Can I get cash back on purchases in Italy?

Question

Do stores in Italy use debit/check cards (where you would enter a pin at the time of the transaction)? If so, do they allow you to receive cash back?

Answer 1

Not likely, most places don't even like taking credit cards, it costs too much to process the transaction.

Take traveler's checks, and make copies of the numbers, keep with your luggage, and with someone who is not traveling with you.

Answer 2

No, they don't treat your card as a debit card, but as a credit card, i.e. no cash back option.  

Use ATMs to get cash.  Handy hint: get the maximum amount when you get cash, to lower the transaction/conversion fees.  

Answer 3

tonalc2 is correct and his advice is good - don't make a lot of small withdrawals. I live here in Italy and sometimes use my US ATM card rather than my bancomat (the Italian name for an ATM) card for cash. All of the machines I'm aware of charge some fees, but my account in the US reimburses me for all fees charged by other banks. You might check with your bank, but this service usually requires a minimum balance.

The withdrawal limits on my accounts are higher here in Italy than in the US - so the limit is set by my US Bank, not the bancomat here. I'm not sure why this is since the balance on my US account is higher than on my Italian account. It's not entirely explained by the euro to dollar exchange rate.  

Answer 4

When I was in Italy this summer I used my bank of america card and I don't remember ever being offered the cash back option.  There are many ATMs around so definitely make use of them. And be sure to notify your bank that you will be out of the country otherwise they will freeze your account!!!  Also make sure you know the number to contact your bank when you are in Italy in case anything happens. I was stuck when I was there because BOA froze my account and I had no number to contact them with.  If you are prepared everything will go smoothly :)

Answer 5

At ATMs in Italy there is a conversion rate to Euros...for example, my wife just last week asked for 150 Euros, it charged our account $242, plus a $1.50 fee, that's an American national bank. She needed her PIN number.  No cash back on charge card purchases, they don't like figuring money.

I recommend only dealing directly with a bank in Italy, do not change money at the airport!