Is Mastercard well accepted in Europe?

Question

For debit transactions, ATM transactions, etc. from an American account. I heard that there were some countries that had earlier this year temporarily blacklisted Mastercard. Does anyone have personal experience?

Answer 1

First off, I would highly recommend NEVER EVER EVER EVER carrying your passport around with you at all times. That document is your ONLY proof of citizenship on your trip. When you get to where you are going, find a secure place like a hotel safe or a lock box and keep it there.



Just make two photocopies: one to keep on you and one to keep at home or with a trusted party in case it gets lost or stolen. Those photocopies will facilitate replacement.



Anyways, to answer your original question:



Your debit card with the MasterCard logo will function like any MasterCard. As long as the retailer accepts it, it should work. I don't know of any retailer blacklist in any country.



Your debit card of course acts like an ATM card. If you do run into trouble, you can just use cash. Yes, its more hassle, but at least you will be able to get around in case plastic doesn't work.



Also, I would call your bank and tell them which countries you will be visiting and when you will be going. That way your ATM card and it's MasterCard function won't get shut down. But just in case, bring the collect number of your bank to call in case you do run into trouble.



It's amazing from personal experience. I was in a line at a checkout and the lady was having trouble getting her card to accept. And straight out of her mouth came "It's weird. We just came back from Mexico and used it for $300 at the Wal-Mart but then we kept having trouble with it because it would never work after that."



Basically what happened is that the card company saw a huge transaction in Mexico when the account had always been used in Nebraska and the US and their fraud department shut it down after that because they didn't call the company to tell them they were leaving the country.



Anyways, I hope that answers your question. Have a nice trip.

Answer 2

You need to let you bank know where you are going to travel with a debit card outside of the US. MasterCard debit card should work. In the UK, you will need to tell the merchant to slide the card through-then you will sign for it regardless of the chip n pin. If the Merchant does not take Mastercard but does take Maestro or Cirrus it will work like a debit card. You would choose chequing and enter you pin. Your bank may need to activate these features for your card to work at all merchants outside of the US.

Answer 3

some places i went to in paris didn't take Mastercard.....Notre Dame didn't (i wanted a rosary there).



but just be careful with traverles checks cuz when you exchange there is a good chance you will pay a fee and if you give them 100 $ you might get 50-75 back....so if you can take some of their currency too....



i know at AAA you can get a debit card pre-loaded with their money on it...



but using credit cards and such at places they make you buy so much to use them.



but use one with Visa cuz alot of places don't take American Express..and my High School French teacher told us this....

Answer 4

Check with you bank first but I wouldn't get traveler's checks. A friend told me to bring my atm card. I got a one dollar atm fee (which I would have out of state) and got THE BEST possible exchange rate. Traveler's checks wills screw you and cost you WAY more money....plus the atm is always available so you don't have to carry much cash!

Answer 5

always a good idea to get traveler's checks. Depends on the country, also keep the passport on your body at all times, especially if you stay in a hostel or fall asleep on a train.

Keep a wary eye in Naples.

Answer 6

Mastercards slogan is "recognized all over the world"

Answer 7

yes

Answer 8

Yes! That's all i used...

Answer 9

yes, but they don't take american express...remembet them commercials?? lo