Greg Rozelle wrote:

> On Thu, 15 Feb 2007 22:30:22 -0000, "tim....."
> <[email protected]> wrote:
>
>
>>Calling the police is not a (reasonable) option
>>
>>tim
>
>
> Other way around. I was talking about the merchant calling the
> police because the customer only have a signature card or a foreign
> issued card and the customer has no cash on hand. Most US travels
> are caring no cash or a very small amount. They either have Credit
> or debit card with MasterCard or a Visa symbol. They get better
> exchange rates with those cards.
>
> Also most US consumers that see the Visa and MasterCard symbols assume
> their card can be used at that merchant. Visa & MasterCard
> commercials have claimed they can be used worldwide. That is why you
> get some mad customers when the merchant refuses the card or it does
> not work. Some people do forgot to notify their bank before they
> leave the country this is why their card(S) won't work.
>
> The US debit card system also causes problems because those cards are
> sometime recognized as debit cards at foreign merchant but should be
> ran as a credit card.
>
>
> For the other poster.
> Chip and signature cards are required to be accepted by your
> disability access laws not Visa requirement.

IMHO the vendor should have simply phoned Visa as Visa had stated
to me they should, but the manager's refusal to do so caught
me completely off guard, while he acted as though I was some
sort of con-artist in a crowded shop. Quite disconcerting.

--
B3
=People become more liberal as their world knowledge, education and
literacy levels rise. Ignorance is not a virtue, it's a disgrace.

On 16/02/07 14:26, in article
[email protected], "Greg Rozelle"
<[email protected]> wrote:

> Also most US consumers that see the Visa and MasterCard symbols assume
> their card can be used at that merchant. Visa & MasterCard
> commercials have claimed they can be used worldwide. That is why you
> get some mad customers when the merchant refuses the card or it does
> not work. Some people do forgot to notify their bank before they
> leave the country this is why their card(S) won't work.


We have both a French bank based Visa card (euros) and an American
based Mastercard. I have no problem with the use of the later in
Europe. Sometimes the first "sweep" does not enregister so they
have to do it several time. The Visa has a microchip and requires
punching in the pin.

I sometimes notify the Mastercard people that we are traveling but
often not. American friend who come have problems with some
cards (they often have many). American Express is not broadly
accepted in France, their commissions are considered too large
by some commercants.

I don't experience any difficulty using either card in Europe.
In Ghana, Mastercard was not generally accepted, Visa was
universal where cards were accepted. Mostly they preferred
cash.

"Greg Rozelle" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected] et...
> On Thu, 15 Feb 2007 22:30:22 -0000, "tim....."
> <[email protected]> wrote:
>
>>
>>Calling the police is not a (reasonable) option
>>
>>tim
>
> Other way around. I was talking about the merchant calling the
> police because the customer only have a signature card or a foreign
> issued card and the customer has no cash on hand. Most US travels

Um so was I.

Calling the police is not a reasonable option for either party.

> are caring no cash or a very small amount. They either have Credit
> or debit card with MasterCard or a Visa symbol. They get better
> exchange rates with those cards.
>
> Also most US consumers that see the Visa and MasterCard symbols assume
> their card can be used at that merchant. Visa & MasterCard
> commercials have claimed they can be used worldwide. That is why you
> get some mad customers when the merchant refuses the card or it does
> not work. Some people do forgot to notify their bank before they
> leave the country this is why their card(S) won't work.

So it is the resturant's problem and it is up to them how to
deal with it.

Of course the situation with meals is rather different to
other goods, as you can't give it back.

> The US debit card system also causes problems because those cards are
> sometime recognized as debit cards at foreign merchant but should be
> ran as a credit card.
>
>
> For the other poster.
> Chip and signature cards are required to be accepted by your
> disability access laws not Visa requirement.

If the customer is disabled. But if they aren't a refusal
is fair game.

tim