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| Visa Offers Important Payment Tips to Cardholders | | |
Cardholders Visiting the United Kingdom
Banks and retailers in the United Kingdom (UK) recently enacted a national policy requiring all UK cardholders to use their Personal Identification Numbers (PIN) when making purchases with their new "chip and PIN" debit and credit cards. The requirement is part of an effort in the UK to minimize lost and stolen card fraud and counterfeit fraud and is already recognized as making a significant positive impact in this respect.
The new UK policy, however, does not apply to foreign travellers with non-chip and PIN Visa cards issued from other countries, and travellers should not be concerned about payment card acceptance at any location in the UK displaying a Visa logo. All merchants displaying a Visa logo are required to accept any form of Visa payment that is properly presented to them. In the UK, this means merchants will continue to accept foreign-issued, non-chip and PIN cards as before. Visa is committed to enforcing this policy to helping maintain cardholder trust and confidence in Visa's promise of unsurpassed global acceptance.
As with the introduction of any new technology, it may take time for everyone to get used to the new system and some merchants may be unclear as to how to treat foreign-issued cards or cards without a chip. The chip and PIN-enabled sales terminals being used in the UK can recognize a non-chip and PIN card when it is inserted. The terminal will automatically read the card and know whether a PIN or a signature is necessary. It will then give the sales clerk the appropriate prompts.
Both Visa and the UK banking industry are actively working with merchants to ensure that there is no confusion. However, in the rare instance that a cardholder visiting the UK encounters a problem, they should ask the merchant to insert the card in the terminal and follow the prompts. If the clerk is not willing to swipe the card, the cardholder should request to speak with a store manager. If they need further assistance, they can call their card issuer or the Visa global cardholder assistance service and the problem will be investigated - these numbers are printed on the back of the Visa card.
Knowing your payment options as a traveller is always an important part of preparing for any trip. Along with knowing your rights as a cardholder in terms of card acceptance, Visa encourages travellers to:
- Notify your issuing bank before travelling internationally.
- Check with your issuing bank on any daily withdrawal restrictions while abroad that may be in effect on you card, so you know how much money is available from an ATM on a daily basis. Using a Visa credit card for major expenses such as hotels, travel tickets, etc., also helps to ensure that daily cash limits will not be a problem.
- Make a record of card account and telephone numbers for reporting lost or stolen cards and keep it in a safe place away from your wallet or handbag.
- Remember your PIN for ATM cash access.
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Acceptance issues in France
Visa is aware that some merchants inFrance have mistakenly refused to accept Visa cards issued by foreign banks because the cards do not carry a micro chip, or require a signature instead of a PIN for the chip transaction. Visa cardholders can continue to use their chip or magnetic stripe cards while traveling as cardholders should still be able to sign a transaction receipt.
Most merchants, restaurants, hotels, etc., in France are experienced in accepting both magnetic stripe-only and chip and PIN cards and so cardholders should experience no issues in making payments at such merchant locations. In addition, there are approximately 47,000 ATMs across France that accept Visa cards, including Visa Electron and Plus-badged cards.
However when traveling in France, cardholders should be aware that chip and PIN security measures for payment cards have been adopted in the country. If cardholders do not have a chip and PIN card, it would be advisable for them to withdraw some cash from an ATM as they may find that they have to use a chip card with a PIN at certain locations, mainly those without attendants.
For example, cardholders may need to use cash to pay for items such as tickets for the metro or train at unattended kiosks. For automated petrol stations that are chip and PIN enabled, non-chip and PIN Visa cardholders will need to pay the attendants at the kiosks. Additionally, if they are driving on the French roads, it should be noted that automated ticket machines at toll booths on toll roads will not accept Visa Electron, although non-chip and PIN cards will be accepted. In those locations, cardholders should seek an attendant. There will be a manned kiosk nearby.
Visa is working with its members and merchants in France to ensure that they understand correct card acceptance procedures. Should international Visa cardholders encounter difficulties, they should insist that the merchant swipe their card or ask the merchant to contact his/her bank for instructions.
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