Over 40's Moving Back and Catching Up
Jun 1st 2013, 1:59 pm
#7471
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Joined: Nov 2007
Location: Beautiful Dorset, UK
Posts: 2,195
Re: Over 40's Moving Back and Catching Up
Using your US card, you may be ok, or you may have issues in some places - it depends if they can deal with non chip&pin cards. If you head over to the US board and do a search you should find some discussion about experiences people have had in various shops while visiting the UK.
Jun 1st 2013, 2:24 pm
#7472
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Joined: Jul 2010
Location: North East Ohio, USA
Posts: 1,933
Re: Over 40's Moving Back and Catching Up
No, I'm not saying that... I was referring to UK issued credit cards.
Using your US card, you may be ok, or you may have issues in some places - it depends if they can deal with non chip&pin cards. If you head over to the US board and do a search you should find some discussion about experiences people have had in various shops while visiting the UK.
Using your US card, you may be ok, or you may have issues in some places - it depends if they can deal with non chip&pin cards. If you head over to the US board and do a search you should find some discussion about experiences people have had in various shops while visiting the UK.
Jun 1st 2013, 2:28 pm
#7473
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Posts: 4,224
Re: Over 40's Moving Back and Catching Up
No, I'm not saying that... I was referring to UK issued credit cards.
Using your US card, you may be ok, or you may have issues in some places - it depends if they can deal with non chip&pin cards. If you head over to the US board and do a search you should find some discussion about experiences people have had in various shops while visiting the UK.
Using your US card, you may be ok, or you may have issues in some places - it depends if they can deal with non chip&pin cards. If you head over to the US board and do a search you should find some discussion about experiences people have had in various shops while visiting the UK.
One thing he does confuse me about and that is he says a lot of merchants don't take credit cards because of the fees they have to pay. That is contrary to what I have understood and that is the locals charge everything???
Cheers
Jun 1st 2013, 2:44 pm
#7474
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Joined: Jul 2002
Location: Dreich Alba
Posts: 12,006
Re: Over 40's Moving Back and Catching Up
WhoFan63? You can find some of her updates here... http://britishexpats.com/forum/showthread.php?t=794426
If you want cable or satellite services then yes, you would have to pay in addition to the TV Licence. There are alternatives though - you can get the terrestrial channels (BBC1 & 2, ITV1, Channel 4 & Channel 5) just through an aerial if the reception is good enough in your area.
Or there are various subscription free services such as Freeview or Freesat. These will give you the terrestrial channels plus the 'free to air' channels - including some HD channels if they are available in your area (and you have a digital freeview or freesat device).
TV Licence is free once you are over 75 if that is of use to you.
Yes - you get a PIN with your credit card - the 'chip' is the smart card technology inside the card - hence the name 'chip & pin' - the chip in the card, the pin in your head
If you want cable or satellite services then yes, you would have to pay in addition to the TV Licence. There are alternatives though - you can get the terrestrial channels (BBC1 & 2, ITV1, Channel 4 & Channel 5) just through an aerial if the reception is good enough in your area.
Or there are various subscription free services such as Freeview or Freesat. These will give you the terrestrial channels plus the 'free to air' channels - including some HD channels if they are available in your area (and you have a digital freeview or freesat device).
TV Licence is free once you are over 75 if that is of use to you.
Yes - you get a PIN with your credit card - the 'chip' is the smart card technology inside the card - hence the name 'chip & pin' - the chip in the card, the pin in your head
Jun 1st 2013, 2:49 pm
#7475
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Thread Starter
Joined: Aug 2010
Location: US
Posts: 4,224
Re: Over 40's Moving Back and Catching Up
No, I'm not saying that... I was referring to UK issued credit cards.
Using your US card, you may be ok, or you may have issues in some places - it depends if they can deal with non chip&pin cards. If you head over to the US board and do a search you should find some discussion about experiences people have had in various shops while visiting the UK.
Using your US card, you may be ok, or you may have issues in some places - it depends if they can deal with non chip&pin cards. If you head over to the US board and do a search you should find some discussion about experiences people have had in various shops while visiting the UK.
Jun 1st 2013, 2:53 pm
#7476
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Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 1,139
Re: Over 40's Moving Back and Catching Up
Yes I was just reading Steve Reeves, do you know him? He says not to worry.
One thing he does confuse me about and that is he says a lot of merchants don't take credit cards because of the fees they have to pay. That is contrary to what I have understood and that is the locals charge everything???
Cheers
One thing he does confuse me about and that is he says a lot of merchants don't take credit cards because of the fees they have to pay. That is contrary to what I have understood and that is the locals charge everything???
Cheers
Jun 1st 2013, 3:12 pm
#7477
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Joined: Jul 2002
Location: Dreich Alba
Posts: 12,006
Re: Over 40's Moving Back and Catching Up
I think the US has been slow to catch up with chip and PIN technology for credit cards. My US ATM/debit card has a PIN, but not my US credit card.
To reiterate what some others have already said, in the UK, my understanding is that legally business owners have to allow you to use a credit card with a signature for the purchase (rather than using the PIN card readers) - however, in practice some shops flat refuse (or rather they say they can't do it). I think it tends to be more small shops (newsagents, etc.), and I'm guessing it's probably because someone getting paid minimum wage isn't trained in all the legal aspects of payment methods. I've had this problem in the past.
