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#87794 - 07/10/10 02:16 PM
About Changing Money
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Junior Member
Registered: 08/15/04
Posts: 2
Loc: Brooklyn, NY
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Although not strictly a safety issue, I'm not sure how to classify this question. I've heard something about new European style credit cards that don't exist in the US. Will this be a problem in terms of changing money in banks? Or using them in stores. I'm not referring to 4 numeral pins; it's something else called a 'chip and pin'. Anyone have any problems in that regard? Also, I have two visa cards. Is there any reason why I need to have a mastercard or is the visa ok? Thanks.
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#87800 - 07/11/10 04:47 AM
Re: About Changing Money
[Re: iffy]
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Full Member
Registered: 06/04/00
Posts: 156
Loc: Isle of Wight UK
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Chip and pin just means the card is "read" rather than "swiped". Terminals in Europe still have a "swipe" facility. As for just carrying Visa cards, not a problem I've encountered in Spain, everyone seems to accept Visa. Don't forget to let your bank know your travel plans.
_________________________
Jan . _o . -\<, () / ()
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#87861 - 07/15/10 12:49 PM
Re: About Changing Money
[Re: teachertraveler8]
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Executive Member
Registered: 02/23/06
Posts: 1158
Loc: Hastings Old Town , England .
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Do remember that if you want to use your credit card in a store you , more often than not , will have to produce ID .. An ID card , passport etc . . The fees for withdrawing money via an ATM are steep here as Pedmar mentioned . If I withdraw 500 Euros I can expect to pay about 7 or 8 Euros commision . Disgraceful that the Spanish government still allow this . In the UK , no matter what bank , all ATM withdrawals are free ! I use Mastercard , but Visa is widely accepted . The only card you may have a problem with is American Express . My brother uses it all the time in Moscow but often finds problems when he comes to Western Europe .
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#87879 - 07/16/10 10:25 AM
Re: About Changing Money
[Re: pedmar]
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Full Member
Registered: 02/09/10
Posts: 132
Loc: utah transplant
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This past May, I was asked for an ID at El Corte d'Inglis, and I showed them a copy of my passport and that was enough. Also used just a copy when boarding the bus to Granada.
At El Cort d'Inglis, they also asked if I wanted the credit card to be in Euros or dollars.
I used a Chase Visa debit and was able to withdraw from S________ Atlantico Bank ATM with no charge on their part. There was a $3.00 fee from Chase. Sorry, some one could maybe fill in the first part of the banks name as I don't remember it. We did not find that ATM to be prolific around the city, but we did look for them once we found they did not charge me. I don't know if it works for all Visa cards or if there is a Chase relationship that meant there was no fee from the Spanish bank.
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#87882 - 07/16/10 11:05 AM
Re: About Changing Money
[Re: jacmom]
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Executive Member
Registered: 02/23/06
Posts: 1158
Loc: Hastings Old Town , England .
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That would be Sabadell Atlantico ..... Interesting .... I´ll look into that .
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#87884 - 07/16/10 11:07 AM
Re: About Changing Money
[Re: steve robinson]
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Full Member
Registered: 02/09/10
Posts: 132
Loc: utah transplant
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Thanks for filling that in , Steve.
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#87889 - 07/17/10 04:01 AM
Re: About Changing Money
[Re: jacmom]
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Executive Member
Registered: 02/23/06
Posts: 1158
Loc: Hastings Old Town , England .
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I agree with the comments here that El Corte Inglés doesn´t normally ask for ID .. and their smaller offshoot company , Opencor ( open 365 days a year and normally open until at least 2am ) also doesn´t always ask for ID . I always pay by cash ( efectivo ) . One point about using cash ..I would ask the bank to give you banknotes of maximun €100 . Many places will not except the €200 and €500 notes . Corte Inglés is the exception again . I once saw a Japanese couple buying a few small things and they handed over a €500 note. The cashier put it through her fraud detection machine ... and gave them their change without a supervisor being involved . I was astonished .
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