SNCF doesn't accept US Credit Cards
May 15th, 2017, 02:21 PM
#1
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SNCF doesn't accept US Credit Cards
I travel regularly to France and have regularly booked and gotten great "in country rates" (MUCH cheaper than RailEurope and other third-party sites catering to tourists) using my US credit cards. However, this time the verification system doesn't accept VISA or American Express, and asks me to contact the banks, which of course are helpless: I have plenty of credit, and they have no control over the third-party verification systems in Europe that the site uses: SafeKey for American Express and Verified by Visa for Visa. Does anyone have a workaround for this? The fares I want and used to get are on-line only. Please don't respond by telling me that you haven't had trouble with your own card~ it was either in the past or your bank works with the European security interface. I have Bank of America, Chas, and AmEx and these do not work. I'd like to have a way to access these fares. Merci in advance!
May 15th, 2017, 02:42 PM
#3
In addition, try these:
https://loco2.com/
https://www.trainline.eu/
More info here:
https://www.seat61.com/France-trains...tickets_online
https://loco2.com/
https://www.trainline.eu/
More info here:
https://www.seat61.com/France-trains...tickets_online
May 15th, 2017, 03:49 PM
#4
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If SNCF doesn't work for you, use www.trainline.eu
May 15th, 2017, 05:04 PM
#6
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Do they accept Paypal? In buying train and bus tickets online for Spain, I found that I could complete the transaction via PayPal when a US credit card was not accepted, even thought the same card was linked with PayPal.
May 15th, 2017, 07:37 PM
#7
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Visa themselves have made some changes to the Verified by Visa program. You may need to confirm or to re-enter your information:
https://verified.visa.com/
You may also want to sign up for Visa Checkout:
https://usa.visa.com/pay-with-visa/visa-checkout.html
European businesses have really enhanced their security in reference to accepting on line payments, not just the SNCF.
https://verified.visa.com/
You may also want to sign up for Visa Checkout:
https://usa.visa.com/pay-with-visa/visa-checkout.html
European businesses have really enhanced their security in reference to accepting on line payments, not just the SNCF.
May 16th, 2017, 02:23 AM
#8
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I prefer www.trainline.eu to SNCF's own www.voyages-sncf.com
Same system, same prices, same products, same trains, same no-fee, just easier, with none of SNCF's Machiavellian redirects to Rail Europe in the States nor UK Voyages-sncf in the UK.
Same system, same prices, same products, same trains, same no-fee, just easier, with none of SNCF's Machiavellian redirects to Rail Europe in the States nor UK Voyages-sncf in the UK.
May 16th, 2017, 03:50 AM
#9
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It isn't true they don't accept US cards as I just bought 2 tickets on www.voyages-sncf.com in the last couple of weeks. I used a SWA Visa (which is administered by Chase bank). I did notify Chase I would be making online foreign purchases for trip planning.
When I put in the purchase, the "Verified by VISA" thing came up which it processed for a minute or so, and it named Chase bank so it could tell where the card was from.
I did actually have trouble with them last year, but not this.
SNCF doesn't have any "Machiavellian" redirects, I never get redirected anywhere on it. People who get redirected request it in some way, it certainly doesn't do it automatically.
When I put in the purchase, the "Verified by VISA" thing came up which it processed for a minute or so, and it named Chase bank so it could tell where the card was from.
I did actually have trouble with them last year, but not this.
SNCF doesn't have any "Machiavellian" redirects, I never get redirected anywhere on it. People who get redirected request it in some way, it certainly doesn't do it automatically.
May 16th, 2017, 05:58 AM
#10
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I do find that as US user, if I enter that info as my country of origin, I am re-directed to Raileurope which is not the best place for buying tickets!
It is not unusual to have some problems with your CC making payments to websites in other countries IMO - usually a call to the bank will then let the payment go thru.
And as Man in seat 61 says, that alternative site for purchasing tickets is a blessing!
It is not unusual to have some problems with your CC making payments to websites in other countries IMO - usually a call to the bank will then let the payment go thru.
And as Man in seat 61 says, that alternative site for purchasing tickets is a blessing!
May 16th, 2017, 08:30 AM
#11
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Yes just use www.thretrainline.eu - check Man Seat 61's commercial site - www.seat61.com for useful help with online tickets.
May 17th, 2017, 03:31 AM
#12
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The old trick is to choose a non-RailEurope country. I used to specify Antarctica. No bump; printed out tickets at home or picked them up at any SNCF station. This website doesn't need that dodge: https://en.voyages-sncf.com/en/
Oct 31st, 2017, 03:47 AM
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One year ago (Oct 2016), I could not pay for train tickets at the SNCF site as the verification site rejected my Chase Visa. I was able to use a Citi Mastercard. This week (Oct 2017) I had exactly the same experience. In addition to those cards, I have several various credit and debit cards. I find that any one may or may not be accepted at such locations as metro ticket machines, autoroute toll stations, automatic gasoline pumps, etc. Sometimes a card is accepted sometimes and sometimes not. My advice is, bring options. I do not advise carrying a lot of cash. Foreigners are obvious in Paris, and are a target for very skillful pickpockets. Continuing on that subject, it is the law to carry your passport. However, the Parisian police will tell you to leave your passport in your hotel and carry a photocopy. It's easier to deal with being separated from your passport temporarily than permanently.
Oct 31st, 2017, 04:01 AM
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Europeans pretty much all have chip and pin cards, which are universally accepted. Most/many American just have chip and signature cards, which do not work many places in Europe. You can solve this problem by getting a chip and pin card.
