Travel

raccoon

(31,457 posts) Mon Mar 24, 2014, 10:35 AM Mar 2014

Is it true that in Europe, credit cards operate on a chip implanted on the card and not

on a magnetic strip?

I've heard that.

8 replies

= new reply since forum marked as read

Highlight:

Is it true that in Europe, credit cards operate on a chip implanted on the card and not (Original Post) raccoon Mar 2014 OP

Apparently that is true pretty much everywhere except the US. cbayer Mar 2014 #1

See the following Dec. 2013 NPR story... PoliticAverse Mar 2014 #2

When I was in Scandinavia, I found out, at the suggestion of a train ticket seller in Copenhagen, Lydia Leftcoast Mar 2014 #3

That's why I use my American Express abroad mainer Mar 2014 #4

It is hard to get a credit card with a chip in the Empire. I have 3, have asked all of them about raccoon Apr 2014 #5

In Brazil they all have a chip. nt Nay Feb 2015 #6

It is true. The US is so far behind and some merchants in europe don't even cbayer Feb 2015 #7

Lol, did not realize I had previously posted to this thread. cbayer Feb 2015 #8

cbayer

(146,218 posts)

1. Apparently that is true pretty much everywhere except the US.

Reply to raccoon (Original post)

Mon Mar 24, 2014, 10:52 AM

Mar 2014

Here in Mexico, the cards have a chip. They are much harder to pirate. People with US cards experience high rates of piracy of their accounts. Those with Mexican cards, very little.

PoliticAverse

(26,366 posts)

2. See the following Dec. 2013 NPR story...

Reply to raccoon (Original post)

Mon Mar 24, 2014, 11:00 AM

Mar 2014

http://www.npr.org/blogs/alltechconsidered/2013/12/19/255558139/outdated-magnetic-strips-how-u-s-credit-card-security-lags

Lydia Leftcoast

(48,217 posts)

3. When I was in Scandinavia, I found out, at the suggestion of a train ticket seller in Copenhagen,

Reply to raccoon (Original post)

Wed Mar 26, 2014, 12:00 AM

Mar 2014

that my Capital One card worked as a credit card with the ATM withdrawal PIN.

I was afraid it would count as a cash advance (which is a mess when it comes to paying off your balance), but it registered as just an ordinary credit card transaction.

mainer

(12,179 posts)

4. That's why I use my American Express abroad

Reply to raccoon (Original post)

Fri Mar 28, 2014, 03:08 PM

Mar 2014

It has a chip. Unfortunately, not every merchant accepts AmEx.

raccoon

(31,457 posts)

5. It is hard to get a credit card with a chip in the Empire. I have 3, have asked all of them about

Reply to raccoon (Original post)

Tue Apr 22, 2014, 07:50 AM

Apr 2014

issuing me a credit card with a chip--and they all say they can't do it!

Here I thought we were #1......

Anyway, some have told me you can still use the magnetic strip CC in Europe most places. I will
be in Paris, not in some place off the beaten path, so I figure that must be right.

If any of you have experience to the contrary, please speak now!