What's with Visa and MasterCard in Europe? (English, Scandinavia, bank)

[elnina]

Originally Posted by gow69

Thanks Elnina, I am aware that a debit card is not a credit card! In the USA my UK debit card is put through as a credit card; nevertheless all the stores I went into in Hannover and Braunschweig stated that they they could not accept the VISA debit card - I was not the only person to be leg-swept by this! Only one e I entered in Wolfenbuttel accepted the VISA debit. I have no problems in France, Belgium, the Scandinavian countries, The Netherlands, and Poland to name a few. This leads one to believe it may be due to the costs incurred in processing the VISA transaction that limits there uses to more international arenas! So if traveling from the UK to [more remote parts of] Germany make sure to ask first if they accept VISA debit cards. MAESTRO is widely accepted.

Thanks, gov69. It is a very useful info about using the debit card. I didn't know that in some places overseas you can use a debit card issued in the US. I assumed, I can't and never tried. Knowing that it is possible will surely come handy!
I noticed that Master Card is more popular in Europe ( at least Germany, Poland, Czech Republic, and France), but just to be on the safe side, I always take one of each.
Maybe everybody knows about it, (I didn't) that it is important to call the credit card issuer before you travel and let them know about your travel plans. My card was put on hold just after few days of use, because the issuer assumed the possibility of fraud and stopped the card use for my protection. It was pretty humiliating when I tried to pay for the hotel room and was told that my card was denied…

[meet4]

All VISA/MC cards with embossed letters allows both credit and debit payment processing. There is no difference despite what some myths or uninformed bank employees are trying to tell you.

From VISA webpage:

Visa Debit card is a debit product, so why should I press CREDIT at the terminal instead of DEBIT?
When you press CREDIT and sign for a purchase, your transaction is routed through the Visa network. This gives you all the security protections of a Visa transaction. But your Visa Debit card still works like a debit card, not a credit card: The purchase amount is deducted from your checking account and you don't pay interest. See the

In other words, you can use your debit card as credit(rent a car, block funds for hotel etc.). Whether your bank account tied to the card has any interest or is checking/saving/credit doesn't matter at all in processing/payment itself.

[XodoX]

Europeans do noty use credit cards. I lived in Europe 20 years and I did not know anybody who even owned one. They just don't want to use them. They occasionally use debit cards, but the majority of the purchases is done by using cash.
Of course you can use an american Visa Card in Europe ( if the store accepts them ). It's a global network. The purchase is processed by Visa ( or whoever ).
Do not use american credit cards over there. First of all, they charge you a fortune now to use your card overseas. It's a total rip off. And the thing is that not many places accept credit cards due to the lack of demand in Europe.
Maestro is accepted everywhere ( pretty much ) they offer card purchases, because they are the ones that issue the local debit cards.

[grmasterb]

There has to be some disconnect here because every so-called travel expert here will advise you to use credit cards in Europe as they are safer than cash (due to the fraud/theft protections afforded) and offer the best exchange rate. When I was a young man in Germany 20 years ago, I was able to use my American Express card without problems.

[kevxu]

This may be off track, but it still has some bearing on this discussion.

About two weeks ago, or a little less, I wanted to change dollars to euros with my American bank in NYC. On day #1 their rate was 3 cents worse than I would get doing it in Europe, on day 2 it was 4 cents worse and on day 3 it was a nickel less than the rate here. Needless to say, I changed the dollars here and saved myself five cents on every euro. I was changing $50,000 dollars, so I saved myself one hell of a lot of nickels!

This is the same bank that issued two of my U.S. credit cards. Why would they not give me the same shafting if I used their Visa cards in Europe when they billed me in dollars?

I'm certain they would. So, regardless of why credit cards seem to be accepted less here, I think one would be crazy to use them based on my recent experience.

[Chava61]

I suggest using credit or debit card at a European ATM machine and get local currency there.
Another option would be to use traveler's checks in Europe.

[XodoX]

Originally Posted by grmasterb

There has to be some disconnect here because every so-called travel expert here will advise you to use credit cards in Europe as they are safer than cash (due to the fraud/theft protections afforded) and offer the best exchange rate. When I was a young man in Germany 20 years ago, I was able to use my American Express card without problems.

Of course it's safer than cash IF they accept it. However, a lot of them do not.

[Meiriongwril]

Originally Posted by XodoX

Europeans do noty use credit cards. I lived in Europe 20 years and I did not know anybody who even owned one. They just don't want to use them. They occasionally use debit cards, but the majority of the purchases is done by using cash.

This is total nonsense. I lived in Europe until just a few years ago, and visit several times a year. Credit cards are used everywhere. In the UK for instance most of my friends rarely use cash and cards are the rule.

[XodoX]

Originally Posted by Meiriongwril

This is total nonsense. I lived in Europe until just a few years ago, and visit several times a year. Credit cards are used everywhere. In the UK for instance most of my friends rarely use cash and cards are the rule.

Like I said, 20 years of living in Europe. I think I know

[Meiriongwril]

Originally Posted by XodoX

Like I said, 20 years of living in Europe. I think I know

Err... 50 years of living in Europe, I think I should know!!!