Oct 31st, 2017, 07:28 AM
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<i> I could not pay for train tickets at the SNCF site</i>
If your credit card is not accepted at the SNCF site, purchase tickets at one of these sites:
www.trainline.eu
www.loco2.com
<i>I have several various credit and debit cards. I find that any one may or may not be accepted at such locations as metro ticket machines, autoroute toll stations, automatic gasoline pumps, etc.</i>
Card acceptance is a function of your bank´s rules. There are a few banks in the US which issue chip & PIN cards. These will always be accepted at any point of sale in the EU.
The next best card to carry is a chip & signature card with an off-line PIN. These are generally accepted everywhere, including pay-at-the-pump gas stations.
I would avoid chip & signature cards with on-line PINs. These have the overall lowest acceptance ratio of any card configuration. Unfortunately, most US banks issue chip & signature cards with on-line PINs
<i>the Parisian police will tell you to leave your passport in your hotel and carry a photocopy.</i>
I know several Parisian policemen and I have never heard one say that. They will tell you to leave you passport in your hotel, as long as you stay close to your hotel, and to carry some other form of ID such as a drivers license. Photo copies of anything are never accept as proof of ID.
If your credit card is not accepted at the SNCF site, purchase tickets at one of these sites:
www.trainline.eu
www.loco2.com
<i>I have several various credit and debit cards. I find that any one may or may not be accepted at such locations as metro ticket machines, autoroute toll stations, automatic gasoline pumps, etc.</i>
Card acceptance is a function of your bank´s rules. There are a few banks in the US which issue chip & PIN cards. These will always be accepted at any point of sale in the EU.
The next best card to carry is a chip & signature card with an off-line PIN. These are generally accepted everywhere, including pay-at-the-pump gas stations.
I would avoid chip & signature cards with on-line PINs. These have the overall lowest acceptance ratio of any card configuration. Unfortunately, most US banks issue chip & signature cards with on-line PINs
<i>the Parisian police will tell you to leave your passport in your hotel and carry a photocopy.</i>
I know several Parisian policemen and I have never heard one say that. They will tell you to leave you passport in your hotel, as long as you stay close to your hotel, and to carry some other form of ID such as a drivers license. Photo copies of anything are never accept as proof of ID.
Oct 31st, 2017, 07:59 AM
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StCirq: <i>Europeans pretty much all have chip and pin cards, which are universally accepted. Most/many American just have chip and signature cards, which do not work many places in Europe.</i>
On the contrary, US chip and signature credit cards work <b>MOST PLACES in Europe</b>, at least in my experience (Netherlands, France, Italy, Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia, Montenegro, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, Finland, and Russia in the last 2-3 years).
<i>You can solve this problem by getting a chip and pin card.</i>
I have one but rarely need to use it. So far, I've needed my chip and PIN card only at certain ticket machines (Netherlands train ticket machine; SNCF ticket machines in France; Trenitalia ticket machines in Italy; maybe at Paris Metro ticket machines.). My chip and signature cards have worked fine everywhere else, including at many machines which did not even ask for a PIN.
Automated gas pumps in Europe may not accept chip and signature cards, as I understand it, but I've never tried to use one.
Still, few American financial institutions even offer chip and PIN credit cards, so it's not simple for everyone to get one.
On the contrary, US chip and signature credit cards work <b>MOST PLACES in Europe</b>, at least in my experience (Netherlands, France, Italy, Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia, Montenegro, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, Finland, and Russia in the last 2-3 years).
<i>You can solve this problem by getting a chip and pin card.</i>
I have one but rarely need to use it. So far, I've needed my chip and PIN card only at certain ticket machines (Netherlands train ticket machine; SNCF ticket machines in France; Trenitalia ticket machines in Italy; maybe at Paris Metro ticket machines.). My chip and signature cards have worked fine everywhere else, including at many machines which did not even ask for a PIN.
Automated gas pumps in Europe may not accept chip and signature cards, as I understand it, but I've never tried to use one.
Still, few American financial institutions even offer chip and PIN credit cards, so it's not simple for everyone to get one.
Oct 31st, 2017, 09:04 AM
#17
It is near impossible to get a chip and pin card in the US. My chip and signature cards worked without flaw recently in September in Paris, including in the Metro for buying carnets at a machine, no pin or signature requested. In stores and restaurants the cardreader machines just spat out an extra slip to be signed. And my magnetic stripe debit card had no difficulty getting cash from a bank ATM.
Oct 31st, 2017, 09:30 AM
#18
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<i>buying carnets at a machine, no pin or signature requested.</i>
Aren´t you concerned at all that your credit card can be stolen and used without the thief´s knowing your PIN or even your signature?
Aren´t you concerned at all that your credit card can be stolen and used without the thief´s knowing your PIN or even your signature?
Oct 31st, 2017, 10:06 AM
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AJPeabody: <i>It is near impossible to get a chip and pin card in the US.</i>
No, it isn't. It is still easy to get an Andrew's Federal Credit Union Visa (also no foreign transaction fee and no annual fee). This card may default to signature when a human is involved, but that should be irrelevant. It still works in machines where a PIN is requested and a chip and signature card will not work. I had this card and used it in Europe for a few years but canceled it when I got another card from another credit union. It was very handy.
Anyone can join the Andrews Federal Credit Union - by joining the American Consumer Council ($5 fee to join).
No, it isn't. It is still easy to get an Andrew's Federal Credit Union Visa (also no foreign transaction fee and no annual fee). This card may default to signature when a human is involved, but that should be irrelevant. It still works in machines where a PIN is requested and a chip and signature card will not work. I had this card and used it in Europe for a few years but canceled it when I got another card from another credit union. It was very handy.
Anyone can join the Andrews Federal Credit Union - by joining the American Consumer Council ($5 fee to join).
