Debit card with 6 digit pin
 

Will Debit Cards with 6 digit pin work in Europe (Austria/Italy/Swiss). My local bank says yes, I will have no problems, but various postings in this forum say the opposite. What is the reality. Would appreciate some response on this.

They use a 4 digit (number) system in ATMs in Europe, so only 4 digits can be entered.

Hi D,

You will be better off changing your PIN to 4 digits.

If your bank won't let you, get another ATM card with a bank that will.

((I))
Did the person who told you it was OK ever use an ATM card with a 6-digit PIN in Europe?

I used to have a 6-digit PIN and likewise was told by a representative at my bank that it would be fine overseas. It wasn't. If it were me, I'd much rather be safe than sorry! ira has given you a good recommendation.

Also, keep in mind that the keypads in Europe will be digits only (no alphabet over the numbers like here in the States), so if you have your PIN memorized as a word, you'll need to memorize its numeric equivalent, too.

Thanks for your response. I was told by the bank's rep that the 6 digit pin would be fine in Europe. Now I will have to think of other alternatives.

At one time, it is quite true that a 4-digit pin was required. It is claiomed that changed a few years ago, at least according to what I've read. Now I've never had a chance to test that theory. So if I could, I would see if I can switch to a 4-digit pin.

I'm xyz123 and I approved this message.

Call the bank back - you may get a better informed agent that will help you.

All the ATM's I've used here in the UK and across Europe allow for a 4 digit pin only. I've never seen one with romm on the screen for 6 digits.

Def 4 digits! Last year my ATM card didn't work in Italy and had to use the very expensive money exchanges.

Is there any place where we can only use cash and not credit cards (Other than purchase of petty items) ?

DennisA - there will be lots of places that only take cash. Many family run businesses, hotels etc will only take cash so you will need to bring some. You may want to confirm with your hotel if you can pay by credit card, there may be an additional fee to use your card.

Unfortunately, people in banks seem to be extremely misinformed about using ATMs, debit cards, and credit cards internationally.

Hi DA,

>Is there any place where we can only use cash...

I've not yet met a person in business who refused cash.

Are you planning on walking around with several thousand Euro in order to avoid getting a different ATM card?

((I))

Denis - Does your bank require 6 digit PINs, or can you go with 4? Our banks give you a choice, with 4 as a minimum. The easiest thing to do is just change your PIN to 4 digits.

"Is there any place where we can only use cash and not credit cards?"

Hmmm. I translate that to mean "are there places that ONLY take cash and don't take credit cards?" In other words the poster wants to know if a lot of cash will be necessary, not that they WANT to use cash only. NO, Ira???

NeoP - NeoPatrick, tks for the translation and Ira, sorry for my poor english. And thanks for all the responses.

Eh, everybody else knew what you meant ;)

Four digits certainly isn't a Europe-wide limit...

Some eight years ago now, our Italian bank issued us with ATM cards with FIVE digit pins and both those - and also ones from companies that offer the "preloaded" version - are fine with ATMs in this country... as are UK cards with the 4 numeral PINs most commonly used there!

Peter

Bank says yes, bank says fine, bank says should work. I have heard them all. Bank has no liability but everything to gain by behaving this way.

By saying "fine" the bank avoids spending support time (meaning cost to them) setting up a 4-digit PIN.

1. If the 6-digit PIN does work, the bank comes ahead by not spending time changing to 4 digit PIN.
2. If the 6-digit PIN does NOT work, the bank has no liability. They would say they are sorry (yeah) it happened to you. They managed to postpone doing work. Not only that they have nothing but upside in their favor. If the customer decides not doing anything about the non functional 6-digit PIN, the bank avoided providing service. If the 6-digit PIN worked, the bank again avoided providing service. It is only if it does not work and if the customer complains to the bank with evidence, the bank needs to provide service.

Yes, there are many places in Europe that are cash-only. I encounter it all the time, at least in the UK and Ireland. Not all cultures are as credit-card-reliant as we are. B&Bs, restaurants, pubs - many may not be set up for CC.

