pattymat

Can someone tell me if grocery stores in the UK accept credit cards at the checkout? Or is it still cash only?

flanneruk

Chains all accept credit cards, and give cashback on debit cards. At one of my local stores in the depths of the countryside, they even accept your fingerprint.

Note though that many small independent convenience stores require a minimum (often as high as £10) for plastic and want cash for transactions any smaller. This is particularly true round central London's tourist ghettoes, where supermarket chains are thin on the ground.

nona1

Good lord, we really are the Boondocks aren't we Patty? ;-)

Yes you can use your cards. In fact it is very rare to see anyone using cash now instead of a debit card.

You'll need (or at least find life a lot easier) with a 'chip and pin' card.

Heimdall

"Or is it still cash only?" That must have been a long time ago. Yes, you can use your credit card, and it doesn't have to be chip & pin. Just ask the check-out to swipe the card, and you sign as anywhere else.

Many of the big supermarkets have no-fee ATMs at the front of the store as well. Watch out at the small convenience stores, though. Often their ATMs charge a fee for withdrawals.

bilboburgler

Now someone remind me what is a grocery store ;-)

What you will find is supermarkets, mini markets (say attached to petrol stations) or just on the high street with the same names as the big 4, a few local mini-markets, single product stores (bread, fruit & veg, etc) and also open markets. The open markets will need cash

JulieG

Yes, everybody takes credit cards, but they do have something new called a "chip" in their cards. I believe it's a security measure instituted in the last few years. So on my recent trip I just got in the habit of telling all the cashiers "it doesn't have a chip" as I handed over my credit card so they would know what to do with it. Many restaurants had nifty little portable credit card swipe machines but they had to do something different with our cards.

jent103

Right - if you're American, your credit card most likely doesn't have the "chip" that makes European cards "chip and PIN." So instead of swiping it yourself, you'll have to hand it to the cashier to swipe. Most all the cashiers will know what's going on, and if they don't, their supervisor will.

noe847

I have always used my credit card, no problem, except sometimes they have to search around for a pen (as it's not needed for the chip-and-PIN credit cards that the UK residents use.) You can expedite this by having a pen ready (useful also in other stores/restaurants.)

W9London

John Lewis does not accept credit card (takes debit cards), though they are a department store, not supermarkets.

Tesco/Asda/Sainsbury/Somerfield/M&S/ Waitrose definitely do take C/C. Dunno about Iceland/Aldi/Lidl/Morrison but guess they do.

Aside from that, note short trading hours on Sundays.

Odin

John Lewis accepts Visa and Mastercard plus debit cards.

bilboburgler

I guess you are all aware about not letting people swipe the card twice and keeping the spare certificate and all those scams

flanneruk

Credit card scams in John Lewis?

Like Mother Theresa smuggling cocaine.

RM67

It's M&S that doesn't take credit cards, isn't it (though you can finally use a debit card now 8-) )

noe847

I've used credit cards at M&S many a time.

flanneruk

No. M+S not only take plastic, but many larger branches even take soft currency.

nona1

M&S even has its own credit card.