Using a US Credit Card in France
May 27th, 2012, 03:26 PM
#61
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For the record, just passing along what I've read, sometimes when you use a chip and signature card and the merchant insists on a pin, if you enter 0000 it works. Haven't been in that situation and don't shoot the messenger please.
May 27th, 2012, 06:26 PM
#64
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I keep chiming in on these threads to say again that the U.S. Bank Flexperks Visa chipped card worked for us last fall in France in several different ways.
It worked in the kiosks for the Metro in both Lyon and Paris, and also in the kiosks for Transilien tickets in Paris with neither signature nor PIN required.
It also worked on two occasions in parking garages (Troyes and Reims) with a PIN required, no signature.
It worked as a chip and signature card in many grocery stores (Franprix, Dia, G20) in the 11th arr. in Paris near our apartment. In these stores our magnetic strip Capital One card was not accepted.
It worked without either signature or PIN in a Tabac where we refilled our Navigo Découverte passes.
It worked without PIN or signature in automated toll booths on the autoroute around Troyes and Reims.
It did not work in any fuel pump anywhere we tried.
So, unlike the experience of others reporting here, our card functioned as a chip and signature card, as a chip and PIN card, and with neither signature nor PIN. I look forward to hearing about others' experiences with other cards.
It worked in the kiosks for the Metro in both Lyon and Paris, and also in the kiosks for Transilien tickets in Paris with neither signature nor PIN required.
It also worked on two occasions in parking garages (Troyes and Reims) with a PIN required, no signature.
It worked as a chip and signature card in many grocery stores (Franprix, Dia, G20) in the 11th arr. in Paris near our apartment. In these stores our magnetic strip Capital One card was not accepted.
It worked without either signature or PIN in a Tabac where we refilled our Navigo Découverte passes.
It worked without PIN or signature in automated toll booths on the autoroute around Troyes and Reims.
It did not work in any fuel pump anywhere we tried.
So, unlike the experience of others reporting here, our card functioned as a chip and signature card, as a chip and PIN card, and with neither signature nor PIN. I look forward to hearing about others' experiences with other cards.
May 27th, 2012, 08:20 PM
#66
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With rare exception, only credit cards issued by French banks will be accepted at automated fuel pumps. Don't assume your pin and chip/signature card will allow you to purchase fuel on weekends, at night, or on holidays with the attendants are not available.
Never allow your fuel tank to deplete lower than levels giving sufficient margin to purchase fuel on the next regular business day.
Never allow your fuel tank to deplete lower than levels giving sufficient margin to purchase fuel on the next regular business day.
May 27th, 2012, 08:35 PM
#67
The only machines that I know of that require neither signature nor PIN are the toll booths. In the old days, the machines in parking lots also worked that way, but now they all seem to ask for a PIN.
May 28th, 2012, 03:49 AM
#69
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Myer....It's quite true that there are many merchants in the US who don't require signatures for amounts under a certain minimum....my grocercy chain doesn't reqire signatures for amounts under $50 and the USPS for amounts under $25....I rarely reach the minimum whatever it isfor fast food purchases either and at most gasoline (petrol) self serve stations I swipe my card, sometimes it asks for a zip code (of course that leaes foreigners out altheough I've been told that for foreign cards, entering 00000 does the trick) but even when asked to sign these days, it's on a pos scrteen and hardly ever am asked to show the card. So what? I'm not liable anyway. The postal servicde asks for the card and the clerk enters the ccv.
But I will say this. In the UK, they do make a pretense of checking signatures. Whether some 18 year old university student is going to go out of his or her way to make a stink is another question.
But I will say this. In the UK, they do make a pretense of checking signatures. Whether some 18 year old university student is going to go out of his or her way to make a stink is another question.
May 28th, 2012, 07:39 AM
#70
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>The only machines that I know of that require neither signature nor PIN are the toll booths.
Kerouac, as I indicated, the kiosks in the Metro and for Transilien tickets at the Gare du Nord and in Auvers-sur-Oise did not require either PIN or signature. Perhaps with some cards a PIN might be needed, but it wasn't with this card.
Kerouac, as I indicated, the kiosks in the Metro and for Transilien tickets at the Gare du Nord and in Auvers-sur-Oise did not require either PIN or signature. Perhaps with some cards a PIN might be needed, but it wasn't with this card.
