ATM Questons??

Hi,

I will be going to Italy in a couple of weeks and have a few of questions about the ATM machines. Can you use a credit card or just debit cards. Do they require a chip? Is there a rule about the pin number not starting with zero?

We are actually doing a land based tour but I know CC is the place to go for accurate information.

Using a credit card in an ATM means you are paying the high interest rate of a cash advance. Debit cards are the way to go. Mine has a chip and PIN but I believe the ones with the strip work as well. I do not know about whether your PIN can start with zero. I found a machine somewhere last week in Italy or France which wanted six numbers but I just put in the four numbers of my PIN and it worked fine.

Check out Rick Steves' website as he has lots of information about money in Europe.

A search around the board would give you a ton of info.

NO NO NO- don't use a credit with a PIN for cash- comes with hefty fees.

Pretty sure ATM cards (aka debit cards) always come with PINs, can't recall every seeing one without. And almost all come with chips now. Used to be a problem with PINs with more than 4 numbers...think that has been resolved, including PINs not starting with 0.

Thanks Guys for the quick responses. I figured as much with the credit card but in an emergency, it's good to know it will work as a backup.

Just to confirm the above: use a debit card/ATM card, not a credit card. I have had a pin starting with a zero for at least 11 years' worth of travel in Europe (and other places), never had a problem with it yet, knock on wood.

Since I travel solo, I generally have two separate debit cards for two separate accounts -- one is my travel account with a limited amount of cash and no ties to any of my other accounts. That's the one I use the most. However, I do take my regular debit card as a 'just in case'....

Best to be on the safe side and let your bank know of your travel plans. Some credit cards have waived this requirement now but it's good to check with them anyway.

Sorry folks, you can definitely use a credit card or a debit card at an ATM (over here in Germany usually debit cards are mainly issued by the bank you have an account with, you will hardly find and Visa or Mastercard debit cards). As long as the ATM shows the sign of your card company you can use it.

The other thing are fees. There are credit cards where you don´t have to pay any extra fees. And you have to differ... there´s the currency conversion fee which depends on the amount you withdraw (it´s usually a percentage of the amount) and the ATM can charge a fixed fee for getting money (but that´s the same fixed fee you have to pay with a debit card too). Some cards charge a fixed fee for withdrawing money. So read your fine print!

There´s no rule for PINs in Europe. Actually I do have a card with a PIN starting with 0. Usually the magentic strip will work too at an ATM or at a register. But if you want to use automated ticket machines as an example you definitely need a chip. BTW the PIN should have 4 digits only.

steamboats

Thanks again all.....I knew cruise critic would be the pace to go for answers!! I am taking a few euros with me and I checked with my bank as far as their fees and letting them know about my plans. I am pretty sure I am all set for a wonderful vacation. Thanks again!!

You may find a difference between ATMs with regards to how much you can withdraw at one time. We typically do 500/600E (we usually get accomodation discounts when we pay w/cash). As I recall the post office ATM's had high cash withdrawal limits.

Do make sure you notify your ATM card issuing bank of your upcoming trip, itinerary, and your intent to use the card in Europe. Also keep in mind that your daily withdrawal limit in Europe, might be less then in the USA.

Hank

Sorry folks, you can definitely use a credit card or a debit card at an ATM (over here in Germany usually debit cards are mainly issued by the bank you have an account with, you will hardly find and Visa or Mastercard debit cards). As long as the ATM shows the sign of your card company you can use it.

 

The other thing are fees. There are credit cards where you don´t have to pay any extra fees. And you have to differ... there´s the currency conversion fee which depends on the amount you withdraw (it´s usually a percentage of the amount) and the ATM can charge a fixed fee for getting money (but that´s the same fixed fee you have to pay with a debit card too). Some cards charge a fixed fee for withdrawing money. So read your fine print!

 

There´s no rule for PINs in Europe. Actually I do have a card with a PIN starting with 0. Usually the magentic strip will work too at an ATM or at a register. But if you want to use automated ticket machines as an example you definitely need a chip. BTW the PIN should have 4 digits only.

 

steamboats

You may have misunderstood what us clumsy Americans were trying to say. You can certainly use a credit card, if you have a PIN for it, to get money from a bancomat in Europe. But, US-based credit cards will impose a premium for doing that, more than what you would get when you use your debit card. As for the debit card issued by your bank and not Visa or MasterCard: it is the same here in the US. But, every debit card I've seen and handled at my hotel ALSO had a VISA or MasterCard logo. My debit card issued by my Credit Union has a VISA logo, as does my Credit Union-issued credit card. Just means that your financial institution has partnered with one of those to administer their card program. Some institutions will charge you for transaction, some (like mine) are transaction fee-free. Besides the VISA or MasterCard logo, on the back of the card may be listed other "groups", like Plus, Interlink, Co-Op, Alliance One, Star. If you find a bancomat with any of these listed, you may use your card there. My Credit Union ATM card has all those listed here, however my Credit Union VISA card only has Plus. So, my ATM/debit card is usable in possibly more machines.

