Practical Traveler For Americans, Plastic Buys Less Abroad By MICHELLE HIGGINS The New York Times October 4, 2009
BETTER pack some cash on your next trip abroad. Americans are finding that their credit and bank cards aren't as convenient as they once were while traveling overseas. The problem: American cards lack a special chip, now commonly used in many foreign countries, causing the cards to be rejected by some merchants and kiosks. That's what Nancy Elkind, a lawyer from Denver, discovered in Paris when she wanted to use the popular Vélib' bicycle rental system on a weeklong vacation with her husband last spring. They tried to swipe various cards at the rental kiosk, which doesn't take cash, and all the cards were rejected. Then, thinking the problem might be with the kiosk and not their cards, they tried other Vélib' locations around the city. But each time, their cards were not accepted. "We gave up, and kept walking around Paris, commenting occasionally on how much fun it would be to do some exploring by bike," Ms. Elkind said. The couple's cards, which rely on magnetic-stripe technology for transactions, lacked an embedded microprocessor chip, which stores and processes data and is now commonly used in Europe. Such chip-based cards - commonly referred to as chip-and-PIN cards because users punch in a personal identification number instead of signing for the purchase - offer an extra layer of protection against the theft of cardholder data and counterfeiting, and they are designed to replace magnetic stripe technology and signature payments. The chip-and-PIN technology usually isn't much of an issue when making purchases at a store, or paying for a meal in a restaurant, as most of those merchants still have credit card terminals that can read the magnetic stripes. Likewise, A.T.M.'s typically recognize and accept many cards whether they have a chip or a magnetic stripe. But American cardholders have had their cards rejected by automated ticket kiosks at train stations, gas pumps, parking garages and other places where there are no cashiers. ... http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/04/travel/04pracchip.html *********************************** * POST TO MEDIANEWS@ETSKYWARN.NET * *********************************** Medianews mailing list Medianews@etskywarn.net http://lists.etskywarn.net/mailman/listinfo/medianews