May 29th, 2012, 06:37 AM
#73
Original Poster
xyz123,
Ok. I figured out how to logon to my VISA account.
I was logging in to my regular online account and not specific to VISA.
One small step . . . .
Now for the whole reason to put myself thru this. It better work in France as Chip & PIN.
Will report when we return.
Ok. I figured out how to logon to my VISA account.
I was logging in to my regular online account and not specific to VISA.
One small step . . . .
Now for the whole reason to put myself thru this. It better work in France as Chip & PIN.
Will report when we return.
May 29th, 2012, 09:30 AM
#77
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I got my Andrews Visa card two weeks ago. I made my first purchase using it Friday to check how to monitor the account. The Andrews savings and Visa payment accounts link directly to my Quicken software. The Visa ”payment” account is opened so you can directly transfer money from your Andrews savings for payments if you wish. It looks as if the Visa Card account will need to be monitored by manually entering charges into Quicken then checking online periodically (that is how I handled Cap One for years until they set up for Quicken Direct Link). Payments can be made by Bill Pay software or mail.
I’m looking forward on reports on how the card works, mostly for gas pumps and Autoroute tolls. Sarastro mentioned that only French issued credit cards are accepted at gas pumps. I hope he is wrong, but he usually isn’t. If he is right I will have to pay attention to the gauge before the manned booths close.
We will be spending a week in Italy at the end of our month long trip this year. There doesn’t seem to as much chip and pin chatter in the Italy tread but what little I find there makes me think that the situation is similar to France. If anyone has any more information let us know.
It has been mentioned a few times that Andrews doesn’t have a rewards program and they charge a FX fee. My card has “Rewards” written on the front it. I haven’t checked the website for the rules but I remember seeing 1 point per dollar charged during the application process. Isn’t the 1% foreign exchange fee charged by Visa not Andrews FCU?
DebitNM don’t worry about if the card doesn’t work as advertised; it wasn’t that much trouble to open the account and it will even less to close. Thank you for doing all the research to make it easy for the rest of us.
I’m looking forward on reports on how the card works, mostly for gas pumps and Autoroute tolls. Sarastro mentioned that only French issued credit cards are accepted at gas pumps. I hope he is wrong, but he usually isn’t. If he is right I will have to pay attention to the gauge before the manned booths close.
We will be spending a week in Italy at the end of our month long trip this year. There doesn’t seem to as much chip and pin chatter in the Italy tread but what little I find there makes me think that the situation is similar to France. If anyone has any more information let us know.
It has been mentioned a few times that Andrews doesn’t have a rewards program and they charge a FX fee. My card has “Rewards” written on the front it. I haven’t checked the website for the rules but I remember seeing 1 point per dollar charged during the application process. Isn’t the 1% foreign exchange fee charged by Visa not Andrews FCU?
DebitNM don’t worry about if the card doesn’t work as advertised; it wasn’t that much trouble to open the account and it will even less to close. Thank you for doing all the research to make it easy for the rest of us.
May 29th, 2012, 03:21 PM
#78
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It's going to be an adventure for all of us!...
if I get my card...
I think I'm now finally getting it after going over the bridge, digging the tunnel, swimming the steam, rapelling the cliff and jumping the abyss.
if I get my card...
I think I'm now finally getting it after going over the bridge, digging the tunnel, swimming the steam, rapelling the cliff and jumping the abyss.
Jun 5th, 2012, 03:02 AM
#79
Original Poster
I'm not sure I'll have internet access while away but if I do I'll try to report back. Otherwise it'll wait until we're back.
AlessandraZoe, if it works and avoids lines then it'll be worth it.
DebitNM,
Thank you for all of your research into the Chip & PIN card. Much appreciated.
AlessandraZoe, if it works and avoids lines then it'll be worth it.
DebitNM,
Thank you for all of your research into the Chip & PIN card. Much appreciated.
Jun 15th, 2012, 01:30 PM
#80
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Update:
Finally got my credit cards. They had said two weeks for arrival after my last hurdle (took three calls to get over that hurdle, too). It came within 16 days.
I had no problem accessing online, but I have not used it yet.
Finally got my credit cards. They had said two weeks for arrival after my last hurdle (took three calls to get over that hurdle, too). It came within 16 days.
I had no problem accessing online, but I have not used it yet.
