Using debit card in France
 

Has anyone used a debit card in France? I am going in 2 weeks and would like to use my debit card for purchases as there is no fee as there is on credit cards.

I used mine there with no problems! Beats hassling with travelers checks any day! Have a great trip!

I used mine all through Europe last year. It was very convenient-no fees, ATMs everywhere.
The first time I was terrified that it would swallow my card. I always went with a friend who stood with me and didn't do it at night.Paranoid!!!. Once a forgot my PIN which was terrifying, I walked away and went back a couple of hours later after my panic subsided and it was fine.Another advantage is you don't need to buy Euros before you leave, just withdraw money from an ATM at the airport on arrival.

I used mine through out Europe with no problems. Remember your bank will charge a transaction fee. I also alerted my bank and credit card companies I would be in Europe and what dates I would be there.

Back in the day I used TC and I took a beating when having them cashed. I got ripped off most times, but as you know, Live and learn.

Have a Fantastic time in France. Eat a Souffle for me;)

Used my debit card all through Paris but I had to change my PIN number to a
4 digit one..I wonder if that has changed..ask your bank.
Have a wonderful time in France!

You shouldn't have problems with a Mastercard or Visa debit card. I've used mine lots without any issues! The one place I was unable to use my card was to purchase tickets from an automated machine at the train station. This is because there is a different technology in the French "debit cards" than in ours; we were able to go to a ticket counter and purchase our tickets without a problem.

You also shouldn't have any problems using it to withdraw money. As TahitiTams said, make sure your PIN is 4-digit - and that if you're like me and it's an alphabetical code, you know what it translates to numerically (i.e., 2 for a, b, or c; 3 for d, e, or f, etc.). I once had to mock up an alphanumeric keypad for myself because I only knew my PIN as a word, and there were no letters on the particular ATM I was using! #-O

Also, it's very good advice that the first time you use your debit card, do it during the day at an ATM attached to an open bank branch, just in case there is any difficulty.

If you <i>are</i> using it to withdraw money (and you should; there's no reason to drag a lot of Euros over there with you unless you get some kind of miraculous exchange rate here), find out from your bank who their partner bank in France is. This will cut down on fees!

For added convenience, the CDG website shows where ATMs are located in the arrivals halls.

BTW, you can post this question on the Europe board and get loads of responses back. (In fact, I know there have been a number of threads there on the subject.) They'll pass along lots of specific details! :)

If you use Capital One Debit Card there are no transaction fees from either your bank or the foreign bank.

Also B of A debit card (if used at their partner banks in France -BNP and England - Barclays) won't charge you interbank fee or transaction fees either.
Check with your bank to find out what the fees will be beforehand.

Use your debt card only at ATMs. If you use them like a charge card and there are problems, you have much less protection with a debt card.

I learned the hard way. Someone got a ahold of my debt card number and filed two charges against it. There was a strong chance I wouldn't get it back at all. Although I did eventually get the money back, there was several months with $1,300 removed from my checking account.

My debt card is no longer a VISA debt card.

Keith

ASK YOUR BANK !!!

My son used a Visa debit card, and it seemed to work all over Europe. He was told he would have problems with a regular debit card.

I'm not sure what fees you are talking about, but if your debit card has a Visa or Mastercard etc logo on it, there is usually at least a 1% conversion fee that they charge on both purchases and ATM withdrawals. If your bank charges a conversion fee, it would be on top of that. Same thing for credit cards. For ATM withdrawals, most banks charge a flat $2-5 fee on top of the conversion fee as well.

And yes, your debit card can be used the same as a credit card in France for purchases. But you should do some research on the fees.

It has been my experience that if you use your credit card at an ATM machine it charged as a loan against your account. in other words you are charge lender fees (anywhere from 12-25%) from the moment you get the money from the ATM machine until it is paid off thru your monthly bill.

I would be very careful when using a credit card for ATM withdrawals.

of course. those are not withdrawals. they're cash advances and should only be done in absolute extreme circumstances. the conversation at hand is about using debit cards for purchases. credit cards should not be used for ATM withdrawals. You should be using your ATM/debit card for that to withdraw money you have in your bank account, not imaginary money that the credit card company lends you :)

Hi all.
I have googled all over the net for the safe and sheep abilities for changing e-currency to cash. Since the New York Credit Union crash at the beginning of this year it is hard to find alternative for the G-card.
I was registered at FavoCard to get there card which as they promise will provide a quick withdrawals and e-currency exchanging services, but since the time I registered I was not able to get the card. But last week I have received the news letter telling that FavoCard visa electron debit card is available for ordering. From the time I registered the card fees have changed, but they look similar like the other cards, but have some benefits that suites me.
Has anyone already had such card? Any info will be appreciated. There is a lot of info over the internet but it is differs from site to site and it is hard to make an objective opinion.

Grinch speaking...

I would never use a debit card, period. There was a story on Canadian TV last night about how scammers managed to steal card and PIN numbers by modifying the keypad and totally wiped out the bank accounts of their victims. With a credit card, your loss is limited to fifty bucks. No brainer, in my opinion.

The fees for using credit cards are patially or completely offset by the FF points you get if you use an airline card. Whether this is important or useful to you is another matter. ((*))

You don't need any currency exchange service. When you use your ATM card in any other country, you automatically get local currency dispensed from the ATM.

Bob, there are TV stories about everything. There is no reason to be paranoid. You have a bigger chance of getting killed crossing the street at any given day, or driving to work, and people still do it.

Some banks don't have fees. Capital One credit cards don't charge any conversion fees and even eat the 1% Visa and Mastercard fee instead of passing it on. Most money market accounts allow foreign ATM withdrawals without any fees. Washington Mutual only charges the 1% Mastercard fee and $2 per withdrawal (instead of 2-3% and $2-5 like some others, such as Bank of America).

We specifically got the Capital One debit card for our trip to Europe (including Paris) because the ATM fee was just $1.50 for foreign transactions. Our regular bank was going to charge $5.00. Note: that fee was in addition to any fee charged by the bank where we withdrew money. None of the amounts were significant.

Have a wonderful time.