So far, I haven't run into a bancomat that requires the chip - it's still the slide into the slot or swipe that I've encountered, just like in the US and Canada. I've never had anything but a 4-digit PIN and it does not start with a "0", so I have never even thought about the issue of a proper PIN. That same one worked for me since I've traveled to Europe.

Hi slidergirl thanks for your explanation. I am a member of a Credit Union but never got their debit or credit card but I might have do that - I will be visiting Europe this summer. This particular CU offers a MasterCard that can be used both as a Credit Card ( no PIN) or Debit Card (with PIN), they charge 1% of the amount withdrawn plus 2 dol per transaction and I am not sure if there is additional foreign transaction fee.. It has the Co-Op, Star and NYCE on the back ...... would that be a good card to get or do you have some other recommendation for a card to be used in Europe with low fees when used to withdraw money from their ATMs ?

Thanks

slidergirl,

it´s the same here in Germany. I have credit cards which I never would use to retrieve money as I have to pay at least 10 Euro as a basic fee plus the fee of the ATM plus the foreign currency conversion fee (I have cards from 1.5 %, 1.75 % and 2 %). But we also have a card which doesn´t have a fee for withdrawing money (and even reimbursed the fee charged by the ATM - o.k., that´s gone now). And from other threads I know that such credit cards do exist in the US too.

My debit card does not charge a fee when I withdraw any money in a Euro country. Withdrawing money in any non Euro country costs me 5 Euro at least per transaction (plus the fee charged by the ATM plus the foreign currency conversion fee).

So it all depends on your contract and the fine print.

steamboats

slidergirl,

 

it´s the same here in Germany. I have credit cards which I never would use to retrieve money as I have to pay at least 10 Euro as a basic fee plus the fee of the ATM plus the foreign currency conversion fee (I have cards from 1.5 %, 1.75 % and 2 %). But we also have a card which doesn´t have a fee for withdrawing money (and even reimbursed the fee charged by the ATM - o.k., that´s gone now). And from other threads I know that such credit cards do exist in the US too.

 

My debit card does not charge a fee when I withdraw any money in a Euro country. Withdrawing money in any non Euro country costs me 5 Euro at least per transaction (plus the fee charged by the ATM plus the foreign currency conversion fee).

 

So it all depends on your contract and the fine print.

 

steamboats

If such credit cards exist in the US, they are rare. There are some that do not charge the foreign transaction fee for purchases, but ATM withdrawals are a considered a different sort of transaction by most credit cards; it's considered a 'short term loan' with a hefty accompanying interest rate that is charged starting the moment you withdraw -- there is no grace period until your first monthly payment.

If such credit cards exist in the US, they are rare. There are some that do not charge the foreign transaction fee for purchases, but ATM withdrawals are a considered a different sort of transaction by most credit cards; it's considered a 'short term loan' with a hefty accompanying interest rate that is charged starting the moment you withdraw -- there is no grace period until your first monthly payment.

Exactly. This is why the common advice of not using credit cards to get cash is put out there. And the strong advisory of knowing what type of PIN Americans have for their credit cards, as many US credit cards have PINs that are good only for cash advances, not for standard credit card purchases.

I'm sorry but this is a dumb question. I'm planning on using my ATM card to withdraw cash, but was planning on using my credit cards for purchases/meals/etc. where I could. Am I understanding from the prior comment that I need to know/obtain a PIN for my credit cards for that purpose?

cruisemom42,

I remember this topic being discussed on the river cruise board. I know that those cards are rare but there were at least one or two recommended in that thread. Sorry, I don´t remember them.

irvington,

Our cards do work with a chip and a 4 digit PIN. If you do not have a chip almost all registers can slide the magnetic strip also and you have to sign. Chip and PIN are needed if you want to buy a ticket at an automated ticket machine - those work with chip and PIN only.

steamboats

I'm sorry but this is a dumb question. I'm planning on using my ATM card to withdraw cash, but was planning on using my credit cards for purchases/meals/etc. where I could. Am I understanding from the prior comment that I need to know/obtain a PIN for my credit cards for that purpose?

