Questions about Credit Card/Debit Card in France?
Sep 6th, 2004, 05:28 AM
#1
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Questions about Credit Card/Debit Card in France?
I have 2 credit cards and a debit card (w/ Visa Logo). I'll be in France for 2 weeks.
1. How much euros should I bring with me (get at my local bank)?
2. If I need cash during the trip, using the debit card is the best deal?
3. What questions do I ask my 2 credit card companies to determine which one is the least expensive to use?
4. What is a conversion fee?
5. Anything else I need to know about using credit cards in France?
Thanks, Annie
1. How much euros should I bring with me (get at my local bank)?
2. If I need cash during the trip, using the debit card is the best deal?
3. What questions do I ask my 2 credit card companies to determine which one is the least expensive to use?
4. What is a conversion fee?
5. Anything else I need to know about using credit cards in France?
Thanks, Annie
Sep 6th, 2004, 05:40 AM
#2
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1. I always wait until I get to Europe to get my Euro. If it makes you feel warm & fuzzy having some when you arrive, get 50 Euro at the airport prior to departure
2. Getting cash with your debit card is your best deal. The funds will be debited from your checking account. I would recommend having your bank disable the Visa portion of the debit card. If you should lose it in Europe, someone could charge on the visa portion without using the pin, and wipe out your checking account. Of course, you will get the money refunded into your account, but just think of the hassle.
3. Ask your credit card what transaction fees they have. Some have up to 2-3%, and some have none.
4. Conversion fee is the 1% fee that visa and mastercharge charge for converting your money from Euro to Dollars. That's a normal fee for all Visa/Mastercard transactions. Your bank may add on to that conversion fee. Ask them that question when you inquire about #3 above.
5. Have a nice & great & safe trip.
2. Getting cash with your debit card is your best deal. The funds will be debited from your checking account. I would recommend having your bank disable the Visa portion of the debit card. If you should lose it in Europe, someone could charge on the visa portion without using the pin, and wipe out your checking account. Of course, you will get the money refunded into your account, but just think of the hassle.
3. Ask your credit card what transaction fees they have. Some have up to 2-3%, and some have none.
4. Conversion fee is the 1% fee that visa and mastercharge charge for converting your money from Euro to Dollars. That's a normal fee for all Visa/Mastercard transactions. Your bank may add on to that conversion fee. Ask them that question when you inquire about #3 above.
5. Have a nice & great & safe trip.
Sep 6th, 2004, 06:00 AM
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1-Not necesssary IMO to bring euro, but some people like to have 50-100 euro in their wallets when they land. All airports have multiple ATMs or, less attractively, exchange booths where you can exchange USD.
2-ATM card tied to Plus or Cirrus network, or debit card with VISA or M/C logos works great. Ask your bank what fee, if any, they will charge you.
Let them know of your travel plans/dates so they don't block card use (they'll believe the card was stolen). Don't use the credit card for cash advance unless its a last resort(usually excessive fees involved)
3-VISA will take its obligatory 1%. Are there any other fees added by the cc/bank when charging in foreign countries? For example, Citibank adds another 2% for total 3% conversion fee.
4-See above
5-Make sure you are charged in local currency(ie euro or pounds) when signing the credit card receipt. See other posts re
quot;dynamic currency conversion". Don't let the merchant "do you a favor" by converting your bill to dollars. You'll likely pay more for the "convenience".
In general, I recommend using your credit cards to charge for whatever you can, and us the ATM card for the rest. That should cut significantly the amount of local currency you need to carry at any one time.
Bring some USD or TC for backup (perhaps $200 worth).
2-ATM card tied to Plus or Cirrus network, or debit card with VISA or M/C logos works great. Ask your bank what fee, if any, they will charge you.
Let them know of your travel plans/dates so they don't block card use (they'll believe the card was stolen). Don't use the credit card for cash advance unless its a last resort(usually excessive fees involved)
3-VISA will take its obligatory 1%. Are there any other fees added by the cc/bank when charging in foreign countries? For example, Citibank adds another 2% for total 3% conversion fee.
4-See above
5-Make sure you are charged in local currency(ie euro or pounds) when signing the credit card receipt. See other posts re
quot;dynamic currency conversion". Don't let the merchant "do you a favor" by converting your bill to dollars. You'll likely pay more for the "convenience".In general, I recommend using your credit cards to charge for whatever you can, and us the ATM card for the rest. That should cut significantly the amount of local currency you need to carry at any one time.
