I know that when you use a Debit Card in a ATM you need a pin number. When you are using a Credit Card for dinner, purchases, etc. do you need a pin number? This was mentioned on a different Copenhagen post and has me a little confused.
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Some new credit card have the PIN encoded
I have one with PIN %26amp; 1 without
They should take either
The one with PIN you do not need to sign for purchases
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Thanks for the feedback. I guess we are just a little behind the times here in the states.
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In most places in Denmark and Sweden we found they would only accept cards with PIN. This caused us some problems as my husband was unsure of his so in the end it was my card in use all the time!
Here in Spain you are always asked for separate photo ID in shops so this never comes up. In the UK I have never been asked to use PIN with my Spanish credit-card but with UK debit-card using PIN is now the norm (people in the UK having no obligation to carry ID on them, that alternative was never an option); in Germany some establishments have now also started asking for PIN .
Denny, be aware too that quite a lot of places in Denmark charge you extra to pay by credit/debit-card, sometimes flat-rate fee, sometimes a percentage, which can be as high as 5%.
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This is all new information to me. I have traveled to Paris, London, Germany and all throughout Italy and have never been asked for a pin #. I guess I%26#39;ll find out soon in Copenhagen and Amsterdam.
We are never asked for a pin the USA and in fact I don%26#39;t even have a pin # that is related with a credit card. I wonder if it is a Visa or a Mastercard issue.
Will in Barcelonia and Spain next summer, so I hope it isn%26#39;t an issue there.
Thanks for the update.
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At least in Finland all Visa and MasterCard credit cards come with a chip. The information on the card is read from the chip and not from the magnetic stripe. (The chip cards are harder to forge.) Chip card bills are then signed using the pin code.
My Diners Club card is without a chip and the bills are signed.
Both types of cards work fine and are widely accepted in Denmark.
Do note that some places (in Denmark) add the credit card companies%26#39; comission to the bill.
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This makes it much easier to understand. We have %26quot;chip%26#39; cards in the USA, but the idea has not been well accepted yet. They are only used for small purchase amounts. The %26quot;traditional%26quot; credit card still gets about 99% of all business.
Thanks for clearing this up.
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In DK for practically every transaction we were told the card had to have a PIN, although a couple of hotels did accept my husband signing.
In Barcelona you%26#39;ll be asked for photo ID in shops, however small the purchase (and even if you are a regular customer as in my local supermarket). Only exception occasionally is when you hand over the VISA card with a photo (an option from our bank for the last 8 years or so). In restaurants they normally just take the card; no major checking of signature either it seems (which in the UK they always did). Hotels often photocopy your ID in any case.
PIN use in Germany is new, and spreading.
Most Europeans use cards issued by their banks so yes, VISA and Mastercard. These are of course also the cards most widely accepted.
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I am currently in Denmark, and yes, most of the establishments require a PIN # when you pay with a credit card. You will see this at the train station and supermarkets. However, there was no need of a pin for CCs at the museums and restaurants.
It was strange to be asked for a PIN # when using a CC.
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I have just returned from a Baltic cruise and spent 6 days in Copenhagen and your information about Pin# and credit cards in Copenhagen is correct.
In small locations like train stations, 7-11 stores, supermarkets they require a credit card with a PIN #. It was not required on larger purchases in %26quot;department%26quot; stores or restaurants. We always asked if they need a PIN # first to be sure.
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My daughter is staying in Denmark for a year and I just got back from spending a week there - Trying to use a US based debit card will be near to impossible due to the difference in banking regulations. What I do know is that when you use a credit card, you will be asked for a PIN. Using Mastercard as an example, you can avoid this however when you do supply a PIN, the tranasction is treated as a cash advance through your credit card company and as such, a much higher interest rate is applied to the tranasction. I would ensure you have a pin just in case however tell them NO when asked for a PIN and don%26#39;t be surprised if you are denied.
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