chip and pin credit cards
Jun 19th, 2013, 02:11 PM
#22
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I recently returned from a two week road trip in France. I wanted a chip and pin card so I would have no problems using it for parking, tolls, self-serve gas stations, public transit ticket machines, etc.
I contacted Andrews Federal Credit Union. They told me that it normally takes 30 days to process a request for a credit card, but given that my application was approved immediately and I paid $50 extra for expedited shipping ($25 for the card and $25 for the letter with the PIN), I had the card within a week of my initial contact. The application process is online, but if time is of the essence I recommend you call them after you complete the application to expedite the process as much as possible.
In France, I used the card for parking, tolls, transit, gas stations and payphones, and perhaps a few other places. The card was only rejected once - at a toll booth just south of Paris (although it was accepted in toll booths near Lyon; several different companies manage the French autoroutes so perhaps some companies are equipped to handle foreign cards and others are not). In some cases, I was asked to enter my PIN, in at least one case a signature was requested, and in some cases no verification was requested, perhaps because the amounts were relatively small.
I was glad that I had the card and would recommend Andrews, although give yourself enough time to obtain the card unless you want to pay the expedited delivery fee.
I contacted Andrews Federal Credit Union. They told me that it normally takes 30 days to process a request for a credit card, but given that my application was approved immediately and I paid $50 extra for expedited shipping ($25 for the card and $25 for the letter with the PIN), I had the card within a week of my initial contact. The application process is online, but if time is of the essence I recommend you call them after you complete the application to expedite the process as much as possible.
In France, I used the card for parking, tolls, transit, gas stations and payphones, and perhaps a few other places. The card was only rejected once - at a toll booth just south of Paris (although it was accepted in toll booths near Lyon; several different companies manage the French autoroutes so perhaps some companies are equipped to handle foreign cards and others are not). In some cases, I was asked to enter my PIN, in at least one case a signature was requested, and in some cases no verification was requested, perhaps because the amounts were relatively small.
I was glad that I had the card and would recommend Andrews, although give yourself enough time to obtain the card unless you want to pay the expedited delivery fee.
Jun 21st, 2013, 01:15 AM
#23
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We're returning home from Turkey, Belgium and the Netherlands tomorrow. We were unable to use our standard-issue American credit card on only two occasions - once in a restaurant near Amsterdam Central Station, and in the ticket machines at the Netherlands train stations (I can't recall whether we paid cash or used a credit card at the ticket window in Amsterdam, but the machines require coins (no bills) or a chip-and-PIN card).
Jun 30th, 2013, 12:23 PM
#25
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My Netherland story from last month. After years of being unable to use our U.S. credit cards in the Netherlands, where we go quite often as we have close Dutch friends, we finally got the Andrews Chip & Pin credit card. Yippee! Except when we got to Rotterdam last month and went into the train station to buy and "fill" a chippenkaart (good for all trains and trams) it wouldn't work. Went to customer service and they said they would not take it. They only take chip & pin DEBIT CARDS!! Luckily, we had lots of Euros and bought our travel cards that way. When we used the chip & pin in UK it went through as a chip and signature! So, we never actually got to use it as a chip & pin. This is so frustrating! I opened the Andrews account specifically for one reason. It's an OK bank but the whole point was to get this card! At least it doesn't have any foreign transaction fees. We use another card for ATMs which also has no fees. We're good to go but still, this chip & pin thing is a pain!
Jun 30th, 2013, 12:43 PM
#26
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I have Andrews card. It defaults to chip and signature if there is a HUMAN BEING involved at the point of sale. It does work as a true chip and pin in non-human transactions.
The AFCU card cannot be blamed for it not being accepted at Rotterdam train station as THEY only take DEBIT CARDS {I don't know that there are any US issued chip and pin DEBIT cards}. AFCU is a CREDIT card so I wouldn't expect it or any other CREDIT card to be accepted.
So, as far as I can tell, the AFCU cREDIT card worked everywhere you wanted it to, except a place that only takes only DEBIT cards. Why would you be upset about it's function?
The AFCU card cannot be blamed for it not being accepted at Rotterdam train station as THEY only take DEBIT CARDS {I don't know that there are any US issued chip and pin DEBIT cards}. AFCU is a CREDIT card so I wouldn't expect it or any other CREDIT card to be accepted.
So, as far as I can tell, the AFCU cREDIT card worked everywhere you wanted it to, except a place that only takes only DEBIT cards. Why would you be upset about it's function?
Jun 30th, 2013, 06:13 PM
#27
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I recently returned from Budapest, Vienna, and Prague. My credit card worked everywhere that I tried except for the metro ticket machine in Vienna. This happened at the Paris metro station on a previous trip, so I plan for this when retrieving cash from the ATM machine.
