John.N Posted November 23, 2009 Share Posted November 23, 2009 This year in France we found that some of the smaller supermarkets would not accept our Visa credit card supplied by the Cooperative Bank as it did not have the EU logo on it. They pointed to a poster showing the cards which the did accept and these were mostly (perhaps all) EU banks and had the logo boldly displayed. This has never happened to us before and the major hypermarchés and filling stations accepted the card. I asked the Cooperative Bank if they could issue a card displaying the magic icon and they said no and thought that none of the other British banks did either. Has anyone else had similar problems? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spospe Posted November 23, 2009 Share Posted November 23, 2009 John.N We are just back from two months touring France and have never encountered this problem. We use cards by, Goldfish, Nationwide and Alliance & Leicester (Santander now), none of these cards have an EU logo on them. Michael Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KeithR Posted November 23, 2009 Share Posted November 23, 2009 john, were these individual small supermarkets, or a small chain? are you allowed to tell us who they are??? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Klyne Posted November 23, 2009 Share Posted November 23, 2009 Surely the fact that it has the Visa sign on the card is enough? Never had a problem in France with my Tesco Visa card. Did they actually scan the card or did they just make up their minds they did not like the look of it? David Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lennyhb Posted November 24, 2009 Share Posted November 24, 2009 None of my cards have a EU logo on them never been refused anywhere in Europe. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Tracker Posted November 24, 2009 Share Posted November 24, 2009 We had all our cards refused by a small supermarket in a small town in the far North of Norway in 2008. The guy was very polite and very apologetic and suggested we use his cash machine to get cash - so we did - and we never had a problem anywhere else from the Nordkapp to the Sahara! However we do always now make sure that we carry enough local currency to at least get us to a major city if not out of the country - spending it all at or just before the border exit on food and fuel. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brian Kirby Posted November 24, 2009 Share Posted November 24, 2009 Were you able to get any further details as to what was causing the problem? We are in the EU and, so far as I know, all cards are either on the Master Card, Visa, Diners or American Express systems. There are no EU banks, as such, as all banks are regulated on a state by state basis. For example, if you have a French, Euro, account, it does not follow that your cheques will be accepted outside France. The only form of payment that crosses borders seamlessly is plastic, so I'd guess that these outlets have a restriction placed on them because of the card system they have adopted, and not because of a missing logo. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John.N Posted November 24, 2009 Author Share Posted November 24, 2009 I ca't remember exactly which supermarkets they were. Small SuperU's come to mind. They definitely had posters showing the cards they accepted - all with the EU logo. Perhaps (and hopefully) it was an isolated experience and I shall worry no more. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John.N Posted November 24, 2009 Author Share Posted November 24, 2009 Klyne - 2009-11-23 11:38 PM Surely the fact that it has the Visa sign on the card is enough? Never had a problem in France with my Tesco Visa card. Did they actually scan the card or did they just make up their minds they did not like the look of it? David They didn't scan it. They just shook their heads and said "Non" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roamer Posted November 24, 2009 Share Posted November 24, 2009 Hi Was it a credit or debit card you tried. Lidl for one lowcost supermarket will only except debit cards. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Dwight Posted November 24, 2009 Share Posted November 24, 2009 Roamer, We have used Debit and Credit cards in Lidl in the UK, France and Germany. David. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
peterjl Posted November 24, 2009 Share Posted November 24, 2009 Hi we have also had the odd problem in Germany where shops & campsites would not accept Visa/ mastercard/ or debit cards (i've used all these cards all over the world from the Himalayas to remote towns in Namibia to outback in OZ - but Germany!!!). In Germany I tend to take cash just in case! These shops generally took a different type of card which name i cannot remember but recognised as a minor player in UK. Peter Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Tracker Posted November 24, 2009 Share Posted November 24, 2009 David Dwight - 2009-11-24 8:25 PM Roamer, We have used Debit and Credit cards in Lidl in the UK, France and Germany. David. I have a feeling that Lidl in some countries charge you for using a credit card but due to the language issue and as it is in Euros (or whatever?) you may well not notice? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Dwight Posted November 24, 2009 Share Posted November 24, 2009 Rich You may be right about the charge , but I am sure her who handles the purse strings would soon say something. David Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roamer Posted November 24, 2009 Share Posted November 24, 2009 You will not be able to use a credit card in the new Lidl Evesham outlet, David, debit card or cash only. