TruBrit

nahh, use your credit cards for shopping, make them work for you! use their money whilst gaining air miles etc etc for you. the secret is to pay the cards off monthly and not let them accrue, right

TruBrit

i've never had that happen to me. we have property in the uk and i often use a usa c/c in our local grocery store etc etc in the village and yes it's well off the normal tourist route however it's good your c/c company called you as it shows they are looking out for you. chip and pin is really no problem in the uk as long as you tell the store when making your transaction that the card you are going to use is the old swipe type and not chip and pin. after all they either want your business or they don't!

jenniferpa

One has to hope that as time goes on these experiences will decrease. I, for one, complained vociferously to Visa about my experience, and they did contact the companys in question. I suspect that if I went back, there wouldn't be an issue. I also reported one company (the chain of convenience stores) to the disability rights commission (as it was then) since they claimed they wouldn't process a chip and signature card either, which appalled me.

Deedee13

you know, i never thought about that, that when in restaurants they take ur card away they can write down the 3 digit sec pin on the back!!!!!!!

now i am worried...

TruBrit

never let your card out of your sight if possible! in the uk when paying a restaurant bill they have this little machine that they carry to your table hence you see your card at all times. i am always concerned here when my card disappears from the table to settle the bill

BigDavyG

I wouldn't worry about that - many online retailers to not validate the CVN number anyway so it's basically pointless.
Others will validate it first time you use the card, but never again.

jenniferpa

Perhaps someone can correct me, but it was my experience that that's the point - those machines that they now carry to your table can't cope with non chip and pin cards - they don't have the ability to read the magnetic strip. Hence the need for the card to be carried off to the hinterlands. Whatever, theres no reason to obsess over this stuff. Every american credit card company I've ever dealt with has no problem about removing unauthorized charges (which is more than I can say for some UK ones). Of course it's irritating to have to replace the cards - I'm on my third visa number in 2 years (sigh).

NC Penguin

What about unscrupulous staff who work at a retailer? They can note the details from the front and back of the card, including CVN number.

Deedee13

even once having it used and its not me is once too many!!!

TruBrit

the portable machines can read the card (in our part of the uk anyway)... best to tell the waiter it's not a chip and pin beforehand...like i said we have never had a problem. here it has been known for me to take my card and follow the waiter to where he swipes the card...i trust no-one!

tamms_1965

If you can get some cash (USD) before you go, you can get a pretty good exchange rate at a UK post office in many of the towns in the UK. They're not going to have thousands of pounds on hand but you'd be surprised how much they actually have.

candy wy.

only need cash for a day or so until I can access the cash I have in the UK. so I will probably use the Debit card to get a small amount.
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TruBrit

off you go girl and safe trip

BigDavyG

And ???
I was merely pointing out that the knowing the CVN doesn't get you much as many online retailers don't validate it.
Unless I'm mistaken that's what the OP said.
Obviously they can take the number from the front of the card too - do you think you are some kind of evil-genius super-criminal for coming up with that cunning plan ??