Do shops in Spain use chip & pin?

capewell38

I am going over and plan to buy some cigarettes (personal use only) from the Tobaccos shops. Do they use chip & pin or is it better to use cash - Euros or Sterling?

Any help or advice welcome.

Thanks

skylight

You tend to sign rather than chip and pin - plus you need to show your Passport (ID) if using a credit card.

rich11

Quite a lot of Tabaco's dont accept credit or debit cards.It is still signitures at the moment but remember to have your passport with you(although I bought something on my debit card the other day and they didnt ask for the passport

HXDave

i have had no problems paying for tobaccoo on credit or debit cards in spain. i've also used the pre-paid cards too.

where abouts in spain are you going?

7891368

I used a credit card without a passport? It was also chip and pin and I could choose to pay in euros or sterling.

That was 2 months ago.

luci

Just came back from Girona on Sunday.

First check if the Tabac imposes a fee for using your credit card. None did this trip, but some in other parts of Spain charge 1%.

Also MAKE SURE you specifically ask for the transaction in euros and not sterling. Even though it initially comes up as euros, the option then appears, after you have input your PIN, for the shop to select either euros or sterling at the end of the transaction. They will often choose sterling thinking that is what you would prefer coming from the UK, but it would then go through at a less favourable exchange rate.

Yes both Tabacs I used had chip and pin. I wasn't asked to sign this time although I have had to use both the PIN and a signature in Benidorm and Benalmadena.

No I wasn't ask to show my passport when using my credit card. However I believe you do have to show it in supermarkets when buying groceries. Not sure what the difference is.

fawinds

most shops are currently upgrading their swipe and signature machines to chip and pin. for chip and pin no id is required. they usually do ask for id for swipe and signature purchases.

many tobbaconists may not accept credit cards.

Pound

When I was in Ibiza I used my credit card and they handed me a c&p device. I thought it was a UK only thing.

capewell38

Thanks everyone. I am going to Girona and was planning to use the wife's credit card (Santanda Zero) - hence using chip & PIN, but if I also need to shoe my passport it won't match. I'll probably take cash. Anyone know if sterling or Euros are best in Girona?

luci

Why are you concerned about showing a passport?

As I said, I came back from Girona at the weekend, used my credit card for cigs 3 times and was never asked to show a passport.

Girona is in the EU, sterling is no use there, the local currency is euros.

fawinds

I am currently on holiday in Cadiz and went today to the local Burger King in Puerto de Santa Maria. Paid with my credit card, they asked to see my ID, put the card on a chip and PIN device and asked me to key in my PIN in an unsecured keyboard with a queue of people behind me.

Then went to the local Supersol supermarket, handed again my chip and PIN card, the lady asked to see again my ID, put the card in a chip and PIN machine (not swiped) and... to my surprise ask me to sign instead of keying in my PIN.

In my experience, which is extensive, as chip and PIN is quite new in Spain, most people are unfamiliar with it and you can expect almost anything to happen.

Advice, carry some photo ID with you. A driving licence will in most cases be accepted in place of a passport.