I am English, can I use my debit card in France?

Question

I am English, can I use my debit card in France?

Answer 1

Yes, as long as you know your chip and pin number

Answer 2

Yes, I use my Maestro card in Spain and Greece

Answer 3

Yes, a Visa Delta or Mastercard Maestro debit card will work in France, although note that some automated payment machines (eg train tickets, car parks) do not accept foreign cards. The only cards which are often not accepted are Visa Electron and Solo cards.

Incidentally, a good tip in France is that retailers often don't know whether a foreign card will work or not - some just try it and see, but some people seem to want to avoid being embarrassed about not knowing how to do it so just say it doesn't work. Try supermarkets - their technology tends to be regularly updated and the till operator will nearly always try to get it to work.

Answer 4

Yes.  There are ATM cards everywhere.  They will happily take your money any way you can give it to them.

Answer 5

Yes you can, no problem - you may get a small charge though. Personally, I would look into using a credit card if possible (if your on holiday) because they tend to have better card protection, and its not your actual hard earnt money!!!

Have fun!!!

Answer 6

Yes you can.

Answer 7

Yes, the receipt in France will be in the local currency then when you get back to England, your statement will show the currency in £ sterling at the exchange rate when you made the transaction.

Answer 8

yes you can so long as it has visa

Answer 9

Yes you can. as long as it has a visa logo or any major credit card logo on it..

Have a nice trip..

Bcn_mimosa from Barcelona, Spain

Answer 10

i use my american card in canada i think anything with visa/ master card is pretty much worldwide

Answer 11

You can use it in France and everywhere else, I dont thing anyone will discriminate  you being English...

Answer 12

Check with your bank.

Most can but some banks have cards that can only be used in their own country, sometimes just in their own bank offices.

And ask for the cost of each use. (Should be little or nothing but you better know beforehand.)

And some cards can be used in shops, others just in ATMs or holes in the wall.

Answer 13

yes, check the source

Answer 14

I use my Maestro card (on an HSBC account in London) all the time in France. You get charged (in my case, a minimum of £1.75) every time you use a cash machine.

I've even used the Maestro card (but it must be one with a chip) for the bike renting scheme the Paris council has just put in place - but the charge for that hasn't appeared on my account yet.

But most retailers tend to turn their nose up at the card.

Answer 15

If it is visa, yes. You will be charged for withdrawing cash though.

Answer 16

i had a debit card internationnal (merci la Poste), system Circus and it was impossible to debit money in Greece (circus system accepted).

so, now i have a visa card internationnal and no problem out of france !

(im from france)

Answer 17

yep - should hav no problems

Answer 18

Depends which one that is but generally, you should be able to!

Answer 19

yes

Answer 20

You can use most bank cards in France.  Do double check with your bank though as they do charge you for the pleasure. (have you seen the advert on tv.  The charges are for the shareholders christmas party)!

Answer 21

if you've got a visa card, or an amex, you won't have any problem

Answer 22

I would check with your bank.

I had my Visa debit card refused in Spain once. But I have never had a problem using my credit cards for some reason.

Before going abroad now I always advise my bank of the dates I will be away and which country I will be in. That way I have peace of mind and I know my card wont be refused - which is very embarrassing!!

Good luck, ring the bank just so you don't have the worry when you get there.

Answer 23

Possibly, if it is Visa. You may get charged though. Talk to your bank and see what they say.