A friend of mine tried to get cash from a bank today here in the UK using her Swiss card with 6 number pin, refused. Went into the bank and asked , they said no chance without the 4 no. Pin. She then tried another bank and the same thing happened. She explained that she had used it in S.Africa, Germany, Italy without problem, they just shook their heads and couldn't help. She is going South tomorrow so will try in a bigger town . I don't see her getting any joy, but I would have thought the bank staff would have phoned or emailed her bank to help her get some cash. Perhaps that is called service and Nat West don't do that. Wait and see what happens tomorrow.

"but I would have thought the bank staff would have phoned or emailed her bank to help her get some cash"

Isn't it more relevant that her own bank didn't tell her that a 4 number PIN was needed in the UK. A bigger town will make no difference, as all the ATM's for a bank are centrally linked, no matter where they are. Why should a bank that's not connected to the ATM customers account start calling internationally for them. Why can't the customer telephone their own bank themselves?

This shows lack of preparation for the trip and if they told their own bank they would be in the UK, why did they not say that a 4 digit PIN was needed?

We have a 6 digit card because all Swiss banks require it. Live in France and use it all over Europe all the time.

Used it in London three times last week, and many times this year.

The point is they require AT LEAST 4 digits, not ONLY 4 digits.

I realize this thread is old, and perhaps still relevant. I'm surprised people experience this problem. I've had my Chase ATM card for as long as I can remember, long before Chase owned my bank. I've had the same 6-digit PIN for the same amount of time. To get cash from an ATM in Europe, all I've ever had to do was enter the first 4 digits of my 6-digit PIN. I have never had a problem getting cash from an ATM in Europe with my Chase card.

When you call your bank to get information on international transactions, NEVER settle on the info you receive from the first person you speak to. Ask to speak to a supervisor who is the expert for "international transactions" (no matter how you may be challenged). You need an employee who is willing to give you his/her full name, title, and contact number. In the event that the information provided is wrong, WRITE your bank and explain how their poor customer service almost ruined your trip. NO ONE should be forced to open multiple bank accounts to prevent cash access from European ATMs. Stop giving banks so much power over your life, and demand better service!

Traveling with a 2nd ATM card (with a 4-digit PIN) does provide more security, but it forces you to worry about carrying another card, and most people don't want to open a new bank account just for the purpose of taking a trip to Europe. Who can blame them?

4 digit PINs are standard in Germany and in Finland. I know because I have several cards from both countries. They were standard in Sweden many years ago, not sure about the present situation. And yes, merchant terminals and ATM offer us only 4 fields for entering the PIN.

6 digit PINs are standard in Switzerland. According to second hand knowledge I got from Swiss people using those cards is fine nearly everywhere. Obviously the software is smart enough to vary the number of input fields according to the card. However, they knew that problems existed at least in Iceland, it was recommended to have the bank change the card to 4 digits before traveling there. I'm not sure whether the problems still exist today or whether the advice has just survived longer than poorly programmed terminal software. Better be on the safe side, there are many small countries in Europe and practices do vary a lot.

^^^"Traveling with a 2nd ATM card (with a 4-digit PIN) does provide more security, but it forces you to worry about carrying another card, and most people don't want to open a new bank account just for the purpose of taking a trip to Europe. Who can blame them?"

This is exactly what I do - my main credit union account plus a small bank account just for travel. Gives me the backup ATM card so often recommended, and an easy place to stash vacation funds.

"but it forces you to worry about carrying another card. . ."

Ummm. When I go to Europe I simply take my Capital One ATM card and leave my BofA one at home. I'm sorry, but I don't get how I am being "forced" to worry about carrying another card. What am I missing here?

As to the extra bank account. I've actually enjoyed having that extra bank account. When I have a little extra money I deposit it in that account and then when I travel, I magically seem to have some extra travel money. There's no charge and there's certainly no difficulty in "managing" a small checking account that you use essentially as a savings account.

<i><font color=#555555>"When I go to Europe I simply take my Capital One ATM card and leave my BofA one at home. I'm sorry, but I don't get how I am being "forced" to worry about carrying another card. What am I missing here?"</font></i>

You're missing the 2nd card to worry about, because you decided to leave yours at home. Not sure how that point escaped you.