Oh, silly old Italians!! Most of these electronic transactions all work through the same machine: cash/atms, debit and credit cards. Some places just like to make life awkward - don't go back there! Yes, I do have a debit card and on occasion have had to use it to placate some mad Frenchman who thinks he owns the world!!

perhaps the difference between europe and america/australia.

amex isn't as widely Accepted in asia as visa or mastercard either. And let's not talk about afrika.

I've been to Europe and they take credit cards! Not sure where it was you went, but nearly every restuarant, hotel, shop, etc. takes credit cards.

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I wasn't born with enough middle fingers.

Hey, justice, is it true you guys over the pond can't get decent health care? Is a fifth of your country uninsured?

actuallym noone is uninsured. It's a crime not to have health insurance. (literally a crime)

Yes they take credit cards. But it's more a hassle then the debit card. And some places don't take them unless you have a pincode or your passport with you.

Well now your telling us they take them with a passport(Identification).

Thats just like in the states. We need to have an ID also.

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When asked about his experience Obama said,"But I slept at a Holiday Inn Express last night."

Democrats.
Snatching defeat from the jaws of victory.
Again.

It's the same for car insurance. You have to have car insurance otherwise you could be pulled from the car.

and yes, id is needed and sometimes a pincode. I rather use a debit card. Less hassle, no id needed, no authograph. just pay and go.

and even better, we have electronic cash on our chipcard in europe. Dunno if it's the same as in America? Just charge the card (as you would pulling money out of the wall) and when your in the shop, push the card in and press ok. Easy Peasy

Good topic.
When I was stationed in Europe, most places didn't accept credit cards or even cash sometimes.
Monetary transactions were done by wire, however there was an exchange surcharge for these wire transfers. One way to avoid the exchange surcharge was to open up a bank account on the economy. All you needed was a phone number and a physical address (NOT the APO address) so that you could get your locally addressed bank statements.

Whether you lived on or off post, you had a physical address, so this wasn't a problem. This was really important for folks who lived off post, because they would end up exchanging large amounts of currency to pay for rent, energy, and heating.

What part of Europe do you come from JS, I got my first C/C 41 yrs ago, I travel all over the EU and non EU European countries and I dint recognize your comments.

A word of warning in the uk and Europe are credit card anti fraud system of Chip and Pin works well.

I have had my C/C and Debit Cards cloned on my last two visits to the USA.

They can put a man on the (*)(*)(*)(*)ing moon, but the cant install chip and pin

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None. Mod edit to remove profanity. Fools to the left of me, Jokers to the right, here I am stuck up the middle of you!
Religion is a load of bollocks,

Im a Tart, What! you want some of this


Im glad I am a bottom feeder, not an arse licker!

We are Doooooooooomed