Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2009/07/24
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]My Maestro card is not accepted in Germany since it does not have theEC symbol making cash the only solution. Not a problem elsewhere in Europe. Frank On 24 Jul 2009, at 10:39, Douglas Sharp <douglas.sharp at gmx.de> wrote: > > Here in Germany, stores and restaurants much prefer direct debit > cards (Maestro, now accepted almost everywhere in the EU) drawing > directly on your account (with PIN, or without PIN but card > ownership confirmed by signature). There is also a chip on most > cards that can be credited from your account and makes the card > usable in lieu of cash - mostly used for telephone boxes, parking, > bus-tickets and the like. > > VISA and Mastercard are accepted, but VERY reluctantly. > > However, for most transactions up to around 500 euros, cash rules. > > Cheers > Douglas > > > > Jayanand Govindaraj wrote: >> Michiel, >> There is a reason - Amex and Diners are 'charge cards', there is no >> credit >> limit, so they charge the retailer more as he is guaranteed to get >> his >> money. In Asia as well, retailers prefer Visa or Mastercard because >> commissions are less. I carry a Diners only for use in medical >> emergencies - >> I have not used it yet for that purpose, though. >> Cheers >> Jayanand >> >> On Fri, Jul 24, 2009 at 12:40 AM, Michiel Fokkema < >> michiel.fokkema at wanadoo.nl> wrote: >> >> >>> don't bother to bring AMEX. AMEX is very bad accepted here in >>> Europe. It's >>> too expensive for the merchants. VISA and Mastercard are very well >>> accepted. >>> At least the Netherlands are totally converting to the PIN system. >>> As well >>> for the ATM's as for the stores. >>> >>> >>> Cheers, >>> >>> Michiel Fokkema >>> >>> Brian Reid wrote: >>> >>> >>>> I had not realised that the US did not use the PIN system yet >>>> North American bank cards use PINs only for debit/ATM >>>> transactions. >>>> Credit transactions just use a signature. And our cards do not >>>> have chips >>>> in them. >>>> >>>> My experience is that the most universal form of access to money >>>> when I >>>> travel is an ATM/debit card with a 4-digit PIN. Being the sort of >>>> person who >>>> always has a backup Plan B, I carry two such cards, issued by >>>> different >>>> banks that use different debit networks. >>>> >>>> Though because of the epidemic of banks buying other banks, most >>>> cards >>>> issued by nationwide financial institutions are members of 3 or >>>> more debit >>>> networks. >>>> >>>> >>>> _______________________________________________ >>>> Leica Users Group. >>>> See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more >>>> information >>>> >>>> >>>> --- >>>> --- >>>> ------------------------------------------------------------------ >>>> >>>> >>>> No virus found in this incoming message. >>>> Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 8.5.392 / Virus Database: >>>> 270.13.25/2256 - Release Date: 07/23/09 06:02:00 >>>> >>>> >>>> >>> _______________________________________________ >>> Leica Users Group. >>> See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information >>> >>> >> >> _______________________________________________ >> Leica Users Group. >> See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information >> >> > > _______________________________________________ > Leica Users Group. > See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information