Using Credit card in Paris - Paris Message Board (2024)

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Visa and Mastercard are widely accepted, but some small shops and restaurants may not accept any cards. Using a credit card in France is just as secure as in Singapore. All French cards are hip-and-PIN, so waiters and salespeople bring the card machine to you so that you can enter a PIN. (If you do not have a PIN, the machine recognises this and asks for signatures).

Do not bring much cash with you. You get a better exchange rate by using a debit card to get money out of ATMs. Any ATM will accept cards that have the logo of at least one of the major networks - Visa, Mastercard, Plus or Cirrus.

In Europe the waiter or whatever brings the card reader to the table; the card is never out of your sight. And with a chip card, having the number alone isn't enough to steal the information. Your biggest risk is that someone will take it out of your pocket on the metro; be sure you have your card, money and ID well stowed and not in a pocket.

We use credit cards for groceries, restaurants etc but you will need cash for small purchases like coffee, or at bakeries etc. Some places don't take cards for small purchases e.g. below 10 or 15 Euro.

Thank you for your prompt reply.

Yes the different when we using cc in Singapore is we can let them bring card to counter without fear and then they bring back to us for signature. So now I understand how people use cc in France, they bring the machine to table instead of taking card from us.

Normally before we travelling we will estimate how much we use for whole trip and change money at money exchange, of course the rate at money exchange is better more than we change in bank. But withdraw money overseas we never tried before, just using credit card only, I feel it slightly higher than I use cash but not much. Is there any way to know the exchange rate in bank before we withdraw money?

Edited: 6 years ago

Make sure you tell your credit card provider that you are going overseas and the countries that you are visiting. Otherwise they might block your card as they might think it has been stolen and used by someone else. They will also ask when you are leaving and when you are returning.

There is no way to know the exchange rate on a debit or credit card. Using a debit card is better because you are using your own funds. With a credit card you are using a cash advance so the interest is charged from the day of withdrawal until completely repaid, including interest.Check your interest rate - it is probably very high

Destination Expert

This is only true if you are withdrawing money using a credit card. If you are using a credit card to purchase goods or services, then your credit card typically only charges a small foreign transaction fee--1% to 2% in most cases.

>>>There is no way to know the exchange rate on a debit or credit card. Using a debit card is better because you are using your own funds. With a credit card you are using a cash advance so the interest is charged from the day of withdrawal until completely repaid, including interest.Check your interest rate - it is probably very high

Dale47_11: as I understand and experience to using credit card for years now, the interest charge apply when we dont pay the bill when it due, otherwise it is same with debit card, only different is money will take out right after I use debit card. And yes for both cards they usually have conversation fee to charge when I pay in another currency by Singapore dollar account, but it is just small amount, let say 1-2$ only.

Emma, Dale was warning you about withdrawing cash from an ATM with your credit card, as you referenced in your first post ("in case I want to withdraw cash from ATM..."). Your fees will be much higher if you withdraw cash using a credit card, as opposed to using a debit card for the same transaction. Use your credit card for purchases in restaurants and shops, and use a debit card for withdrawing cash. Talk to your bank about the different charges between the two.

Annette: Oh I am misunderstanding her recommendation, thought that she reminds me about using credit card when making cashless payment. Nope, I use debit card for withdraw money instead of credit card. CC only use for cashless payment. Even in my country we never use credit card to withdraw money. And yes our card can use overseas coz we travell alot, but need to check the debit ATM card because i never ever withdrawn money overveas before.

Thanks for all your input, it helps me alot.

Apologies, Emma. I was not very clear or precise with my post. Yes, I was talking about withdrawing cash using your credit card.