mastercard in europe?
 

Hello all! Just called my credit card company- Platinum Capitol One Mastercard. They said there will be no fees to use the card in Europe. The money is just coverted to US dollars. How widely accepted is mastercard accepted in Europe?

very widely. don't leave home without it. Never had my m/c rejected anywhere they accept cards.

It is accepted at all the same places that Visa is accepted. (It is called "Eurocard" instead of "Mastercard".

American Express is less widely accepted in Europe.

Do keep in mind that some restaurants and retail merchants do not accept credit cards --so, you will need to access local currrency through either use of an ATM card (best choice), or cashing traveler's checks or US currency at a bank.

Be sure to call the banks at which your cards (Credit and ATM) are registered to report yourself "out of the country"---this will prevent the bank from possibly "shutting down your card" by making the assumption that your number had been fraudulently secured.

Il pass partout - everywhere - also called EuroCard i believe on symbols.

I agree with others. It is very widely accepted.
It used to be called Eurocard. They rebranded the Eurocard symbol, though a few years ago. Thus, nowadays you'll immediately know your Mastercard is accepted as the brand is the same.

All good info. Thanks everyone! BTW, I just double checked and was told that Mastercard charges 1% for overseas transactions. They say something different every time!

Let's not beat this to death because it has been covered a zillion times.

dachsund, for your usage on your Capitol One, Visa and/or Mastercard charge a 1% conversion fee for all foreign transactions for all credit cards. It will not appear as a separate charge on your statement. Capitol One adds no other fees to this. Some banks add another 2 or 3%
for basically doing nothing. You are in good shape with the very best credit card for foreign purchases.

Curious

My mother had problems using mastercard in Greece. Apparently Visa is more widely accepted b/c of the Olympics. I have had no problem using my mastercard in Italy, Germany, Austria, or the UK.

I just got my Mastercard bill (ouch!)following last month's trip to France. The exchange rate they gave me is pretty much what was quoted in the national press (GBP-euro) so I haven't been charged any fees. USD-euro may be different, but I don't see how they can have one rule for me and another for you. I had no problem using the card anywhere, even for tiny amounts like 2.30 euros on a toll road!

Mind you, by paying it all now I don't incur any interest charges. If I had used this card to withdraw cash I would have been charged interest from that day. So I also took my switch/maestro bank cash card to withdraw cash. For this I was charged a 'cash machine fee' of 2.12 GBP for a withdrawal of 200 euros, but that doesn't seem exhorbitant to me.

I also used this card in Spain last year and Italy earlier this year, and had no fees for using it. It is at the ATM's you get charged a machine fee.