No.. Credit card transactions do not require a PIN number.. use our Credit Card for all purchases we can.. get best exchange rate without a transaction fee. We use our ATM for cash withdrawals to pay for incidentals.

I'm sorry but this is a dumb question. I'm planning on using my ATM card to withdraw cash, but was planning on using my credit cards for purchases/meals/etc. where I could. Am I understanding from the prior comment that I need to know/obtain a PIN for my credit cards for that purpose?

As already indicated, most Europeans have switched to a chip and pin type of credit card. However, they can still accommodate US customers with a chip and signature card easily -- these are the same type of cards that have been currently issued in the US due to better control over fraudulent purchases.

Magnetic stripe cards can still be used in a lot of places too. But if you can, request a newer "chip" card from your bank or credit card issuer.

The only place you'd likely get caught out without having a chip and pin card for purchases is unmanned terminals (like ticket machines in train stations, etc). You can usually get around this by just going to the ticket window and dealing with a person rather than a machine.

Credit card transactions do not require a PIN number..

Here in Europe, yes, most of the shops and restaurants have hand held devices which work with the chip and a PIN (it´s safer - in a restaurant they come to your table with that device). But as I said before usually they can slide the card and read the magnetic strip also. Some may say "no, you need a chip" but the devices have this option.

I remember in France you need a chip and PIN card for the gas stations (especially on a Sunday there are no people working there). I encountered the same in Italy. At an unmanned gas station the magnetic strip won´t work either. Chip and PIN only.

Here in Germany it took us a little longer. That´s why I refused to memorize my PIN over a long time. But then I needed to know it for France and Italy and other countries.

steamboats

Thanks. I do have chip cards which I use here in the US, but they don't require a PIN to use. In my last trip to Canada, I used the handheld device when paying in restaurants, but I didn't need a PIN. I was resisting getting/learning the PINs, but sounds like it would make life easier in Europe.

The vast majority of US-issued credit cards now are still CHIP & Signature instead of CHIP & PIN. They will work fine in attended situations - hotels, restaurants, stores, manned train stations - they do the chip thing then give you something to sign. We we Americans run into trouble are at automated kiosks, gas stations, autostrada toll stations - you have have a CHIP & PIN then. If I'm somewhere where I don't speak the same language as my clerk, I just make the motion of showing my card with chip and miming signing my name. Everyone has figured it out so far.

If you still have a credit card with just a mag strip, I'd see if you can get a new one issued with a Chip. I did that 2 years ago with my AMEX Plat (it wasn't expiring until 2017) - new Chip & Sig came to my door.

The vast majority of US-issued credit cards now are still CHIP & Signature instead of CHIP & PIN. They will work fine in attended situations - hotels, restaurants, stores, manned train stations - they do the chip thing then give you something to sign. We we Americans run into trouble are at automated kiosks, gas stations, autostrada toll stations - you have have a CHIP & PIN then. If I'm somewhere where I don't speak the same language as my clerk, I just make the motion of showing my card with chip and miming signing my name. Everyone has figured it out so far.

If you still have a credit card with just a mag strip, I'd see if you can get a new one issued with a Chip. I did that 2 years ago with my AMEX Plat (it wasn't expiring until 2017) - new Chip & Sig came to my door.

Hello slidergirl,

I continue reading your posts and I am learning. - thank you.

Did you have a chance to read my question ( post #11 on this thread) about the Credit Union Credit/Debit card ?

Looking for some help with ATM's in Rome.

Through my bank, I was able to get a Traveler credit card with no foreign transaction fees. I asked about using my debit card for ATM withdrawals. They told me not to use a debit card. I can use the new credit card and just do cash advances for a very low fee. I would like to know if the banks in Rome charge any fees to use their bank or will it just be my credit card transaction fee?

I am starting with around 200 euro and was planning on taking out only how much I need for the day from the ATM so i do not carry much cash with me at one time. On the cruise ship, I can withdraw from the casino ATM but there is a 3% fee.

ATMs in Europe don't typically charge fees. Just make sure you are using a bank associated ATM. Not a TravelEx ATM or similar, or a free standing ATM. Use one physically located in a bank. Also more secure.

Thanks Bruce..

Are there many banks all over Rome? We are staying near the Pantheon and Trevi Fountain. Hoping there are banks close nearby since it is a high tourist area.

Does anyone know the limit you can take out of the ATM on the Epic? I may take out 1 lump sum to cover all of the costs for the excursions I need to pay for and pay the 3% fee only once. That way, I can leave the excess money in the cabin safe and not have to worry about carrying it around.