[russdill]

The saddest thing about this is that my bank no longer requires notification for international travel, but still does for travel within the US. I've had my card shut off for fraud a few times while traveling in the US. Once when I had almost no gas and was outside of cell service, thanks for that.

This is presumably due to all transactions outside of the US requiring chip, but those in the US only requiring swipe.

[franga2000]

Wait, the US is still on magstripe? Isn't that literally just a bar code? No challenge-response, or encryption? Fraud detection seems like the wrong thing to be focusing on if that's the case...

[hnuser123456]

In my area, almost everything has been chip for the last couple years, except gas stations. My local gas station just installed chip readers a few months ago.

[Teever]

Yeah, it's even worse than that. I was recently in the bay area and I went to pay for a burger with my Canadian chip&pin card and when I the card in the transaction was automatically approved with no need to enter the pin.

This was quite alarming.

[pintxo]

Germany here, there is a lower limit, below which we do not have to enter a pin. Maybe the same for you?

[hnuser123456]

Yeah, we do chip, and maybe signature if we feel like it

[cmbailey]

"feel like it" is practically never. I haven't had anyone ask to see my physical card to compare signatures in over five years.

[ZeikJT]

Isn't this really in service of the customer to not waste their time? The store is the one shouldering the risk because if it turns out to be a thief using the card the store loses money/goods. The more they try to verify you are who you say you are the less risk they are incurring. That's a benefit of credit, it's less risky for the consumer in the end.

[cmbailey]

Absolutely. Just providing information posters like the one above who don't live in the US and might be surprised that no authentication happens here.

[toomuchtodo]

Switch banks? I have never once had American Express decline a charge domestic or international. Highly recommend!

[thewhitebug]

Opposite position here - American Express was the one card I could not use anywhere in my first European trips 20 years ago (don't know it that's changed) - ditched it forever then. MC and Visa works for me. Never looked back.

[toomuchtodo]

20 years is a long time! I suggest you give them another shot. I have their Platinum card and the service has been top notch (although paying for their charge card is not required if you pick a product with no annual fee).

[8note]

carry cash? no one is going to not accept that

[toomuchtodo]

Gas pumps will sometimes work after hours even if a clerk isn’t on duty. Same with other self service situations where a card might be your only payment option. Carrying cash is a last resort; you risk losing it or not having enough.

[ericd]

How often do you lose your wallet? If I lose mine, I won’t be stressing about the $200 inside.

But true enough on the unmanned gas stations.

[Naracion]

Some places don't accept cash to reduce the risk of theft--we don't carry cash, you can't steal from the cash register.

[maximente]

actually this isn't true - i was in Seattle and there's at least one cashless Starbucks and one restaurant (Kati Vegan Thai); when i asked at both places they patiently explained that they couldn't accept cash at either one.

[ghaff]

Make a point of carrying a spare card from a different bank and maybe a different payment network. In my experience, you’re always going to hit random declines from time to time.

[sizzle]

Also some emergency cash up to $100 hidden in the car where only you would know where to look is worth the peace of mind knowing technology is not infallible.

[ghaff]

Yes, I was assuming some cash as well. Appropriate currency, dollars in particular most places, is always useful when traveling. But if you’re at a supermarket checkout and your card is randomly declined (has happened to me) it’s nice to be able to pull out another card.