I saw this:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/43582483/ns/business-consumer...
Anybody with recent UK experience who can shed some light for me? How likely is it that I won't be able to roll up and pay at the pump for gas?
I know to notify my credit card ahead of time, but it doesn't have a chip. That's why I'm concerned it might be a problem. And we are taking a car for various reasons. We are also taking a train and a ferry for portions.
We had to remind people to swipe the cards now and then but most took it in a stride and we had no major problems. We also didn't try to use it at unattended petrol stations, though. I couldn't top off my SIM card without going to the store, but that was an address problem not a swipe problem.
Exactly. Let the card company know ahead of time that you'll be travelling abroard. You should be fine.
I had one instance where I didn't let them know, and they did shut my card down. After that, no problems with advanced notice.
OMG this happened to us in Italy. We didn't notify the bank before we left and we couldn't use our atm card. After trying several places someone finally told us to call the bank. We called and they set it up so we could. Pretty frustrating but glad the bank has that policy. Just wish we had known beforehand.
You always have to tell your credit card company, and bank for that matter, when you are going overseas. They will decline a charge only because it appears to be fraud. I bought something from England once and they called me to make sure I did it.
When you are on the phone with them they will tell you if there are places you may have trouble with. I spent three weeks all over Europe last year and never once had my card declined.
Not sure why you would want to drive over there mind you. :-/
Oh read the whole thing, they worked in all the train stations as well. We took the trains everywhere.
Mine does not have a chip either. It doesn't matter. That story was written in that way to scare people, to draw them in so they would read it. As much as we used our cards we would have had to have this happen at least once for it to be as wide spread as that story claims. We went to nine different countries for Pete's sake!
depends upon which bank you bank with...if they have an exchange rate and whether or not they'll believe your card has been stolen...and report it as fraud then you are doubly screwed...
Gas is REALLY expensive in the UK (I think it's about $8 US per liter...) check with your travel agency to see what information they have if you are renting a car...
Bank Of America sucks when it comes to travel...it's like they are your momma and you need to tell them when you are traveling...they did this to us when we went to New York!! Can I tell you how embarrassed we were when my husband's debit/mastercard was rejected and told the merchant to get the card?! Thank God for cell phones...it took us about 45 minutes to an hour to get it straightened out..
Interesting...I just returned from a week in France (late June 2011) and had no issues. I was in the UK in 2009, Germany in 2010 and had no problems. I have never notified credit card companies that I am traveling abroad and have no intention of letting them know.
Find out if adding a trusted person to your card (who will be in the US while you are overseas) would be helpful if you encounter problems.
My husband has a business partner who did this.
Wow, I had not heard about that yet. Last summer when I was in Europe it wasn't an issue for me.
I try not to use my credit card when I'm there though, because of the charges. I can use my debit card at the ATM and use cash for most purchases.
Good luck!
If you talk to your bank you should be able to get a card that works. Then you can use it just about anywhere. At the atms you should be able to get a better rate if you need cash, than in the money change offices or banks there.
I just got back from Germany, and we ran into this problem once. But we were mostly using ATMs and paying cash because our bank doesn't charge transaction fees, so it wasn't a big deal. I'd say keep enough cash on hand just in case your credit card doesn't work.
i just got back from the UK! we have capitol one visa, which i highly recommend. zero fees for using them overseas, and a great conversion rate. we didn't want to carry a lot of cash, obviously, so we charged everything we could and paid it off when we got back. all hotels and gas stations, and most B&Bs took it with no problem.
khairete
S.
I didn't read the whole article, but I was informed of the same thing happening in Bermuda in the Frommer's Bermuda guide. I was worried about it happening, but my husband had no problems anywhere using his card. I would call the car rental company and see if they have any knowledge of this happening to other renters, and call the train and ferry company and see if they take cards without chips. I would still try to use cash when possible. Most credit cards charge 3% of your purchase price for using your cards in foreign countries.
