Using credit card in France/Belgium

RootyTooty_2

Hello all,

Can anyone tell me if these two countries use chip and pin?

thanks

Gironde_Gal

France had already been using chip and pin for years before the UK discovered it! However if you use a UK card sometimes the checkout person will assume to swipe the card in the old way and ask for a signature: then you have to point out that it is a modern card with a chip. HTH

mandragora_2

Usually no probs at all in France - though just watch out if you're driving - especially on a Sunday, as the only problems we've ever had is with some of the pumps in petrol stations - they can be unstaffed on Sundays and you need to use the card machine at the pump. Just now and again, these machines haven't accepted either our credit or our debit card (one's Visa, one's Mastercard). It's a low-level but annoyingly persistent problem which has sneaked up on us every now and then over the past 10 years' holidaying in France and given us our only scary moments money-wise!



To be completely Moneysaving, of course, you'll be taking a Nationwide debit card and getting cash without charge, as and when you need it, won't you.....!!