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wills Wagon Posted November 24, 2009 Share Posted November 24, 2009 We had Nationwide VISA credit and debit cards refused at a large German supermarket called Kaufland in Trier in October this year and also at Camping Treviris at Trier. They took one look at the VISA stamp and said no. Perhaps something to with fraud case involving VISA in Europe. We had used both cards in France, Belgium and other places in Germany with no trouble before and after this. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roamer Posted November 24, 2009 Share Posted November 24, 2009 Wills Wagon - "Perhaps something to do with fraud" Back in 2002 - Tromso Norway - the BP garage would only except payment by card after taking my passport number. This was the only location this has ever occured but one or two supermarkets did refuse credit card during that trip, at that time we did not have chip and pin but they did. We have used credit cards almost everywhere we have travelled without a problem, but it is upto the retailer what payment is excepted. Credit cards involve a percentage charge to be paid by retailer but cash/debit cards do not allowing the retailer to operate on smaller margins. Perhaps the cards listed do not charge the retailer the rates used by the main card issuers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lennyhb Posted November 24, 2009 Share Posted November 24, 2009 Wills Wagon - 2009-11-24 9:54 PM We had Nationwide VISA credit and debit cards refused at a large German supermarket called Kaufland in Trier in October this year and also at Camping Treviris at Trier. They took one look at the VISA stamp and said no. Perhaps something to with fraud case involving VISA in Europe. We had used both cards in France, Belgium and other places in Germany with no trouble before and after this. The only card nearly all German supermarkets will take is German debit cards. Germany has always been cash orientated with credit frowned upon hence their history of a strong economy. It's only in more recent years that you have been able to buy fuel with credit cards. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Expat Posted November 25, 2009 Share Posted November 25, 2009 Hi John, Think you've probably just been a bit unlucky, however, having said that, our local Super U Cash machine is often "Temperamental" about giving money on a Nationwide Card. One thing to watch though.....24 hour Fuel Pumps at Suprmarkets will often not accept U.K. Cards, you have to use a Carte Bleu. We had an extremely embarrasing moment at Leclerc outside Boulogne. Late at night, diesel too low to risk continuing on A16....... Fortunately, a kind Frenchman was prepared to use his card in return for Euro Notes. The Booze Supermarkets on the Spanish Border at Jonqueras will take U.K. Cards, but only with proof of identity. It would seem that Cash is not totally out of date. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
coach2000 Posted November 25, 2009 Share Posted November 25, 2009 The place I have had most trouble is at the Auchan fuel station at Bouloogne where a couple of times I have had different cards refused, It is very rare I go there now. The last few times I went to Le clerc on leaving the ferry. Even on the pay yourself pumps I have had no problems during the early hours. On the outskirts of Toulouse in September I had to walk out of a Lydl and leave the groceries because they would not take any cards. Another trip travelling cross country off motorways I must have tried about 6 Esso and Total garages that were closed but had alnight pumps and give up at the end and altered my route slightly to go on the motorway to top up. Going off thread slightly, have you noticed how many French people use cheques in the supermarket whereas here the banks are talking about doing away with them completely. Clive. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
maggyd Posted November 25, 2009 Share Posted November 25, 2009 I always make sure I have enough cash to cover my bill in Aldi and Lidl when in Germany or France as I have had my Nationwide debit card refused a few times :-S they just look at it and say no, the Carrafour, and larger supermarkets Ive had no trouble with, same with the petrol stations! sometimes Yay another time its Nay. I always offer the card first trying to conserve the cash but when its getting low find a cash machine. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Randonneur Posted November 25, 2009 Share Posted November 25, 2009 coach2000 - 2009-11-25 10:14 PM have you noticed how many French people use cheques in the supermarket whereas here the banks are talking about doing away with them completely. Clive. That is because the French Banks have a monthly charge for using debit Cards but not for cheques and it is illegal to write a cheque knowing that you have not enough in your account to cover it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
colinfrier Posted November 26, 2009 Share Posted November 26, 2009 Lidil in Spain accept credit or debit cards but as with most transactions in Spain you will need photo ID with your card Passport or driving licence. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
webbocj Posted November 26, 2009 Share Posted November 26, 2009 Colin, you should know, but this summer in Spain they would not accept our debit card. Never a problem in France. I didn't think they took credit cards anywhere, even UK. chris Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.