Fish and chips--yes! Chip and Pin--??
#1
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Fish and chips--yes! Chip and Pin--??
I am heading to England this summer and I have been looking at currency and the best credit cards to use. I have read that travel is difficult without the chip and pin card. Does anyone have experience with this? Will a regular credit card work okay or do I need to get a new card . . . And does anyone have a recommendation for a cc company that does the chip and pin in the US?
#2
"<i>I have read that travel is difficult without the chip and pin card.</i>"
No it isn't.
There <i>are</i> the odd places where a magnetic strip card doesn't work, but not enough to put any sort of crimp in your trip. Just use your current credit and ATM cards. The place you probably won't be able to use them are train/tube ticket machines (but there is always a staffed window so no problem) and the occasional automated petrol pump.
No it isn't.
There <i>are</i> the odd places where a magnetic strip card doesn't work, but not enough to put any sort of crimp in your trip. Just use your current credit and ATM cards. The place you probably won't be able to use them are train/tube ticket machines (but there is always a staffed window so no problem) and the occasional automated petrol pump.
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In the UK, as noted above, there is almost no problem with this at present. Long threads exist about this whole thing but the bottom line, in almost all places you might go in the UK, your antiquated American credit card will most assuredly work fine.
At least for now and the foreseeable uture.
At least for now and the foreseeable uture.
#6
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I got the information from a couple of random travel blogs which is why I wanted to verify. There was an interesting article (nerd wallets? I think) about the system and why it probably won't be implemented in US--at least any time soon.
I am glad that my current card will still work.
I am glad that my current card will still work.
#7
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I live in the UK and use my American credit and debit cards all the time. Instead of you entering the PIN, the cashier swipes the card. Personally I prefer to pay cash for small transactions, so never run into the problem janisj describes (though I am sure she is correct).
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Some US credit cards--like the Chase BA Visa--have embedded chips now that help when using them in Europe. There's no PIN, but the card at least seems to work everywhere without issue. Typically, cards are read at sales point and register automatically prints out receipt for signature (these cards are also called "chip and sign" by some)
#9
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I agree with all of the above. You will have no problems using your card in the UK. I would advise you to make sure that the back of your card is signed though. I often find that American visitors have not signed their cards, or prefer to show a drivers license rather than having a signature on the credit card itself. This is unusual in the UK and might confuse your server.