So my good friend Girona40 told me that when she went back to the UK in May, she was surprised to find that they wouldn't accept her hubby's American credit card because it doesn't have a 'chip' on it. I'm sure you UKers know that this is something new they have started (can't remember how recently) but this was the first I had heard of it. I think Chas just assumed we had them, too, cos he never mentioned it until I asked. Leave it to the US to be behind - again!

None of my credit cards have this 'chip', which means I'll be taking more cash over than I had planned on. I just wasn't sure if any other USCs here had heard of this, and thought it might spare you some grief if you have an upcoming trip over. I was very grateful for the info!

Hope it helps, and all apologies if this is 'old news'.

Yes we all carry the mark here in the U.K. now. I found it odd that it had not reached America yet but i am sure it is coming. Just be sure to resist them if they want you to put one in your body.

Thanks Yabasta, I'll keep that in mind!!

The chip + pin situation came on the 14th of Feb... That your friends card was not accepted is quite unusual, as most of the shops can still swipe your cards... My mum was over for three weeks not long ago, and she hasn't got chip + pin and she coul pay in most places with her credit card... The only shop she encountered a problem with was in an Outlet, where the sales lady wanted to do a manual approval, but if you explain that you are not a resident here they can sure wsipe it... If not, you will be able to get money out of ATM's with no problem at all...

my pleasure
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2002/04/05/iv...our_chip_under/

http://news.zdnet.com/2100-9584_22-5285815.html

That's good to know, thanks! I'm taking mostly cash, and there are a few things (tickets for attractions) that I can get online with my card. But I am not going to plan on the kindness of strangers taking pity on my tourist a$$.

Cash is fine by me - no extra 'charges' for the currency exchange that way, either!

Did you get a good airfare deal? What airline? I'm looking to head over in November. Hoping the prices go down a bit. Cheapest I've seen so far is Virgin Atlantic.

Thanks for the info about the credit cards!

Have a wonderful time!

Thanks Wrenly!!

And no, I didn't get a good deal on airfare!! Mainly because I am flying in the summer (after Memorial day and before Labor Day), which means rates are as high as they can be. Also I don't fly out of a major airport (Nashville, then O'hare/Heathrow), so I have a connection to add to the cost as well. Anyway, I'm flying American. We got annoyed with United after his first time here. American is the only other one w/ decent fares from Nashvegas.

I'm also looking at going back in November. Looks like it'll be $750 round trip, though that may go down some as we get out of summer. (That's about $120 more than I paid last year when I went in September.)

You should do pretty well on Virgin, esp. if you fly out of a major airport w/out a connection. They only fly to Gatwick, though, which rules it out for me (fiance lives a stones throw from Heathrow).

Sorry to keep taking this off topic, but I think Virgin does go to Heathrow:

PLEASE CHOOSE YOUR OUTBOUND FLIGHT
Departs Arrives Flight Cabin / Fare Type Duration
New York (JFK)London (LHR)VS026 Economy (lowest) 6:40 Hrs
10 NOV 07:30 10 NOV 19:10


You might want to double check on their site. I LOVE flying with them!

Thanks Wrenly, will do! Though where it becomes complicated for me is the connection. Sure, I can get a decent flight from JFK to LHR; but then add on a flight from BNA to JFK -on a different airline - reclaim bag, recheck with Virgin - it almost becomes more trouble than its worth to me.

Unfortunately.

Did this begin as a mandatory item? --- when I was in Northern England last Dec/Jan they said that it will soon be required that all credit cards have chips on them. Was there an AS OF DATE out there for not accepting the US style cards? I did not have any problems getting cash or using my card to pay for purchases. I will need to get some Pounds prior to leaving the states so I dont run into any problems ---

I'm not sure, ktmmansgal. Once I was told this by Girona40, I asked my fiance, who had heard what anytaholland said (that the effective date was 14 Feb) but little else. He had no idea that US cards didn't have them.

From what anytaholland just posted about her mum's experiences recently - as well as Girona40's experience in May, it almost sounds like it could be on a merchant to merchant basis or something. I need to Google this, see what I can come up with, too.

But yeah, I'm definitely going to be leaning more heavily on cash for this trip!

The chip should nto effect the ATM though so you should be able to just get cash and spend that. I would suggest somebody with a non chipped card performs an experiment for all non chipped people.

Sounds like the ATMs are only supposed to be about halfway converted at this point. So that's another way around it, although I almost cringe to think of the surcharge my bank would charge me for the pleasure of using an ATM over there! So I think I'll get my cash out before I leave the states!

Article

You can certainly use your US credit card in ATM's in England. It wasn't ALL merchants that refused to take it - those that had the old manual style of making a credit transaction had no problem. But, several places would not take it, saying it was not "legal" for them to do so, after the 1st May 06. Not sure how true this is, but it made for frustrating shopping that's for sure.

Mind you - we did get a free round of drinks when we went into one bar and ordered lunch. We had our drinks while we chose from the menu and then, when we came to pay, they said they couldn't take the card because it wasn't "chipped". Hey Ho!