To reiterate what some others have already said, in the UK, my understanding is that legally business owners have to allow you to use a credit card with a signature for the purchase (rather than using the PIN card readers) - however, in practice some shops flat refuse (or rather they say they can't do it). I think it tends to be more small shops (newsagents, etc.), and I'm guessing it's probably because someone getting paid minimum wage isn't trained in all the legal aspects of payment methods. I've had this problem in the past.
Jun 1st 2013, 3:36 pm
#7478
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Re: Over 40's Moving Back and Catching Up
I use my American Express card and now I get points for using it. I will avoid using it in the UK. ( 12 days to go
)I have a Mastercharge/Visa credit cards and cash which I will use.
Cheers
Jun 1st 2013, 3:55 pm
#7479
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Joined: Nov 2007
Location: Beautiful Dorset, UK
Posts: 2,195
Re: Over 40's Moving Back and Catching Up
Yes I was just reading Steve Reeves, do you know him? He says not to worry.
One thing he does confuse me about and that is he says a lot of merchants don't take credit cards because of the fees they have to pay. That is contrary to what I have understood and that is the locals charge everything???
Cheers
One thing he does confuse me about and that is he says a lot of merchants don't take credit cards because of the fees they have to pay. That is contrary to what I have understood and that is the locals charge everything???
Cheers
I tend to find I can use a card everywhere I shop, but I might not be able to use my Amex card - there are plenty of places, large and small that don't take Amex (due to the fees, I believe).
Jun 1st 2013, 4:19 pm
#7480
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Joined: Mar 2010
Location: Mendocino, California
Posts: 954
Re: Over 40's Moving Back and Catching Up
US Credit Cards With Smart Chip Technology .........
http://thepointsguy.com/2013/05/us-c...+Points+Guy%29
http://thepointsguy.com/2013/05/us-c...+Points+Guy%29
Jun 1st 2013, 4:36 pm
#7481
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Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 2,606
Re: Over 40's Moving Back and Catching Up
I prefer to use cash except when buying gas/petrol, its easy to track for business use, plus I get a discount.
My wife went into the post office the other day, the lady behind the counter said they couldn't accept a Credit card as the machine was down, fortunatly we use cash, the lady said many people use a CC to buy one stamp, that just sounds crazy to me.
People moan that the banks have too much power but then use credit /debit cards to make them more wealthy and more powerful, getting 3% of every dollar/pound spent from merchants, then the interest off the customer if they dont pay off the card every month, its not a bad gig for the banks.
My wife went into the post office the other day, the lady behind the counter said they couldn't accept a Credit card as the machine was down, fortunatly we use cash, the lady said many people use a CC to buy one stamp, that just sounds crazy to me.
People moan that the banks have too much power but then use credit /debit cards to make them more wealthy and more powerful, getting 3% of every dollar/pound spent from merchants, then the interest off the customer if they dont pay off the card every month, its not a bad gig for the banks.
Last edited by Fish n Chips 56; Jun 1st 2013 at 6:28 pm.
Jun 2nd 2013, 12:34 pm
#7482
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Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 4,100
Re: Over 40's Moving Back and Catching Up
Hello everyone!! 
It was suggested to me that I put a note here of my good news because I forgot that some people only visit this thread and none of the others
I AM A GOING HOME!!!
I started a new thread to tell all about it last Sunday
http://britishexpats.com/forum/showthread.php?t=798156
It was suggested to me that I put a note here of my good news because I forgot that some people only visit this thread and none of the others
I AM A GOING HOME!!!
I started a new thread to tell all about it last Sunday
http://britishexpats.com/forum/showthread.php?t=798156
Jun 2nd 2013, 1:37 pm
#7483
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Joined: Dec 2006
Location: Now Devon
Posts: 951
Re: Over 40's Moving Back and Catching Up
I prefer to use cash except when buying gas/petrol, its easy to track for business use, plus I get a discount.
My wife went into the post office the other day, the lady behind the counter said they couldn't accept a Credit card as the machine was down, fortunatly we use cash, the lady said many people use a CC to buy one stamp, that just sounds crazy to me.
People moan that the banks have too much power but then use credit /debit cards to make them more wealthy and more powerful, getting 3% of every dollar/pound spent from merchants, then the interest off the customer if they dont pay off the card every month, its not a bad gig for the banks.
My wife went into the post office the other day, the lady behind the counter said they couldn't accept a Credit card as the machine was down, fortunatly we use cash, the lady said many people use a CC to buy one stamp, that just sounds crazy to me.
People moan that the banks have too much power but then use credit /debit cards to make them more wealthy and more powerful, getting 3% of every dollar/pound spent from merchants, then the interest off the customer if they dont pay off the card every month, its not a bad gig for the banks.
Jun 2nd 2013, 1:40 pm
#7484
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 1,197
Re: Over 40's Moving Back and Catching Up
Hello everyone!!
It was suggested to me that I put a note here of my good news because I forgot that some people only visit this thread and none of the others
I AM A GOING HOME!!!
I started a new thread to tell all about it last Sunday
http://britishexpats.com/forum/showthread.php?t=798156
It was suggested to me that I put a note here of my good news because I forgot that some people only visit this thread and none of the others
I AM A GOING HOME!!!
I started a new thread to tell all about it last Sunday
http://britishexpats.com/forum/showthread.php?t=798156