The most issues I have had with my credit card not working were in Denmark in 2011. Some could successfully run my card through the hand machine and some were unable to.
The most issues I have had with my credit card not working were in Denmark in 2011. Some could successfully run my card through the hand machine and some were unable to.
Jun 30th, 2013, 07:39 PM
#28
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I have just returned and have nothing to add to these accounts right above. PenFCU converted my 5% gas rebate visa card to chip and pin, even let me choose my pin but as with the other FCU's functions in the default mode as chip and signature. Primarily, I used my chip and signature cash rewards card from Bank of America, chip and signature which is the successor to the deceased Schwab 2% visa card and what Bank of America, which owns FIA the issuer of the Schwab card did, was grandfather those with that card with no foreign transaction fee hence I get the 1% rebate (although the B of A travel rewards card gives a 1.5% rebate which I might switch to for my next trip). The cards all functioned flawlessly in both London, Paris and for my pre cruise night at a hotel in Barcelona.
However, I also got the new USAA mastercard advertised as a true chip and pin card and guess what. It indeed is. Every time I used it, it functioned as chip and pin requesting my pin (used it about 5 times in London). The thing is, though, this card carries a 1% foreign transaction fee which is one reason it is not my primary card but the chip and pin function was a pleasure to use without the signature business. The clerks or waiters put it in the terminal, I entered the pin and voila done but like I said the asinine 1% foreign currency fee is a deal killer for me.
However, I also got the new USAA mastercard advertised as a true chip and pin card and guess what. It indeed is. Every time I used it, it functioned as chip and pin requesting my pin (used it about 5 times in London). The thing is, though, this card carries a 1% foreign transaction fee which is one reason it is not my primary card but the chip and pin function was a pleasure to use without the signature business. The clerks or waiters put it in the terminal, I entered the pin and voila done but like I said the asinine 1% foreign currency fee is a deal killer for me.
Apr 4th, 2014, 02:51 PM
#29
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First, not just anyone can get an Andrew FCU card, you have to qualify for it via military reasons. Second, the NL are one of the worst in all of EU when it comes to accepting American credit cards. I have four with the chip and sign that I was sworn by my American card companies would suffice and they are accepted few and far between and usually only at places that already take the swipe cards.
The problem is that there is this possibility of fraud that still exists by running the cards without the chip and pin and NL really does not care how much Americans do or do not bring in, they don't want the swipe cards. They just don't. A few still do they serve a majority of tourists but most normal average joe places out of the tourist areas won't.
I live in NL half the year with my Dutch BF. the transition from American to Dutch is more more complicated than it used to be. The taxes and bank accounts make it hell for me just to move some of my money over here without a cpa. Long and short of it is 1. Hope the US banks wise up and go to chip and pin because it is so much safer and target just showed us how bad things can be and 2. Get a European real chip and pin card if you can or 3. Make sure the cards you have all have ATM ability and pull it out as cash.
The problem is that there is this possibility of fraud that still exists by running the cards without the chip and pin and NL really does not care how much Americans do or do not bring in, they don't want the swipe cards. They just don't. A few still do they serve a majority of tourists but most normal average joe places out of the tourist areas won't.
I live in NL half the year with my Dutch BF. the transition from American to Dutch is more more complicated than it used to be. The taxes and bank accounts make it hell for me just to move some of my money over here without a cpa. Long and short of it is 1. Hope the US banks wise up and go to chip and pin because it is so much safer and target just showed us how bad things can be and 2. Get a European real chip and pin card if you can or 3. Make sure the cards you have all have ATM ability and pull it out as cash.
May 30th, 2015, 12:27 PM
#30
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I asked various card companies. Visa and American Express charge a per transaction fee. Discover was only one I found that did not charge a fee but required you to have the chip card. They would send one to you if you have an account with them. However, not sure how popular Discover card acceptance is in Vienna.
May 30th, 2015, 01:14 PM
#31
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Discover cards are worthless in Europe.
"Visa and American Express charge a per transaction fee" I'm not sure what you are talking about here. I've never run into any credit card that charges a per transaction fee. Most charge from 1-3% on foreign exchange.
DO NOT use a credit card to get money from an ATM... use a debit card or a specific ATM card. These cards typically charge a per transaction fee - often $5 for the US big banks. Credit unions and small banks usually charge less. There is also a foreign exchange fee on most of these cards.
"Visa and American Express charge a per transaction fee" I'm not sure what you are talking about here. I've never run into any credit card that charges a per transaction fee. Most charge from 1-3% on foreign exchange.
DO NOT use a credit card to get money from an ATM... use a debit card or a specific ATM card. These cards typically charge a per transaction fee - often $5 for the US big banks. Credit unions and small banks usually charge less. There is also a foreign exchange fee on most of these cards.
