Dynamic Currency Conversion is Alive & Well in Paris
Nov 24th, 2015, 08:02 AM
#41
'Please don't shoot the messenger. "
No desire to do that. Would be delighted if my Cap One cards would work everywhere! But am not willing to rely on that yet. Happily my PenFed card has no fees.
No desire to do that. Would be delighted if my Cap One cards would work everywhere! But am not willing to rely on that yet. Happily my PenFed card has no fees.
Nov 24th, 2015, 01:21 PM
#42
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" No other card to my knowledge pays cash back on foreign purchases."
What?? I've never heard of any cashback card that excluded foreign purchases. I have 3 and they all give the same percentage cashback on foreign as well as US purchases. I have a Cap One also, I have an Amex Blue Everyday (no fee) and a Chase SWA Visa. They all give cashback on foreign purchases. I don't use the Amex that much abroad as it does have a foreign transaction fee (sometimes it will work online when others won't, though, in foreign countries) and it doesn't give the higher percentage for grocery stores or gas stations if they are foreign ones, but it then gives 1 pct on everything else that doesn't fall into the higher tiers. My Chase Visa just gives 1% on everything except some travel stuff and it has no foreign transaction fee.
What?? I've never heard of any cashback card that excluded foreign purchases. I have 3 and they all give the same percentage cashback on foreign as well as US purchases. I have a Cap One also, I have an Amex Blue Everyday (no fee) and a Chase SWA Visa. They all give cashback on foreign purchases. I don't use the Amex that much abroad as it does have a foreign transaction fee (sometimes it will work online when others won't, though, in foreign countries) and it doesn't give the higher percentage for grocery stores or gas stations if they are foreign ones, but it then gives 1 pct on everything else that doesn't fall into the higher tiers. My Chase Visa just gives 1% on everything except some travel stuff and it has no foreign transaction fee.
Nov 24th, 2015, 06:09 PM
#43
Not to sound like an idiot, but I have a chip and PIN, Is DCC an issue with that?
Frankly I used it in October in France, and never even thought about it. My bad.
With my old card, I was aware of it, but it somehow escaped my notice with the newer card. Ok, I guess I do sound like an idiot.
Frankly I used it in October in France, and never even thought about it. My bad.
With my old card, I was aware of it, but it somehow escaped my notice with the newer card. Ok, I guess I do sound like an idiot.
Nov 24th, 2015, 08:43 PM
#46
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Chip and signature cards are every bit as secure as chip and pin cards except
Yes there is the except. Chip and signature cards protect the banks more than they protect the merchants, who are still supposed to confirm signatures.
Further, most of those from the US carry a number of credit cards. Banks don't want cards with PINs as having to remember various PINs would result in some cards not being used as much as others. Banks don't want to lose any of their card business to holders who cannot remember PINs.
However the concern that some push that chip and signature cards are useless is nonsensical. They will work 99.9% of the time just as well as chip and pin.
That's the theory and certainly what Visa/MC wants everyone to believe. However, there are, for example, plenty of pay-at-the-pump gas stations in France that do not have on-line authentication capability. No matter what Visa says, if you don't have a card with an off-line PIN, and you are attempting a purchase at such a location, your card is useless.
There are also examples of Europeans visiting the US wanting to purchase fuel who cannot get past the required step of entering their zip codes.
I've never heard of any cashback card that excluded foreign purchases. I have 3 and they all give the same percentage cashback on foreign as well as US purchases.
Are you sure that you are receiving cash back on foreign purchases or are you just assuming that you do. If you are mixing foreign transactions with US transactions it might not be obvious, particularly if you receive the cash back at the end of the year. Even if you receive cash back monthly, you will need to be away for a complete billing cycle until the loss is obviously.
I used to think the same as you until I moved to France and my cash back refunds dwindled, then virtually stopped. I changed credit cards making sure that the card I use does not limit refunds. I'll stand by my statement that no card refunds 1½% like the PenFed Defender.
Yes there is the except. Chip and signature cards protect the banks more than they protect the merchants, who are still supposed to confirm signatures.
Further, most of those from the US carry a number of credit cards. Banks don't want cards with PINs as having to remember various PINs would result in some cards not being used as much as others. Banks don't want to lose any of their card business to holders who cannot remember PINs.
