US Credit Card

[Deleted User]

I know some of these have been covered off already, but my main tips would be:

• Carry your passport or driver's license as extra ID at all times
• Carry a spare Visa or Mastercard if you have one
• If you come across a machine without a swiper, try putting the card in anyway. Some of them have the mag-stripe reader inside, and shoving the card in will work, and prompt a signature.
• Expect to hear "we don't take amex" quite a lot
• Have a good trip!!

lawstudent

trikidy wrote: »

Certain shops will not swipe a card under any circumstance, I know the Co Op is one for example. But I would imagine the bigger stores like Tesco would.

I work in Tesco and it is true the policy is - at least in my store but I think this was actually on a memo - cards are not to be swiped under any circumstance for security reasons. The only exceptions are Tesco's personal finance cards (the old accounts which give double points but you have to deposit money in the account first, this is as they use cards that do not have chips) and also bank/credit cards that say "International" on them - I believe these are issued on request to frequent travellers who are wealthy/use this card for business.

If you came into my store and I was on duty your cards would unfortunately not be accepted unless they say "International" on them.

reclusive46

lawstudent wrote: »

I work in Tesco and it is true the policy is - at least in my store but I think this was actually on a memo - cards are not to be swiped under any circumstance for security reasons. The only exceptions are Tesco's personal finance cards (the old accounts which give double points but you have to deposit money in the account first, this is as they use cards that do not have chips) and also bank/credit cards that say "International" on them - I believe these are issued on request to frequent travellers who are wealthy/use this card for business.

If you came into my store and I was on duty your cards would unfortunately not be accepted unless they say "International" on them.

I hope someone reports that Tesco to Amex, Visa and MC then, since thats completely breaking the rules and with ID along with the card, I see no problem with accepting it. Also most companies that issue emergency cards in the UK (Like Amex, Ie. They will send you a swipe and sign card and standard card but the emergency one will come overnight), that is only swipe and sign.

I must admit, I've had an emergency Amex swipe and sign card and it was swiped no problem in Tesco (This was in Norwich and in Newport Wales

and technically any card has "international" on it :P Where it says International number on the back :P

I'd love to see one of these days, a big chain loose its merchant agreement due to a violation. Imagine if a supermarket suddenly couldn't take cards. It would be bankrupt in a month.