Nov 13 2016

2015 s Best No Foreign Transaction Fee Credit Cards #online #credit

#no fee credit cards

No Foreign Transaction Fee Credit Cards

American Express Premier Rewards Gold Card

By:Odysseas Papadimitriou, CardHub CEO

No special type of credit card is needed to make international transactions, though a no international fee credit card is necessary to avoid the 3% fee, that the vast majority of credit cards charge on any purchase processed outside the U.S. Whether a credit card will work in a given country solely depends on which of the four credit card networks it belongs to (i.e. Visa, MasterCard, American Express and Discover). Visa and MasterCard are accepted practically anywhere a credit card can be used worldwide. American Express’ reach is far less but still significant while Discover can only be used in about a quarter of the countries and territories that accept Visa and MasterCard outside the U.S.

European countries are increasingly moving away from the magnetic stripe credit cards used in the U.S. in favor of chip-and-pin technology. As a result, while you will be able to use your U.S.-issued credit card 95% of the time, you may be unable to use your card at some vending machines and automated kiosks in airports and train stations. Depending on the country, you might also need to show your passport for proof of identity when using a credit card or debit card.

By:Odysseas Papadimitriou, CardHub CEO

Chip-and-pin credit cards are becoming the standard in Europe, Canada and Japan. The main difference between them and the magnetic stripe cards we use in the U.S. is the fact that chip-and-pin cards provide better fraud protection by adhering to global EMV standards. This heightened protection is due to the fact that a consumer has to input a Personal Identification Number (PIN) that must match data stored on a secure microchip embedded within the card for a transaction to be authorized. Some U.S. credit card companies are beginning to offer chip-and-pin cards as well as chip-and-signature cards and chip-based contactless payment methods. Therefore, global credit card interoperability appears only a matter of time. In the meantime, regular credit cards with no foreign transaction fees will be sufficient for all purchases made abroad.

“Currently American cards do work in most places,” says Eldad Boker, a professor with Johnson & Wales University’s Center for International Tourism. “Europe and Asia are moving rapidly toward a chip based card, which in the next few years will become a challenge for American tourists traveling without the chip based cards. Many automated kiosks in Europe already do not accept cards that are not equipped with the chip based technology. (Ex: Train and bus transportation system, some banks and others). With the spread of this technology to other parts of the world, the American tourist will need to request chip based card, from the issuing banks. A tourist without this type of a card will face many more challenges than a tourist that carries a chip- based card.”

Indeed, transactions made at unattended automated kiosks, such as those in train stations, may necessitate a chip-and-PIN card, as not even chip-and-signature cards will work given their lack of a PIN for identity verification. But very few U.S. banks offer chip-and-PIN cards, and you can get around the unattended kiosk issue by simply taking a debit card with low international withdrawal fees along with you.

So, the standard magnetic stripe credit card will do the trick for now. That might change in a few years, but don’t worry, when chip cards become a true necessity it will be a big deal and you’ll hear about it.

Written by CREDIT

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