and PIN which a lot of First Tech customers wanted.
I also have a BofA Visa chip card. The card description sheet and the rep made it clear it was only a Chip and Signature card. In Denmark, where many machines have no magnetic stripe capabilities, I could use the BofA CHIP and Signature card only when there was a person who could print out a signature slip. Most U.S. bank representative in areas with little oversea travelers are clueless. They just repeat legal department approved scripts hoping you stop asking difficult questions they don't want to talk about.
Nov 25th, 2015, 11:52 AM
#85
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Chip & Pin Credit Cards
3:14 pm, today
I am assuming all credit cards issued by Italian banks use CHIP & PIN technology. I believe, if I am correct, that they only work if you are at an ATM machine where you can punch in your PIN number. My question would be, how do Italians order stuff from a mail order house such as Amazon, using the telephone or the Internet when there is no way to enter their PIN number?
Thank you,
TomS
3:14 pm, today
I am assuming all credit cards issued by Italian banks use CHIP & PIN technology. I believe, if I am correct, that they only work if you are at an ATM machine where you can punch in your PIN number. My question would be, how do Italians order stuff from a mail order house such as Amazon, using the telephone or the Internet when there is no way to enter their PIN number?
Thank you,
TomS
Nov 25th, 2015, 12:19 PM
#86
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My question would be, how do Italians order stuff from a mail order house such as Amazon, using the telephone or the Internet when there is no way to enter their PIN number
I do not enter a PIN number when I order from the Internet, just the information that is printed on the card (card number, expiration date, and the 3 number security code on the back). I believe that even the Chip&Pin cards have a magnetic strip and can be used in the States like any other credit card. I can't imagine that European tourists to the States have to get a special (temporary) card for travel in the States which their banks would not issue anyway.
I do not enter a PIN number when I order from the Internet, just the information that is printed on the card (card number, expiration date, and the 3 number security code on the back). I believe that even the Chip&Pin cards have a magnetic strip and can be used in the States like any other credit card. I can't imagine that European tourists to the States have to get a special (temporary) card for travel in the States which their banks would not issue anyway.
Dec 30th, 2015, 08:01 AM
#87
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Get the BARCLAY'S CARD !
In France, Brussels and Spain, I got stranded in parking garages, couldn't get gas or buy train tickets all because most of these venues use unattended kiosks that require a chip and pin credit card. My JetBlue Amex, Citi AAdvantage, and Chase Master Card are all chip and signature cards that would not work at all. For this most recent trip - when I got home i got the Barclay's Aviator MasterCard .iI went online and set up a pin. Now it uses a pin at unattended kiosks (signature elsewhere like restaurants where they bring you the terminal) and works like a charm. The card has no foreign transaction fees and gives me miles on American Airlines.
If you want to travel in Europe and not get stuck, I strongly recommend getting this card - it has been a lifesaver.
In France, Brussels and Spain, I got stranded in parking garages, couldn't get gas or buy train tickets all because most of these venues use unattended kiosks that require a chip and pin credit card. My JetBlue Amex, Citi AAdvantage, and Chase Master Card are all chip and signature cards that would not work at all. For this most recent trip - when I got home i got the Barclay's Aviator MasterCard .iI went online and set up a pin. Now it uses a pin at unattended kiosks (signature elsewhere like restaurants where they bring you the terminal) and works like a charm. The card has no foreign transaction fees and gives me miles on American Airlines.
If you want to travel in Europe and not get stuck, I strongly recommend getting this card - it has been a lifesaver.
Dec 30th, 2015, 08:39 AM
#88
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How recent were your experiences in Belgium, Spain and France? Yes this has been a problem in the past but supposedly (note the word) a lot of this has been changed when new regulations went into effect in July. Not saying it isn't a good precaution to get the Barclaycard but there's a good chance the other cards you mentioned will now function much more universally although I am sure there will be individual instances where this might not always be true.
Dec 30th, 2015, 11:44 AM
#89
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carib--is the Barclay's a true credit card, or does it function like a debit card that takes money out of your account when using a pin?
xyz--our trip was in October of this year, so pretty recent.
xyz--our trip was in October of this year, so pretty recent.
Dec 30th, 2015, 12:10 PM
#90
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I don't know about Brussels, haven't been there in a while, but you can't get "stranded" in train stations in France and Spain as you can buy tickets from a clerk. And I've driven in France and got gas, you just have to go to a station with a person, which isn't really that difficult if you make sure not to run out of gas and go during normal hours.
I was just in France a couple months ago and had no trouble but I wasn't using parking garages nor buying gas. I bought my main train tickets in advance online and used euro cash to buy others at machines in French train stations. For metro tickets or local trips, you don't need that much cash that this is difficult to do. Of course, I could have gone to a window during most hours, also.
Barclay's can't issue any AA cards any more since AA merged with US Airways AFAIK, they can only service existing accounts. And all those airline cards with no foreign transaction fees cost about $100 or more per year. You can probably just get a Barclaycard through Barclay, though.
I was just in France a couple months ago and had no trouble but I wasn't using parking garages nor buying gas. I bought my main train tickets in advance online and used euro cash to buy others at machines in French train stations. For metro tickets or local trips, you don't need that much cash that this is difficult to do. Of course, I could have gone to a window during most hours, also.
Barclay's can't issue any AA cards any more since AA merged with US Airways AFAIK, they can only service existing accounts. And all those airline cards with no foreign transaction fees cost about $100 or more per year. You can probably just get a Barclaycard through Barclay, though.
Dec 30th, 2015, 12:25 PM
#92
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Barclay Bank USA issues several different credit cards. They have different rewards programs and various policies. The most cited one for travel is the Arrival card which comes in 2 varieties (far short of Heinz). There is the free one and the Arrival+...the former is free, the later has an annual fee of $89 although waived for the first year. Both have no foreign transaction fees. The rewards program is better, well you have to get something for $89, on the + card. Both are chip and signature preference but do have offline pin capabilities and should work at any remaining kiosks in violation of mc/visa rules that do not honor chip and signature cards (of which I am sure there are some but just how many are unclear).
For a while, Barclsy Bank administrated the US Airlines cards but under terms of the US Airlines AA merger, can no longer issue new cards (AA has a relationship of course with Citibank. The Citibank AA cards have recently abandoned the odorous 3% foreign transaction fees and also provide first checked bag free on coach tickets on AA.
The Barclay Bank arrival card is a good card but doesn't have the best rewards program and their rewards programs has had some of its benefits cut the past year. Still, it does have the pin capabilities and if that is important to you, it's a good card to get.
For a while, Barclsy Bank administrated the US Airlines cards but under terms of the US Airlines AA merger, can no longer issue new cards (AA has a relationship of course with Citibank. The Citibank AA cards have recently abandoned the odorous 3% foreign transaction fees and also provide first checked bag free on coach tickets on AA.
The Barclay Bank arrival card is a good card but doesn't have the best rewards program and their rewards programs has had some of its benefits cut the past year. Still, it does have the pin capabilities and if that is important to you, it's a good card to get.
