Chip and pin in France

[dipwing]

Chaps,
I know this has been discussed numerous times before but what is the situation on chip and pin cards in France.

1. Do they work on the tolls?
2. Is it just that they don't work at the unmanned pumps?

I've searched and can't find what I'm after.

Thanks dipwing

[Fruitcake]

dipwing said:

Chaps,
I know this has been discussed numerous times before but what is the situation on chip and pin cards in France.

1. Do they work on the tolls?
2. Is it just that they don't work at the unmanned pumps?

I've searched and can't find what I'm after.

Thanks dipwing

We used chip and pin last year at an unmanned pump and it worked...

[dougc]

1. Most of the tolls I came across on my travels last time took credit cards and weren't chip and pin, just slot the card in, it gets read and spat back out again and you're on your way.

2. Some do, some don't. Not sure of the logic or how you can tell.

[dipwing]

Cheers chaps
I'll take a couple of cards and play pot luck

See you there!

dipwing

[//j17]

France went chip+pin about 10 years ago then, when the rest of the world followed their lead...they came up with a different standard that wasn't compatible with the French one.

The French are slowly upgrading their terminals to accept both systems, so the situation should get better year on year but basically if it doesn't work at one station, try the next!

[Moose.]

Tolls don't seem to need any form of checks(!) Just stick in your card, it gets read and spat back out.

As for petrol stations, don't get stranded at 11:30pm on your way home like we did in 06:





Luckily after about 20 minutes, a young French lad on a scooter turned up and we eventually managed to persuade him to use his credit card if we gave him the cash. Poor lad looked like he thought we were going to rob him I reckon

Edited by Moose. on Tuesday 3rd June 14:14

[jamiebae]

Most un-manned stations will take a UK chip & pin card now, it's a long time since I've been unable to use one and I tend to go to France about 10 times a year

[dougc]

Moose. said:

Bet they're fun at the tolls if you're driving without a passenger. Its bad enough with a normal seatbelt at regular car window level!

[markCSC]

Top tip

In 2006 we got to Boulogne really late and found none of our cards worked in the petrol stations. On the A16 we turned off to the Le Touquet Payage exit were there is a single petrol pump (98 Ron). If you pay the payage guy cash you can use the pump.

[heebeegeetee]

Our cards worked with french pumps last week for the first time.

[jamiebae]

markCSC said:

Top tip

In 2006 we got to Boulogne really late and found none of our cards worked in the petrol stations. On the A16 we turned off to the Le Touquet Payage exit were there is a single petrol pump (98 Ron). If you pay the payage guy cash you can use the pump.

Leclerc in Boulogne take English cards, it's just off the Autoroute if you head off towards the port

[RedexR]

I had endless trouble trying to pay for our meal at one of the track cafes last year , damn thing just wouldn,t authorise , I,ve just been doing some card shuffling to get 0% and ventured the question about LM useage , apparently if its not a regular thing the companies will be slow to authorise sudden international use , even in this day and age and its a very good idea to actually give them a ring and let them know before you suddenly start spending abroad as I say you would think it would be easier in the modern era , the only catch is the ten minute wait to get to actually speak to a human being...(from Warrington not India this time lol)

[The Leaper]

Following on from RedexR's post above, I've been travelling abroad for many years and always tell the credit cards where I'm going, and never had any authorising problems, so the advice is good. Also, I've had my card cloned several times when abroad and having given prior notice has meant that I've got replacements within 24 hours.

R.