Tap to Pay Cards, No PIN Necessary in Europe?

[gerntz]

Probably has been discussed, but do these cards work at kiosks in Europe without having to provide a PIN? If so, big hassle reduction for we Americans. Thanks.

Oh, probably not a near-term need.

[audreyh1]

I haven’t yet used one in a kiosk in Europe, but we have used ApplePay in many locations in Europe where they accept contactless payment, and yes it does get around the requirement for either a signature or a PIN.

[Sunset]

Quote:

Originally Posted by gerntz Probably has been discussed, but do these cards work at kiosks in Europe without having to provide a PIN? If so, big hassle reduction for we Americans. Thanks. Oh, probably not a near-term need.

I think in Europe, like Canada, you have to use a PIN to use the chip card, at least in some places.

So I find the Tap to Pay thing (in Canada) really convienent and stupid as it removes the security of the PIN

This is how it should be, as that way when you lose your CC (or pickpocket), it still cannot be used as no PIN. Here you lose your CC and a person can use it all over as PINs are not required.

Just get a card that has a PIN for travel.

[braumeister]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sunset I think in Europe, like Canada, you have to use a PIN to use the chip card, at least in some places.

Yes for "insert card in slot" transactions, but the question here is about contactless cards. You don't need a PIN to use them -- it's the same as using Apple Pay on your phone. Just tap and go.

[Sunset]

Quote:

Originally Posted by braumeister Yes for "insert card in slot" transactions, but the question here is about contactless cards. You don't need a PIN to use them -- it's the same as using Apple Pay on your phone. Just tap and go.

Right, I did edit my post after I realized the contactless aspect of the question, before I read your post.

[gerntz]

Thanks, all. I did some reading & found that in many countries they limit the TtP feature amount.

[audreyh1]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sunset I think in Europe, like Canada, you have to use a PIN to use the chip card, at least in some places.

No, not if your card supports contactless payment or you use ApplePay. You may be limited in $ amount for contactless. Not for ApplePay although some stores don implement that correctly and still apply limits.

We used our Costco VISA card extensively in Europe for dining and hotels. It does not have a PIN. We used it via ApplePay. No signature or PIN required. That card also supports contactless, so I suspect we could have used it in the “tap to pay” mode as well for smaller purchases.

[audreyh1]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sunset I think in Europe, like Canada, you have to use a PIN to use the chip card, at least in some places. So I find the Tap to Pay thing (in Canada) really convienent and stupid as it removes the security of the PIN This is how it should be, as that way when you lose your CC (or pickpocket), it still cannot be used as no PIN. Here you lose your CC and a person can use it all over as PINs are not required. Just get a card that has a PIN for travel.

There is a purchase limit imposed for tap-to-pay.

Perhaps it can be disabled for your CC or get the issuer to send you a CC without the capability?

[gerntz]

Quote:

Originally Posted by audreyh1 I haven’t yet used one in a kiosk in Europe, but we have used ApplePay in many locations in Europe where they accept contactless payment, and yes it does get around the requirement for either a signature or a PIN.

So at kiosks, as for train/subway tickets, ApplePay works?

[audreyh1]

I haven’t tried to use ApplePay at a kiosk in Europe. If they accept contactless payments it probably does work, but I hadn’t noticed the option. I wasn’t really looking either.

[Chuckanut]

I used them several times to buy Metro tickets in stations. Tap and go. No pin required.

[braumeister]

The one little glitch you may run into is that some kiosks (and even a few merchants) in some European countries won't accept any card not issued in the EU. Fortunately, there is usually a workaround so you can go to a counter in the station and use your card with a personal transaction -- you just lose the convenience of the kiosk.

[audreyh1]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chuckanut I used them several times to buy Metro tickets in stations. Tap and go. No pin required.

good to know.

[brett]

Our experience is that it is variable. Not so much by country as by vendor or perhaps by which financial institution the vendor uses to process transactions.