Credit Card Reject

The complaints dribble in every month or so: Someone runs up a big hotel charge or other bill in Europe, then is caught flat-footed when a vendor won't accept a U.S. credit card. The issue: Many countries in Europe have switched to a "chip and PIN" system, meaning credit cards are embedded with microchips, and instead of signing receipts, users type in a PIN.

Obviously, cards with a magnetic strip -- the old "swipe and sign" cards issued in the United States -- are still widely accepted, or the howls of complaint would be deafening. MasterCard, Visa and American Express representatives say every business that accepts their cards must agree to accept “swipe and sign” as well as “chip and PIN”. So why are problems still reported?

There might be the occasional person at the till who didn't get the memo, so to speak. Insist that the cashier try the card, because it will nearly always work. Ask to speak to a manager. That works too. Also, beware of self-service machines, particularly at train and gas stations. Plan ahead; buy train tickets when stations are staffed, and don't wait until your gas tank is empty to look for a place that takes your card or cash.