I’ll be traveling to France in June - my first international trip. I’ve secured some Euros to have on the trip, and will be taking my Amex with a chip - can also use the Amex at an ATM if needed.
My bank can offer the World Mastercard/Cash Back Plus- but no chip. But, sounds like, no foreign transaction fees - which is desirable. I can get this card pretty quickly and have it in hand before the trip later in June. Don’t want to play too many credit card searching games, but would like to have two “good” cards in hand to use on the trip (my other credit cards are store based U.S. ones that I don’t feel will be beneficial to use abroad).
Any comments on the World Mastercard? Can’t believe it’s a “world” card, yet no chip till 2016!
Do not get a card without Chip - it is a waste for travel abroad.
Very good card to use abroad is Andrews FCU Platinum Visa. This is a true Chip and PIN card without foreign transactions fees , it is geared towards US military abroad. You would have to open a savings account with them but their ATM card has very good exchange rate in ATMs to get cash. Anyone can join this FCU if you become a member of American Consumer Union ($5 to join). See if any Credit Unions in your area partner with them to simplify deposits. They also have competitive interest rate on savings account. Andrews Credit card worked almost everywhere for me in Europe but still failed to work in Paris metro in some stations. Worked in RER B ticket vending machines (some asked for PIN and some did not). It seems in France all these machines are different and may be connected to different payment networks so there is no 100% guarantee. You still should carry cash just in case.
Chase Explorer United credit card has a competitive exchange rate but it is a Chip and signature card and it has yearly fee (but supplies United miles). My strategy was to use Chase CC when possible and Andrews CC as a backup. Cash withdrawals using Andrews ATM card.
Cards without chips were perfectly fine in Sweden last year… It’s not like a card without the miracle chip would be totally useless. “No transaction fees” usually mean less favorable exchange rate - the banks will get you one way or the other. My no transaction, no chip visa and no chip, transaction fee Amex came out about the same when I checked bank statements.
That’s a good point BB - man, I so want to do this right and want to have my bases covered! But I also am not going to sign up for random credit cards either. I figured one chipped, one non-chipped plus Euros and the ability to use an ATM would have me covered.
I don’t know anything about the World MasterCard but I like to travel with 2 unconnected cards. I would be nervous with just the American Express. Some places don’t take it. Plus I like to have a 2nd card in case the first is lost or compromised in anyway.
When we were in France I used my bank ATM to get cash. Used a Chase Sapphire card with no foreign transaction fees. I also had my H carry his BofA Visa as a backup card.
When I travel, I tend to bring a Visa, MasterCard and debit card. I like to have several options. At the moment, I only have chip & signature cards, no pin & chip ones. I don’t travel to Europe much–have only been there once. I would like to return. In Canada, I have never had problems with any credit card–even those with NO chip!
Weird thing, we actually have a cottage in Canada - in a very rural area on the water. Even the teeny tiny garden/flower shop on the dirt road has a CC chip machine/reader!
When we went to Europe last year we used two credit cards, but I’m pretty sure only one had a chip. I agree with you, abasket about wanting an alternate card and one that doesn’t charge transaction fees is a plus. I would get it. Also agree about how you can’t always use the AmEx everywhere. Before we left I copied the front and backs of my cards and DL and passport and made two copies. I kept one in my suitcase and left the other at home.
For my son who is heading to Singapore this week, I added him to my Chase Southwest airline Account. They have no transaction fees. I think it has a chip, but I hope he doesn’t need a PIN, because I have no idea how that would work.
Our main card is a Capital One Mastercard, with a chip and no transaction fees. Two of our kids are on the account, (they only use it for travel home) and my husband and I each have a card. Recently Capital One gave us each separate card numbers, but all tied to the one account. That way if one card is stolen, the rest are not affected. I thought that was great, especially for travel.
More and more, cards in US are being replaced with chip and sign cards. I’ve seen nothing on credit card websites (like Capital One, etc) about chip and pin cards. Would one have to ask for one, and would they give it to you? I’ve shown the chip in my new Discover chip and sign card to people, and no one yet has recognized what it was. An education campaign may be in order.
Card issuers who do not convert will be liable for fraudulent charges–don’t know what the deadline is.
My son received a replacement debit card with a chip (and magnetic strip) for an existing account just in time for travel ‘down under’ a week ago. His first and last use of the card was at an AUS airport ATM to withdraw cash. When he tried to use the card again, roughly 2 hours later, the transaction was denied. Turns out the card was blocked for fraudulent activity … $30 purchase of phone service … in Luxembourg. He does have a no-chip back-up CC card along, but it has not been very useful as many of the merchants have not accepted it.
The only thing we can figure is that his account info was skimmed from the magnetic strip at the ATM. I guess the chip is important for international transactions, but the strip cannot be phased out until the US merchants install chip readers.
So, will CC companies have to replace cards twice? … from strip only > strip and chip > chip only
Similarly, will merchants have to have the ability to read both strip and chip until the strip is phased out?
Does anyone have a chip card without the magnetic strip?
The card I got from CapitolOne has both the magnetic strip & the chip & signature. Most places still just use the magnetic strip, tho a few vendors DO have the ability to read the chip. I haven’t had issues so far with the chip & signature or just the plain magnetic strip. I have a Chase Visa with chip & signature, as well as my AmEx Costco card. The Sallie Mae Master Card hasn’t converted to pin & signature yet.
My understanding is that all issuers must convert by some time in 2015 to pin & signature or face significant penalties if there is fraud. Merchants will also have to switch their machines to be able to read the new pins. There are some machines that can read either the pin or the magnetic strip.