Bring some USD or TC for backup (perhaps $200 worth).
Sep 6th, 2004, 11:10 AM
#5
Most people seem comfortable if they stick to similar methods they use at home for money. I am a cash from ATM (not credit card) type in daily life, and that's what works best for me when I travel. I'm not afraid of carrying a relatively "large" sum of cash, but really don't like to use my credit card except for a large expense like a hotel bill.
I advise others not to bother getting cash before you go, as it is not necessary. But sure enough I marched to my local bank and took out $150USD worth in Swiss Franc for my last trip, go figure.
The only pre-planning I did with my various cards was to write the 'call the US collect' number in my address book in case they were lost or stolen in Europe.
I advise others not to bother getting cash before you go, as it is not necessary. But sure enough I marched to my local bank and took out $150USD worth in Swiss Franc for my last trip, go figure.
The only pre-planning I did with my various cards was to write the 'call the US collect' number in my address book in case they were lost or stolen in Europe.
Sep 6th, 2004, 01:50 PM
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Budman, or anyone else, I just have to ask. If I ask the bank to disable the Visa portion will the ATM part definitely still work? Obviously, you wouldn't have suggested it if you didn't think it would work, but I just have to be sure about it, as I'll be telling my 14 family members to do the same thing, and I'd hate to get there, and none of us could get Euros out of the ATM machine. So, my question is, have you (or anyone else) actually disabled the Visa portion of check card, and then successfully got Euros out of the ATM? Annie
Sep 6th, 2004, 02:19 PM
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Annie, I did on my last trip to Ireland. To check it out for your own piece of mind before you leave the States, have the Visa portion disabled, then go to an ATM and see if you can still get cash by using your PIN. Then go to a store and try to buy something using the Visa (without using your pin).
That actually happened to me. I disabled the Visa and a couple of days later when to a photo store to buy additional memory chips for my digital camera with my ATM Visa Debit card. It was rejected. I then went to the bank to use the card at the ATM machine to get cash, using my PIN, and it worked.
I guess the key is to check it out before you leave to make sure your bank did the right thing.
That actually happened to me. I disabled the Visa and a couple of days later when to a photo store to buy additional memory chips for my digital camera with my ATM Visa Debit card. It was rejected. I then went to the bank to use the card at the ATM machine to get cash, using my PIN, and it worked.
I guess the key is to check it out before you leave to make sure your bank did the right thing.
Sep 6th, 2004, 02:40 PM
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OK, one more question. I have relatives with only ATM cards, no debit cards (w/Visa logo). Some say they've used those ATM cards with no problem at ATMs in France before. If I understand correctly, from reading on this site, some are having problems using ATM only cards in France/Europe. Is this a new problem, using ATM only cards in France? .. (Thanks for answering ALL these questions) Annie
Sep 6th, 2004, 03:03 PM
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No, it's not a problem. Check on the back of the ATM card, and you will find it is either under the Plus or Cirrus system. Most ATM's take both.
My ATM card is on the Plus system, and I've never had a problem in France.
Maybe someone else can chime in and tell of their experiences.
My ATM card is on the Plus system, and I've never had a problem in France.
Maybe someone else can chime in and tell of their experiences.
Sep 6th, 2004, 03:50 PM
#12
ATM cards are easy to use in France. You do need to keep a few things in mind, tho. The PIN may only be four digits long, all numbers, no letters. Change yours befor you go, if it's longer than 4 digits, and learn the numbers that go with the letters if you use the letters to remember your PIN.
Also, the ATM will only access your checking account. If you plan on shifting money from savings to checking, do it before you go.
Every ATM I have used in Europe was multilingual and included English, so you won't have to learn French fdinancial vocabulary.
One other caution for the paranoid: The ATM's hold your card inside during a transaction, and if something goes wrong, it can eat your card. It's a good idea to have a secondary backup ATM card from a different bank, just in case getting to the same bank the next business day to retrieve your card is not practical. There is usually some bank near your home that will open a free checking account with an ATM cardand give you a gift to boot. Put your backup funds in there and you're safe.
Also, the ATM will only access your checking account. If you plan on shifting money from savings to checking, do it before you go.
Every ATM I have used in Europe was multilingual and included English, so you won't have to learn French fdinancial vocabulary.
One other caution for the paranoid: The ATM's hold your card inside during a transaction, and if something goes wrong, it can eat your card. It's a good idea to have a secondary backup ATM card from a different bank, just in case getting to the same bank the next business day to retrieve your card is not practical. There is usually some bank near your home that will open a free checking account with an ATM cardand give you a gift to boot. Put your backup funds in there and you're safe.
