Chip and PIN credit cards for Europe

[explanade]

Quote:

Originally Posted by audreyh1 I just don't like the link to my high balance brokerage account.

I spend the dividends basically.


As for tracking the withdrawals with XE.com, they don't always post the same time and currencies are traded around the clock so you can't exactly withdraw it if it closes at a favorable rate because by the time your withdrawal is posted, it maybe entirely a different rate is used.

Same thing with credit card charges, it doesn't always line up with what the exchange rate is showing at a given point in time.

[Alan]

I use XE.com regularly to do transfers as well as spot checks for exchange rates. I think it gives a good guideline. My ATM card refunds up to $8 of ATM fees each month and has no foreign exchange fee, so I guess any fees are baked into the exchange rate.

[anethum]

Out of curiosity, I compared the Euro/US$ "mid-market" exchange rate on XE.com for June 13, versus the rate I got that day using my Schwab ATM card to get some euros, versus the rate I got using my PenFed Visa card that same day. I realize that the rate varies throughout the day.

XE.com: 1.3523
Schwab ATM rate: 1.3580
PenFed Visa rate: 1.3573

There were no additional fees for either my Schwab ATM card or PenFed Visa credit card.

[mpeirce]

1.3917 - XE.com on 7/7/14
1.3949 - B of A Visa from a purchase I made in Vienna on 7/7/14

There is a slight bias, but half a percent or less. This was a Pin & Signature Visa card, not an ATM card.

[nwsteve]

Quote:

Originally Posted by audreyh1 I just don't like the link to my high balance brokerage account.

I can not swear this is true but I believe you can set up a separate account with only money market account in it. You can then transfer balances as you need and do not directly expose your brokerage balances.
We use our working account money market balance for our link to fund the atm.
Nwsteve

[kcowan]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alan so I guess any fees are baked into the exchange rate.

Yes all the fees are baked in the rate. In Mexico where it matters to me a lot, a TD debit card gave me a rate of 11.5 all in, whereas using my Intercam account gave me 12.25 so I use Intercam all the time now. Plus there are no daily limits on withdrawals. And Chase Visa for a charges.

But in Eastern Europe, it seems to be a crap shoot.

[audreyh1]

Quote:

Originally Posted by nwsteve I can not swear this is true but I believe you can set up a separate account with only money market account in it. You can then transfer balances as you need and do not directly expose your brokerage balances. We use our working account money market balance for our link to fund the atm. Nwsteve

Right, this is what I would have to do if I went that route.

But now I have a PenFed ATM/debit card linked to a checking account that I don't use for anything other than pay my PenFed VISA bill. So I'll try that route.

[audreyh1]

Anyone use the PenFed ATM/debit (VISA Gold Check Card) overseas? Any fees?

[Chuckanut]

I just got a chip/pin/signature card. Interestingly, the documentation that came with the card says that the card will function as chip and signature card when used internationally at a place with human clerks such as a hotel or restaurant. To use it as a chip-n-pin card overseas I must first use the card internationally as a signature card. After that the pin will work in automated devices like ticket machines and toll booths. Apparently, if the business has human operated card readers, it reverts to chip-and-signature.

I imagine this is some type of work around until we adopt real chip-n-pin processing domestically.

[audreyh1]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chuckanut I just got a chip/pin/signature card. Interestingly, the documentation that came with the card says that the card will function as chip and signature card when used internationally at a place with human clerks such as a hotel or restaurant. To use it as a chip-n-pin card overseas I must first use the card internationally as a signature card. After that the pin will work in automated devices like ticket machines and toll booths. Apparently, if the business has human operated card readers, it reverts to chip-and-signature. I imagine this is some type of work around until we adopt real chip-n-pin processing domestically.

That's an interesting caveat - that in must be used as a signature card overseas first, before trying to use it as a chip-n-pin card. Hmmm - that might be important for me.

It's so complicated!!!!!

I wish we could get the USAA true chip and pin card. My husband's 4 years service doesn't help, or does it?

[Sarah in SC]

I will say that DH is using our Chase Sapphire (no chip, no pin) in the UK and Europe with little hassle. Or at least that's what my (from home) review of his receipts from the pubs tells me!

[Chuckanut]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sarah in SC Or at least that's what my (from home) review of his receipts from the pubs tells me!

Thanks for the warning.

[GalaxyBoy]

As my old card is expiring, my new BoA BankAmericard came today and it's got a chip. Along with a 3% foreign transaction fee, unfortunately. I didn't ask for either. But perhaps some little progress is finally being made towards cards with chips in the USA.

[Chuckanut]

Quote:

Originally Posted by GalaxyBoy As my old card is expiring, my new BoA BankAmericard came today and it's got a chip. Along with a 3% foreign transaction fee, unfortunately. I didn't ask for either. But perhaps some little progress is finally being made towards cards with chips in the USA.

Good point Galaxy. Some banks are offering the chipped card and tactfully avoiding mentioning their transaction fees.

[bmcgonig]

I'm in Ireland now using a chase united airlines MasterCard with no chip and no issues. When I hand it to them I tell them that it needs to be "swiped" and they then understand. No foreign transaction fee with this card. One thing to watch out for is : don't let them charge you in dollars. They sometimes ask as a nicety but it's really not nice . They will give u a lousy exchange rate where the credit card company is very fair. Make sure the transaction is always in local currency.

[audreyh1]

Quote:

Originally Posted by GalaxyBoy As my old card is expiring, my new BoA BankAmericard came today and it's got a chip. Along with a 3% foreign transaction fee, unfortunately. I didn't ask for either. But perhaps some little progress is finally being made towards cards with chips in the USA.

Are you sure you didn't always have a 3% foreign transaction fee?

Switch to the Travel Rewards VISA if you want a chip card with no foreign transaction fee.

[Disappointed]

I have been using Chase Marriott for the last 20 days in London, Moscow, and St. Petersburg. The card has a chip but it requires a signature, no fees. Strangely enough I was able to top off my Oyster card (Underground) on the machine without using pin or signature yesterday.



Sent from my iPad using Early Retirement Forum

[Disappointed]

Forgot to mention that a few places including Harrods offered to charge in US $, I do not know if the exchange rate was competitive or not as I just told them to charge in local currency.


Sent from my iPad using Early Retirement Forum

[audreyh1]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Disappointed Forgot to mention that a few places including Harrods offered to charge in US $, I do not know if the exchange rate was competitive or not as I just told them to charge in local currency. Sent from my iPad using Early Retirement Forum

Best idea. Usually you get ripped off in such a scenario.

Best to have a zero transaction fee and tell them to charge in local currency.

I almost fell for this recently with Paypal. When I was invoiced from Amsterdam (for a B&B deposit) the invoice came up in US$, with a hefty fee for the conversion! I clicked on the button to switch it back to Euros - much better!

[audreyh1]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Disappointed I have been using Chase Marriott for the last 20 days in London, Moscow, and St. Petersburg. The card has a chip but it requires a signature, no fees. Strangely enough I was able to top off my Oyster card (Underground) on the machine without using pin or signature yesterday. Sent from my iPad using Early Retirement Forum

Interesting! I may have to try this - no PIN, no signature - LOL!

Seems like if the charge were low enough they wouldn't bother. Just like in the US they don't require sigs for charges below $25.

But actually, in Europe I don't think they offer customers the same level of protection as here in the US in terms of being able to contest fraudulent transactions.