Camino de Santiago de Compostela

[johnBCCanada]

Just curious. In 2008 my bank card worked fine. I am wondering about now as my bank (credit union actually) has not yet switched over to "chip" enhanced bank cards. They may do so before I travel but they don't know for sure.

Can anyone tell me if they older bank cards (non-chip) still work fine?

John

[ivar]

In Spain they are just starting to use the "chip-card"... most cards are still the old "Swipe" cards... so it should be no problems..

Greetings from a rainy and windy Santiago,
Ivar

[crhutch]

I contacted by credit union AND visa about using my non chip card in Spain and was assured that generally (my emphasis) there would be no problem. I emphasize the term generally, because neither could adequately answer it the non chip cards would work in certain rail and airline kiosks.

[johnBCCanada]

Thanks for the information and the reassurance. I'm usually careful to re-stock with cash before I need it so I should be fine. In this kind of changeover I will probably not be the only one with an older swipe card.

John

[Canuck]

Hi!

I'm spending winter in Spain (three months in the Alicante area).
Although I'm travelling with a ''chip'' card, most of the places where I use it still swipe it and require my signature.

Go with peace of mind!

Jean-Marc

[JohnnieWalker]

Yes and a whole number of places seem to be in "transition" where they ask you to enter yout PIN number then ask for a signature!

[ivar]

One important thing, if you have a chip-card...you need to remember you pin!

..but all terminals in Spain (at least in stores) take both chip and non-chip cards.

Saludos,
Ivar

[tamtamplin]

your help please
i have been advised that you need to have a positive balance in your credit card to be able to draw cash
i intended having a zero balance and drawing from cash machines as i went
is this possible
and will it make a difference if im on the via de la plata
other suggestions also welcome
thanks

[johnBCCanada]

I don't understand. Why not simply use your bank card to draw cash instead of a credit card?

John

[tamtamplin]

complicated cashflow thing, possibly
so i need to cover all eventualities

[ramble-on]

Tamtamplin,

A credit card is for credit, whether through store purchases or cash advances. I've never heard of a card company refusing to give credit for cash advances, but I don't have first hand experience (like John, I use my bank debit card). A quick phone call to your card issuer should determine their policy and get it off your "worry list".

Dick

[cecelia]

John and other,
I also use a credit union debit card. A word of precaution. Check the expiry date on your debit card. The machines may not accept them if they are within 6 months of their expiry date. I once found myself in Spain and France with a debit card that was exactly 6 months from expiry (at that point I didn't even know debit cards had an expiry date). Anyway - I couldn't use it anywhere and had no idea why since that was where I had put my trip money. And three different tellers couldn't explain it when I got back either until some smart guy finally figured out what the problem was.
So go into your credit union and get them to check just to make sure.
Cecelia