However the concern that some push that chip and signature cards are useless is nonsensical. They will work 99.9% of the time just as well as chip and pin.
That's the theory and certainly what Visa/MC wants everyone to believe. However, there are, for example, plenty of pay-at-the-pump gas stations in France that do not have on-line authentication capability. No matter what Visa says, if you don't have a card with an off-line PIN, and you are attempting a purchase at such a location, your card is useless.
There are also examples of Europeans visiting the US wanting to purchase fuel who cannot get past the required step of entering their zip codes.
I've never heard of any cashback card that excluded foreign purchases. I have 3 and they all give the same percentage cashback on foreign as well as US purchases.
Are you sure that you are receiving cash back on foreign purchases or are you just assuming that you do. If you are mixing foreign transactions with US transactions it might not be obvious, particularly if you receive the cash back at the end of the year. Even if you receive cash back monthly, you will need to be away for a complete billing cycle until the loss is obviously.
I used to think the same as you until I moved to France and my cash back refunds dwindled, then virtually stopped. I changed credit cards making sure that the card I use does not limit refunds. I'll stand by my statement that no card refunds 1½% like the PenFed Defender.
Nov 24th, 2015, 08:55 PM
#47
" you will need to be away for a complete billing cycle"
At home I use a Citibank card exclusively aside from a few small recurring charges that go on my Cap One card (because for a while my Citi card was getting compromised and replaced too often). When I'm traveling I use my PenFed and Cap One cards only. I just got back from a 3.5 month trip. I am looking at my most recent credit card statements and the Cap One cash back is on the TOTAL amount of charges, US and foreign.
At home I use a Citibank card exclusively aside from a few small recurring charges that go on my Cap One card (because for a while my Citi card was getting compromised and replaced too often). When I'm traveling I use my PenFed and Cap One cards only. I just got back from a 3.5 month trip. I am looking at my most recent credit card statements and the Cap One cash back is on the TOTAL amount of charges, US and foreign.
Nov 24th, 2015, 09:05 PM
#48
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OK -- sorry to be a bit dense here, but can anyone confirm that the PenFed Platinum Rewards Signature Card is an "off line" CHIP & PIN that does have a "true" PIN, but defaults to signature? Like the Andrews FCU card? I think that's what I read above....
Nov 24th, 2015, 09:31 PM
#49
I have a PenFed Promise Visa with no rewards, so can't help. I can say that my card is signature preferred but works in unmanned kiosks, sometimes the machine asks for a PIN and sometimes it doesn't, but the transaction goes through either way. Have had no reason to try to buy gas with it.
Nov 24th, 2015, 09:53 PM
#51
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I am not sure what you mean by a true PIN. All PINs fulfill at least some useful purpose. The PenFed cards, like most US cards, are chip & signature cards. The default transactions, those made at a staffed positions such as a store, hotel, or restaurant, require a signature.
Where there is no one to assist with the transaction, or unmanned locations, you will need to use the PIN unless the purchase is below a set value (banks do not necessarily disclose the no verification threshold amount). If you purchase some métro tickets at a kiosk, a PIN will probably not be required. If you purchase a monthly Navigo fare at the same kiosk, which is much more expensive, you will probably need to input your PIN.
When you insert your US credit card into the credit card machine, the display automatically changes to English.
Most of the PenFed cards use off-line PINs. I believe that the Platinum Rewards has an off-line PIN as does most, if not all, of the Andrews cards. In spite of the useless (in my view) assurances of Visa/MC that their cards are universally accepted, if you attempt a purchase at location without on line verification capability, you will be glad you have a card with an off-line PIN.
Where there is no one to assist with the transaction, or unmanned locations, you will need to use the PIN unless the purchase is below a set value (banks do not necessarily disclose the no verification threshold amount). If you purchase some métro tickets at a kiosk, a PIN will probably not be required. If you purchase a monthly Navigo fare at the same kiosk, which is much more expensive, you will probably need to input your PIN.
When you insert your US credit card into the credit card machine, the display automatically changes to English.
Most of the PenFed cards use off-line PINs. I believe that the Platinum Rewards has an off-line PIN as does most, if not all, of the Andrews cards. In spite of the useless (in my view) assurances of Visa/MC that their cards are universally accepted, if you attempt a purchase at location without on line verification capability, you will be glad you have a card with an off-line PIN.
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