Credit card question

This may seem like a strange question but I was wondering if a 4 digit PIN code is required for %26quot;non-ATM%26quot; transactions (ie:paying for dinner in a restaurant, shopping, etc).

The reason I ask is because here in Denmark, for just about everything payed for with a credit card (or plastic of any kind), you have to run the card through a machine and enter your 4 digit PIN code.

This proved to be a huge problem for my mom the first time she came over to visit from the US because she didn%26#39;t have PIN codes for most of her credit cards.

I%26#39;m also planning on using an American Express from a US account (in my name of course) for everything other then small transactions (for which I%26#39;ll have some Euros) and need to know if I need to call AM EX and get a PIN # for the card.

Thanks.

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I should warn you that you might have trouble using American Express, since they apparently take a higher percentage from retailers than the other credit card companies, so a lot of places won%26#39;t take it. Secondly, Belgium is heavily into the use of debit cards (with PIN) rather than credit cards so it%26#39;s a long time since I paid for anything with a credit card here; and although we have all been issued with %26quot;PIN and chip%26quot; cards, I%26#39;m not sure how widespread the use of the PIN rather than signature actually is (in the UK, as apparently in DK, it is standard). You could ask for a PIN anyway as a safety measure, and I hope some tourist who has been here recently can say whether you can still sign instead.

Incidentally, don%26#39;t expect to be able to use credit cards for all small transactions, e.g. buying metro cards: the machines, and indeed virtually all retailers, take the local debit card (Bancontact, Mister Cash, Maestro) which can also be used as a %26quot;cash card%26quot; (Proton), but not credit cards.

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Thanks. I%26#39;ll get a PIN just to be safe. I already checked the Restaurant (Aux Armes) and the Hotel (Le Meridien) and they take American Express, in fact virtually all the restaurants I checked out on Resto.be take American express (so they say, anyway). I%26#39;ll also have a couple hundred in cash so I should be covered (plus I have my DK visa. But that%26#39;s more of a cash card then an actual Visa with a credit limit).

The only place I%26#39;m not sure of (that will take AM EX). where I plan on spending a bit, is wherever I end up buying beer glasses.

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I%26#39;m just wondering about the local debit card and Proton cash card that you mention, qaminari.

Would one have to have a Belgian bank account to use one of those cards, or would it be possible to buy one and %26quot;load it up%26quot;? In other words, if I was worried about having large amounts of cash with me, could I exchange my euros for a card that would be easier to manage?

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yes you need your four digit pin no to pay by credit card in those places that accept them wherever they come form.

On my amex card i am able to use a signature here because trhe card has no chip.

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Born2bike, we are issued these cards automatically with a Belgian bank account, I don%26#39;t know any other way of getting a Proton card (preloaded cash card, like a telephone card) and although the other system was supposed to be going Europe-wide, if not international (Maestro), as far as I know it is still limited to Belgium. This would not necessarily mean banks in other countries (European at least) can%26#39;t issue cards that can be used in it, but as I have a Belgian bank account, I have never had any reason to ask!

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Thanks for taking the time to respond, gaminari.

We also have bank-issued debit cards here in Canada; they are the same cards that we use in the automatic teller machines. While they do work in the ATM%26#39;s in Europe, I don%26#39;t think I will be able to use my card for point-of-sale purchases.

It%26#39;s a bit of a dilemma for travellers, particularly the thrifty ones like me who don%26#39;t enjoy paying a convenience fee to my credit card issuer to do a currency conversion for me. And although ATM%26#39;s are handy, there is a charge levied by both banks (the one that owns the machine, and the one that holds my money).

I guess I will have to loosen the purse strings.

Thanks again,

Linda

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