Any experience in using your Non-EU Visa Debit Card with 6-digit PIN in ATMs?

[taga_cebu]

Hi!
I just want to know if anyone had any success (or trouble conversely on that matter) using your Visa Debit Card with 6-digit PIN when withdrawing Euros in ATMs in France and Spain? Just want to get an update as it seems there's conflicting but no concrete resolution to this querie. Just personal experience please. Thank you.

 

[J Willhaus]

Mine has a 4 digit pin. Maybe check with your bank?

 

[ivar]

Here are some earlier threads on this topic:

https://www.caminodesantiago.me/community/search/5226415/?q=%E2%80%9C6+digit+pin%E2%80%9D&c%5Bdeleted%5D=include&o=date

 

[BombayBill]

Here is my unpleasant personal experience. I used my Visa debit within a legitimate credit union on the Primitivo. The $400 withdrawal stalled and then spat out my card. 30 minutes later I got notified by my bank that $1200 had been debited. It took 6 months to get it back.

Since then I use my new multi currency debit card that has limited funds to be messed with. I then reload it on line when necessary. I also fake push numbers in advance and post of my real pin to thwart hidden cameras.

I know I didn’t answer the 6 digit pin question but I thought this other issue might be relevant to you.

 

[DoughnutANZ]

No.

 

[Jamieb]

I did Portuguese route last summer - I had no issues at all using a 6 digit pin in ATM's in Portugal or Spain. I only used ATM's that were tied to big popular banks, during banking hours, just in case there was an issue. Would withdraw the money then walk up to the teller to have them break the money into smaller bills.

 

[srmcgrath]

One year in Spain I learned the hard way. I had a 5-digit PIN US debit card which wouldn't work. Luckily, my wife's card was set up with a 4-digit PIN. I've since changed my PIN to a 4-digit number and haven't encountered any issues.,

 

[t2andreo]

In my 50 year travel experience, 4-digit PINs are the most used. I have all my cards set for 4-digit pins and never have problems anywhere in Europe.

 

[DenWhite]

In my 50 year travel experience, 4-digit PINs are the most used. I have all my cards set for 4-digit pins and never have problems anywhere in Europe.

I can vouch for that. No problems with ATM's, contactless transactions or pin verification transactions. My understanding is that 4 digit pins are supposed to work when entered when asked for 6 digits.

 

[SilentNight]

In my 64 years of travel … I used my debit card 2X at bank-owned ATMs in Spain this past week to get Euros with no problem. To simplify, I change my debit card from a 6 PIN to a 4 PIN before my trip, to ensure compatibility with ATMs in Europe (from past experience).

Do change your 6 PIN to a 4 PIN. Also, make sure you use only bank-owned ATMs, which charge far less ATM fees than the ATMs advertising compatibility with major credit cards. When I return home from Europe, I change my 4 PIN back to 6 PIN.

BTW, I get 100€ at the airport, so that I can tip the taxi driver from the airport to my hotel/hostel, especially when I ask the taxi driver to carry my luggage up 6 flights of stairs. I also tip the wheelchair assist employees in Euros at the connecting and destination airports. I like to have some Euros in pocket change in case I dine that day or night at a restaurant that takes only cash, besides tipping the waiter, or if I want a gelato.

 

[Saint Mike II]

Hola, whilst I use a six digit pin here in Aussie, my bank has confirmed that for my travel money cards it’s a four digit pin. Apparently you can overcome this by having a pin that ends in double zero (00), the EU financial system will then just recognise the first four digits. Cheers.

 

[Rita Flower]

Possibly best to get some type of travel card loaded with Euros (e.g. Wise or Cash Passport). You get a better exchange rate, and they work well. A lot of Spanish ATMs are contactless so you don't have to worry about them accidentally sucking up your card. You can load more Euros at any time. Worked well for me.

 

[DenWhite]

Possibly best to get some type of travel card loaded with Euros (e.g. Wise or Cash Passport). You get a better exchange rate, and they work well. A lot of Spanish ATMs are contactless so you don't have to worry about them accidentally sucking up your card. You can load more Euros at any time. Worked well for me.

I can vouch for Wise. Use it for all o/s travel.

 

[klimmo]

I have used my Swiss debit card with a 6-pin all through Europe and never had any problem.

 

[WGroleau]

Do change your 6 PIN to a 4 PIN. Also, make sure you use only bank-owned ATMs, which charge far less ATM fees than the ATMs advertising compatibility with major credit cards. When I return home from Europe, I change my 4 PIN back to 6 PIN.

If you do that, don’t count on using ATMs in China. Both that I tried in the Beijing airport explicitly said your PIN must be six digits.

 

[Smeddles]

Hi!
I just want to know if anyone had any success (or trouble conversely on that matter) using your Visa Debit Card with 6-digit PIN when withdrawing Euros in ATMs in France and Spain? Just want to get an update as it seems there's conflicting but no concrete resolution to this querie. Just personal experience please. Thank you.

I have an Australian UP Mastercard with a 6 digit PIN. It works fine

 

[taga_cebu]

Thank you very much for all your responses. I have contingencies but I guess I am more confident now using my cards in the local ATMs (bank-attached) in Europe.

 

[trecile]

If you do that, don’t count on using ATMs in China. Both that I tried in the Beijing airport explicitly said your PIN must be six digits.

Fortunately, the Camino does not pass through China.

 

[rviaucar]

Hi!
I just want to know if anyone had any success (or trouble conversely on that matter) using your Visa Debit Card with 6-digit PIN when withdrawing Euros in ATMs in France and Spain? Just want to get an update as it seems there's conflicting but no concrete resolution to this querie. Just personal experience please. Thank you.

I have travelled a lot and the last few years I have used a WISE card. It is prpaid so very safe. It has low fees and great exchange rates. I have used it in ATM in Cambodia, Money Changer and restaurants in Vietnam, at the train station in Venice and various hotels, restaurants and ATM’s around the world. I highly recommend it. It tok about 3 weeks for the card to arrive in my mail.