Using German credit cards in the UK

[Derekbeggs 1,967]

 

Fact 1. You can still use a Chip and PIN-less card in the UK.

 

Fact 2. IF your card is Chip and PIN you have to use the PIN facility as of today if making a purchase in a UK shop that has Chip and PIN equipment.

 

Fact 3. Germany already has Chip and PIN for debit card transactions in many shops and this will be expanding.

 

Fact 4. German credit card issuers haven't gone to Chip and Pin, yet.

 

Clear as day, dunno what the panic is about.

PS The sub title to the thread is inherent WRONG and I'd nicely suggest the mods change it.

FACT, This is from personal experience.

 

Fact 5, In several shops and a hotel, I COULD NOT USE my card

Fact 6, My shop does not have a chip and pin, Shops with that equipment No Longer Accepted my card

Fact 7, Debit cards are not credit cards

Fact 8, No they havent, i agree, and they have no intention in the near future.

 

So, Assuming that I didnt dream the fact that my card was refused on security grounds ( fact 5 ), and the fact that it is a german credit card ( fact 8 ), I feel factually justified in saying that German Credit cards cannot infact be used in the UK in fact.

 

And why should they be allowed. The whole point is security, and to prevent credit card fraud, what is the point of only making a ban on chipless cards, if those cheeky fraudsters, just get a hold of a foreign card to do their dirty deads. An exception like this exposes the entire new system to misuse and negates any benefits. I can see the retailers point of view.

 

factfest over

<_<

[Owain Glyndwr 888]

 

Yeah - my German VISA cards both have PIN NUMBERS. Is that the issue then?

i suppose it depends whether the PINs they issued with the cards can be used to verify transactions in shops rather than just in cash machines.

[Johnny English 3,071]

The mods have excelled themselves and changed the thread title to "Using Credit Cards in the UK" which tells next to nothing about the contents and is as much use as a thread titled "Using Cooking Oil in Spain".

 

So less helpful than the original thread title in fact. Nice touch.

 

Apologies Edit: Just to clarify I love all the mods and want them to have my babies, just I think the Title changing fever is getting hysterical these days. Or maybe you are just baiting me huh?

[MonksTown 104]

The PIN for Chip and PIN purchases in shops is the same PIN as you use for cash withdrawl.

 

There's already Chip and PIN in Germany. eg I used it it with my Sparkasse debit card in the airport Edeka last week. It's just being rolled out more slowly.

 

On German issued credit cards I was just refering to my credit card issuer not having them, but that will of course change and already has in Owain's case.

[Johnny English 3,071]

Aha. So the answer to this tricky conundrum is:

 

DUMP YOUR GERMAN MASTERCARDS AND GET GERMAN VISAS.

 

This public service announcement was brought to you by Johnny English Financial Services. You have not been charged for this advice. If you require further advice on this matter our hourly rate is €300 per hour, or one large jar of Hellmans and a box of PG Tips.

[Topsy 35]

*sigh*

 

so can I buy my knickers at Marks and Sparks with a credit card?

or not?

 

this is all very confusing...

[Owain Glyndwr 888]

 

On German issued credit cards I was just refering to my credit card issuer not having them, but that will of course change and already has in Owain's case.

i am not sure anything has "changed". I have had a PIN with my credit card since I was first issued it back in 1997. It was issued, I believe, to enable me to withdraw cash advances from machines so VISA can earn bucket loads in charges. I am still uncertain as to whether this PIN will work when purchasing goods in shops.

[Derekbeggs 1,967]

Nice one big brothers,

thank you for correcting my obviously overzealous slander of the german financial system, even if it is FACTually correct.

 

Please replace the sub title with the word Allegedly at the end.

 

I intend to exert my freedom of speech and will protest loudly by walking round my desk with a banner reading, 'I cant use my German Credit Card in the UK' until the sub heading of my rightious indignation is replaced.

 

Come on moderators, is it really worth taking that off?

[Johnny English 3,071]

If it is a VISA then YES. If it is a MASTERCARD then NO.

 

Topsy - you now owe me a jar of mayo and some tea bags.

[Topsy 35]

well, I've got VISA and Amex, so I guess I'll be fine

thnx for the advice, I'll see what I can do, JE :)

[Owain Glyndwr 888]

ah! but do you have PINs to go with those cards, Topsy? If not, you are just as fucked as with a MASTERCARD.

[Johnny English 3,071]

The AMEX card will be useful perhaps for scraping some ice off the windscreen, but precious little else.

[topcat 1 373]

@ Monkstown. Its been here for years. I can recall it being here four years ago for debit cards. Only rolled out in UK in 2005. I don´t know why Mastercard have not got Chip & PIN in Germany but Visa has.

 

@ Topsy. You will be fine here but in the UK if your card does not have Chip & PIN M&S will ask for another form of payment.

[MonksTown 104]

 

well, I've got VISA and Amex,

Spot the posh one!

Very suspect comrade, I'm going to have to make a note in the "files" :lol:

[Topsy 35]

Fuck

 

now I'm confused again...

 

@monkstown - yeah, I'm dead posh I am (it's a corporate AMEX card, dontcha know, sweetie )

[SleeplessInMunich 406]

very posh indeed isn't she. ;)

[Beg Tets 12]

My german credit card Mastercard doesn't have chip and pin and I had no problems using it anywhere in the UK over Xmas/New year. Didn't go to Marks and Sparks though.

[Johnny English 3,071]

Topsy - you can always just use my Harrods personal account and pay me when you get back.

[Topsy 35]

pah! Harrods?

common as muck

[Owain Glyndwr 888]

ok, i just phoned up my card issuer. The PIN I was issued donkey's years ago WILL work in the UK with the new system.

 

Topsy, just call you card issuer and ask them to send you a (new) PIN.