debit card

have a look at

Where you see the VISA sign, you can use your card.

You will need to notify your bank that you will be using your card in the U.S.

Yes and no.

Yes, you can use it a most places that take Visa card. Some Car rentals and some hotels may not take them.

At some merchants you would need to choose credit and sign for your purchase (We don't have chip and pin).

However, if your card has a Visa interlink symbol. You could hit the atm/debit button and enter your pin.

Technically, merchants are still required to accepted foreign issued Mastercard/Visa debit cards under the Wal-mart lawsuit settlement but some merchants still refuse to do this.

If withdrawing from an atm. Choose primary credit. It still will come out of your current/checking account.

Greg Rozelle

No, you don't need to notify your bank.

You may not have to notify your bank but I would anyway. This way your card won't be blocked. I have read foreign travelers to the U.S. had problems using their credit/debit cards. They called their bank, then had no problems after that.

Still take your bank phone number with you. Just in case you have problem using your card.

Greg Rozelle

And if you try you may receive the reply that I did: "Oh we don't have a place on our system to record this", so much for the theory.

tim

Snipped

If you got that statement from a bank would just be an excuse.

Most experts advise that if you leave your home country you should advise your financial institution. I read this advice from the UK, US, Canada and other countries.

This reason the bank will be aware of unusual transaction and your card would have a less chance of being blocked. It still could be blocked. That why I recommended taking your banks phone number. So, you can call them and have it unblocked.

Greg Rozelle

I understand the theory, which is why I rang the bank to tell them

And they didnt have a way of recording the information (so they said).

tim

This is probably more applicable in the USA where a much smaller proportion of people ever travel overseas, so card companies see use of a card abroad is a bit unusual.

In the UK its quite normal for people to travel outside the country, and most credit cards would be used overseas often.

Chris

Chris, Does UK citizen make more money than the U.S.? Is the cost of living cheaper in the UK than in the U.S.?

Greg Rozelle

yes and no. But in order to get good weather we need to leave our country, US citizens dont. Plus, the US is generally more of an inward looking country with poorer education regarding what is overseas (or if in Texas, whats outside Texas).

Plus, of course, simply because of the sheer distances involved, its much harder for Americans to go much further than Canada, Mexico or the Caribbean. Those in the UK can get to dozens of different countries within 2 or 3 hours flying time.

Chris

good point....and finally (?) they generally get a lot less holiday than Europeans, so there are fewer opportunities to travel because of that.