Another little travel tip is that on some train operating companies you can spend dollars, especially South West Trains. This never used to happen but when they installed there new equipment it had the know how to do it. Also you can use your credit cards over here, most stores have manual override. Some shops, especially small independent shops do not have this, but overall most do.

Janice

Ah so it sounds like if we play the 'desperate tourist' card, we'll be okay (in the larger shops). Well, I'll definitely let you all know what experiences I have this time over. But I'm still going to take a wad of cash too.

I think the larger shops and major tourist areas will always take your card. It would silly not to take them as they'd be turning down business everywhere. It's good that the UK are finally battling down on the credit card fraud issue, but to alienate tourists in the meantime would be a mighty fine mistake. By the way, I've never had any trouble using my US cards in the UK this year. Mostly in M&S and large chains though

Tracy--just be careful (I sound like my mom *rolls eyes*). They were talking on the radio the other day about people who had their wallet and cash on one side of the SECURITY CHECKPOINT and didn't have it on the other side. I'd put your cash in your jeans pocket!

You can't even trust the people in security!!!

Yes, very good idea. Paper money won't make the security beeper go off!

Last 2 trips i had the same problem, found that some shops took the card while others refused it.

Time for me to chirp in here I can certifiably tell you that all the retailer that you went into Tracey was talking rubbish! I worked part-time for WHSmith over here and this was only last month and I took loads of foreign cards as methods of payment by swiping them and I never had to refuse them. If the stores you go into(certainly the bigger ones)have a decent chip and pin system and they tried to swipe your card, it would go through without any problem. The chip and pin terminals are connected to a main terminal which still have the swipe bits on the side and the machines know if the card that is being swiped is a Chip and Pin card or not. The weird thing about all of this is that I still see some retailers try to swipe my Chip and Pin card and then they obviously see a message on the terminal which says insert the card into the Chip terminal! They might as well just do that anyway, its just a waste of time swiping them

I would strongly advise you NOT to carry large amounts of cash with you, you are just asking to be mugged The best thing to do is get UK Sterling travellers cheque. I think that American Express now do a Travellers cheque card in the US(they do over here)and it allows you to charge the card with any amount of money and it works like you have a credit card, except that you know how much is on there and when the money runs out that's it. It can be re-charged really easily on the internet or on the phone. I got one when my wife and I went to the US last month to get my Visa stamped and it was so easy to use(much easier than carrying Travellers Cheques). The best thing is that the money on the card that isn't used stays on there for a very long time, so you don't have to worry about using it.

Thanks londonspod, although I haven't yet traveled there since the 'chipped' credit card days. Maybe you were referring to Girona40's experience with the retailer?

And yeah, obviously I'm not going to be walking central London with tons of cash in my purse. Since my fiance lives there, I will leave what I won't immediately need locked up in his flat, and just take what I'll need for the day's outing and put it in my pocket. That way, even if my purse got snatched, they wouldn't get my cash.

I was worried after reading this post as we are going home to the UK in sept.... I phoned Mastercard both in the UK and here in the States and asked about this chip and pin... they both tell me that all chip and pin termanals have the ability to read the strip on non UK credit cards and I should have no problems using my credit card in the UK... they said that when chip and pin was introduced in the UK both mastercard and visa made it that all cards from any country can be read in all machines.... it is not in there interests to exclude card users from another country....

Hope this helps

Kezzie

Oops!! Must've got confused there Sorry about the mix up.

No worries!!

I like the cheque card idea a lot...!!! Thanks for a good idea.


thanks for doing some research.....was getting a bit nervous there about our trip in August...

but you are right, it is not in the interest of a retailer to turn down anyone's money, no matter who is doing the buying.

I found the opposite problem with my UK CHIP & PIN card in the US. It spewed cash out of the ATM easily, but in shops the card was refused on every occassion that I had to swipe it. Most annoying. Shopping trolley full and not enough cash in my pockets. oooppppssssss. The future is not homogenised

Whats that you U.S.ers put on your cash?? In god we trust??

I say ...godsavethequeen, the fascist regime,

NEW WORLD ORDER
MASONIC SEAL
TINY OWL

From http://www.chipandpin.co.uk/faqs/affect.html#affect :

I am visiting the UK as a tourist or on business and I don't have a chip and PIN card - will I be able to use it in shops?

You don't need to worry. Your cards will still be accepted in UK shops and by other businesses including hotels and restaurants. You will simply be asked to sign, just as before. The changes taking place after 14 February 2006 only apply to chip and PIN cardholders.


Are there any exceptions where people will sign after 14 February 2006?

There are some important exceptions where signature will always be accepted. These are for:

* cardholders who have old style cards and are waiting for their new chip and PIN cards;
* overseas cardholders that have cards that have not been upgraded to chip and PIN
* disabled cardholders who are unable to use PIN and have requested a chip and signature card
* for all cardholders in shops which have not upgraded to chip and PIN equipment

LOL