[Fradow]

Credit card is a rarity in Europe, because what we call a "credit card" is actually a debit card. Credit card are available at a premium, and while they offer some other advantages, few people use those. Visiting the US is actually one of the compelling reasons to get one.

In France (and I'm going to guess similar rules exist in other EU countries), businesses are required to accept at least 2 different payment options. They choose which 2, for example Apple Store accepts cards or ... cash. Buying a Mac with cash is a funny albeit slightly stressful experience.

[sebazzz]

To clarify, what I as a Dutch person would define:

- Debit card: payment is immediately subtracted from the bank account. "Normal". No charge backs. Accepted almost everywhere. No or nearly no charge per transaction (for the user). Return debit possible (when returning an item)

- Credit card: payments either summed as a loan or monthly charged from the bank account. Charge backs possible. Costs additional money each year, and some transactions may also cost 10 or 15 cents. Not accepted everywhere, mostly in diners or super markets - not in most retail stores. Most people don't have a credit card and/or don't use it regularly.

[FartyMcFarter]

That's not true. Debit cards are more common, but credit cards are also very common in Europe:

https://www.theglobaleconomy.com/rankings/people_with_credit...

[seszett]

I see that 50% of people in Belgium have credit cards and I suspect it's because bank cards until very recently used to be almost only usable in Belgium, and not for online purchase (except at some Belgian stores). So you would need a credit card for a "normal" modern online life.

Not sure if it's still true but it also used to be the case in Canada while I lived there a decade ago or so.

Bank cards today seem to be double more and more as Mastercard/VISA debit cards and I think the amount of people bearing credit cards might decrease in the future. At least that's what has been happening with a few people around me.