Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2009/07/25
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]Unfortunately, US Cash Cards are not accepted in Germany. Could not find a single retail store to take them. Gene -------------- Original message from Douglas Sharp <douglas.sharp at gmx.de>: -------------- > > 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 > > > >