I tried paying for something in Italy today and my PIN was refused. Is this common?

Question

It was a Sidis store. Apparently Italian PIN codes are 5 digits?

Answer 1

Paul is right; there is security checking that sometimes blocks use of a card until you call to confirm that the card hasn't been stolen. I've had the same thing happen a few times in the nine years I've been here. Another thing that happened to me recently was that the bank that originally issued my card sent a new card to my address in the US and deactivated the card I had even though it was still in the valid period.

However, what makes you think it was your PIN code that was rejected rather than the transaction? You could have just typed it incorrectly. My codes all work regardless of length as long as the code is correct for the card.

Answer 2

hello, usually in the stores such as sidis or coop or standa only the so called "bancomat" cards are allowed, it's difficult to find such a store accepting credit cards as well.

In Italy the bancomat is an italian card that you cannot use as the credit card, you must digit the PIn code, that has got 5 digits, on the contrary when you use the credit card in a shop you don't have to digit any PIN code, which is 4 digists.  

but most of the food stores dont' accept credit cards, only bancomats. in the other shops both are accepted.

most of the people have been using Bancomat instead of credit card so far (but things are changing) since they have less costs.

Answer 3

if you pay with credit card in a store you don't need a pin, you need a pin only to get money from the atm.

If in the store they ask you "carta" or "bancomat"? answer "carta" (credit card) and you don't need any code to insert.

Answer 4

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Answer 5

you need to call your card company and let them know that you are out of the country and they will make the card work

Answer 6

don't panic it happened with me many times in italy but the wrost time was when i went to a machine near Coop and tried to get money it kept on telling me error,error,error and then i went to another one and it stated i dont have any cash left in my card and i spent 2 days with ten EUROS .when i came back to my country i found out the money was bolcked in that machine and i got refunded

Answer 7

if you are from outside Italy, sometimes the banks will block it if they don't know you are visiting there.It has happened to me several times in Italy where my UK bank has blocked my card as they cannot get it through their heads that I am working over here, no matter how many times I tell them. I have to phone them, explain I am in Italy, and they take 10 minutes to unblock the pin, you should then be able to use it. My pin is 4 digits and it works fine in Italy (usually).