Sep 6th, 2004, 04:08 PM
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I used my debit with Visa logo on my trip to England and France recently. Since I use this as my only credit card, I did not disable the Visa part. I used this card everywhere both at ATM's for cash and as a credit card that of course debited my account. It worked great. I checked all my conversion rates when I got home and they were right on. Didn't have to pay any transaction fees either. I did let my bank know that I would be traveling in Europe. If you will be using your debit card for bigger amounts (train tickets, hotel rooms, etc) make sure to check with your bank as to what your daily limit is both for cash withdrawals and credit purchases. Sometimes they can even increase them for the duration of your trip if that is necessary.
My daughter sometimes uses my debit account also so she brought the second card and we locked it up in the hotel safe in case something happened to mine. I also always make copies of the front and back of all my important documents, leave a copy in the hotel and one at home in the US. That way if I have any problems, I have all the numbers with me. Worst case scenario, I can call home to the US and have someone there give me the numbers or cancel cards for me should they be lost or stolen.
It was very convenient to use the debit card and all the ATM machines worked fine. The only place I had a problem with the card was using it to buy metro or tube (tickets). I know some mentioned that they didn't work at any ticket machines, but sometimes mine did and sometimes it didn't. If it didn't, I just went to the ticket window to buy the ticket.
ps I did bring one regular credit card with me in case of emergency.
My daughter sometimes uses my debit account also so she brought the second card and we locked it up in the hotel safe in case something happened to mine. I also always make copies of the front and back of all my important documents, leave a copy in the hotel and one at home in the US. That way if I have any problems, I have all the numbers with me. Worst case scenario, I can call home to the US and have someone there give me the numbers or cancel cards for me should they be lost or stolen.
It was very convenient to use the debit card and all the ATM machines worked fine. The only place I had a problem with the card was using it to buy metro or tube (tickets). I know some mentioned that they didn't work at any ticket machines, but sometimes mine did and sometimes it didn't. If it didn't, I just went to the ticket window to buy the ticket.
ps I did bring one regular credit card with me in case of emergency.
Sep 6th, 2004, 04:08 PM
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I've never had my card "eaten up" by an ATM machine, but I have had it returned and rejected.
Push comes to shove, if you should lose your ATM card, make sure you have a PIN for your credit card. Of course, it may cost you a couple of dollars more for using your credit card as a cash advance, but if you pay it off when you get your statement, it will be minimal.
Push comes to shove, if you should lose your ATM card, make sure you have a PIN for your credit card. Of course, it may cost you a couple of dollars more for using your credit card as a cash advance, but if you pay it off when you get your statement, it will be minimal.
Sep 6th, 2004, 05:46 PM
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so, I will ask again because I keep getting conflicting answers. My VISA debit/check card has the CIRRUS logo on the back. Most cirrus are on MASTERCARD. If I find an atm that has CIRRUS mark but is a MASTERCARD logo atm will my VISA enable me to get cash in Europe? In other words, will my card work in ANY atm that has the CIRRUS mark or only those that has VISA and CIRRUS?
Sep 6th, 2004, 06:00 PM
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If your card has a cirrus logo and the machine has a cirrus logo, it should work.
I think what is being said is that while in the past, machines had logos of all the shared teller networks and cc companies; for example machines had both cirrus and plus and mastercard and visa, some machines in some countries are becoming more selective and not showing all logos and thus this forces you to be more selective in using machines.
I think what is being said is that while in the past, machines had logos of all the shared teller networks and cc companies; for example machines had both cirrus and plus and mastercard and visa, some machines in some countries are becoming more selective and not showing all logos and thus this forces you to be more selective in using machines.
Sep 6th, 2004, 07:03 PM
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If your card had cirrus on it and the machine had cirrus on it, but your card was an ATM only (no Visa or Mastercard) logo -- then it will not work at an increasing number of banks. Many are now using Visa Services for all their international exchanges including ATM's. But so far as I know, Visa will honor the Master Card logo on a debit card. The real problem CAN happen (note not always be a problem) when your card has no Visa or Mastercard symbol because it isn't able to be used as a debit card as well as an ATM card.
Recently someone suggested that debit/ATM cards were almost always Visa cards and that Master Card only does credit cards, but apparently that is not true.
Recently someone suggested that debit/ATM cards were almost always Visa cards and that Master Card only does credit cards, but apparently that is not true.
