Should I change my regular Canadian Visa card for one that has a microchip in it for use in France? I don%26#39;t really know much about this, but have been told that the European cards have a microchip in it and some places won%26#39;t take my regular visa. Can someone fill me in on this please? Is it necessary to change over? I may be booking some train travel on my card online - will they accept my regular visa? Is it just a better idea to have this type of card for France? Many thanks again.
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First, I don%26#39;t think you can just %26quot;change%26quot; your credit card - it is as the issuer sent it to you.
Second, your cards will work fine in France, EXCEPT that you can%26#39;t use them in machines that will otherwise accept cards. Any transaction which has a human involved will be fine, however. Also, on line transactions are fine.
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If your card will be compatible with French systems then I%26#39;d recommend it. You can certainly use a card without a chip in France, but people outside of main tourist places are not used to it.
That being said, some facilities only take cards with chips. You can buy train tickets at SNCF offices with a regular credit card, however you can only buy them at machines if your card has the chip (called %26#39;puce%26#39; by the French).
If you are booking through SNCF and getting the tickets in France, a chip might be necessary. If you%26#39;re getting them through Rail Europe or having them mailed, I doubt you need the chip.
BUT MAKE SURE THE CHIP WORKS IN FRANCE. The French use a unique system called Carte Bancaire. Check that your Canadian Visa will be compatible.
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Thanks for the tips - I will call my bank in the morning, and ask about the French chip too.
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Since 2003, the French credit cards have started to move to the international standard EMV (which stands for %26quot;Europay/MasterCard/Visa%26quot;). This is a worldwide standard dating from 1994-1998, to ensure interoperability for credit cards and credit card processing equipment.
In the US, banks and credit card issuers are very slow in adopting EMV - it is assumed this is because of the cost. Canada is currently in the process of migrating to EMV - it could be a good idea to contact your bank.
www.selfservice.org/article_3508_25.php
www.atmmarketplace.com/article.php?id=5841
http://Chipmigration.ca/
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%26lt;%26lt;%26lt;This is a worldwide standard%26gt;%26gt;%26gt;
EMV may be a world standard but there is one country with absolutely no plans to make the conversion - the USA. About 75 other countries including Canada and Mexico have a plan for a gradual change to EMV already in place.
If you can obtain a card with a chip, it will make traveling much easier. Most vendors have the magnetic strip readers but do not really known how to use them (you%26#39;ll wait while they continue to swipe your card in all different directions) and vendors have fewer and fewer reasons to spend the money to repair magnetic strip readers when they need it.
Magnetic strip cards will continue to be accepted in larger metropolitan and touristy areas but when traveling around the country, prepare yourself for a bit of frustration.
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I spoke to my visa card issuer, CIBC, they assured me that it will work fine at ATMs if you have your PIN number and work at all merchants and machines that take VISA, though reading here makes me wonder....Last year in the south of france and provence, it was accepted everywhere without fail but I had forgot my PIN so did not even try it at ATMs or banks to get cash.
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I was recently notified by RBC that my Avion VISA card will be replaced with a %26#39;pin and chip%26#39; card in August - annoyingly with a new CC#.
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It is indeed tru you cannot use the SNCF machines without a chip card but everywhere else the plain mag stripe kinds worked fine for us. If they say they cannot take them, just tell them to punch in the number--they can do it. My ATM card with 4 digit PIN works fine too. Cirrus.
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