In Greece, most all places I went to took Visa, but NOT Master Card. The Greek business owners made this very, very clear to me. It also made things really difficult when they wouldn’t take Amex either…
Don’t bother taking Discover to Europe. I don’t think they are accepted in any country, but I could be wrong.
It’s been a while since I was at Sam’s, but at that time, they would accept no card but Discover. This was apparently true at the time that pkbites mentioned. If they are now accepting other cards, that is a change of policy. (I can actually remember when they would not accept even Discover–cash or check only.)
So, I’m curious here- If I used a credit card in a different country- how exactly would that work when I got the bill? Would they just transfer the foreign currency ‘spent’ into US dollars when the bill comes? Becuase that seems rather convenient instead of exchanging a bunch of foreign currecny/carrying around traveler’s checks.
It depends on the card (some issuers have special deals for people who travel internationally a lot) but generally you will have to pay a currency conversion fee for out of country charges.
My bills show the local price for the item, the conversion rate applied, the service charge, and the total in US$ for each item.
I have found that my Amex charges me less in fees and gives me an outstanding exchange rate, relative to going the local currency route.
Of course, a better way if you can do it is to keep bank accounts in more than one country, which is what I now do. But paying by card definitely seems to be the best way IME.
I’ve travelled all over europe with my MC, like the ads say, it’s accepted everywhere.
Since i was travelling for a month it was safer than carrying cash, and left me enough for emergencies.
They simply use a fixed exchange rate and send the bill to you in your own currency. It works out about the same as if you were to use cash at a bureau de change, and is a better rate than most traveller’s cheques (which are far too much hassle to use in rural areas). I have a British MC, but since I live in Dublin most of the charges to it are in Euros, consider me an informed source.
I’m a very good credit card customer, I pay my balance IN FULL every month. They don’t get an extra penny in interest from me, thus I have a much bigger limit than I should have, which is nice, but not needed.
Thanks everyone. If anything new comes up I would like to hear it, but if not, thank you all. It looks like I will just keep my Master Card.
I have always wondered if Visa and Master Card are only an American name and other countries have other names for their cards. Duh, how obvious could it be. Americans would have to accept many, many cards if there were other brands and vice versa.
As for places that take MC, but not VISA:
The University of Texas at Austin (as of 4/3/03):
http://www.utexas.edu/admin/opa/news/03newsreleases/nr_200304/nr_creditcard030403.html
The Olympics only take Visa.
As for foreign purchases, I’ve never had a problem slapping down my Canadian card in the US, or England, France, Holland, Germany, or Scandinavia. The card company just converts the currency at the exchange rate of the day. It’s always been very good, and better than the exchange rate I’ll get at my bank. I’ve never had any extra fees charged for foreign purchases.
There are other brands and some American companies accept them. One that I know about is JCB, a Japanese card. I do not know how widely they are accepted worldwide. My company takes them for online transactions.
I can believe that. I have an Amex and a Visa. On the couple of occasions I’ve had to call Amex with an issue, they’ve been terrific. Not only do they answer the phone immediately, but both times they immediately solved my problem. Maybe they fight tooth and nail for the customer because they have already credited the customer and are trying to get the money back for themselves.
Visa have not been bad, but it is the usual 10 - 20 minutes to get through, then they were helpful, but just not with the same level of customer care. (Yes, I know the level of service depends on the particular Visa supplier you go with.)
MC? Dunno - never had one.
My people are Capital One. They apparently don’t need customers.
No difference in Master Card or Visa… neither has a cash back bonus! we have a Visa, but very seldom use it… just if someone doesn’t take Discover.
Our Discover pays a cash back bonus every year. Last year it was $450 cash!
We have had Discover since 1986, our yearly cash backs have amounted to several 1000 bucks.
We pay our bill each month so we have never paid a penny of interest. :rolleyes:
I can’t understand why everyone doesn’t use Discover…
guess they had rather work for their money. 
I have a co-worker whose Visa gives him a 1% cash back bonus.
Umm…
There is such a thing as paying for service. Discover and my other no-annual fee cards quite simply don’t seem to care if I live or die. The reason that many people don’t see the benefit of service is either 1) they’ve been lucky and never needed it, or 2) they’ve been lucky, and have had really good service. When I called Amex last time about a plane ticket that the airline was not giving me a refund for (to dispute the bill), their response was “Noooooo problem, Ms. Persson! You just leave that to us!” I asked if I needed to fill out a form requesting a dispute, and they said “Well, we’ll just have a chat with British Air and see if we can’t straighten this all out for you without bothering you anymore.” Then, 1 day later, I had a call from them telling me “No problem, we got it all straightened out, and British Air will be sending an apology letter to you.” Then, a week later, an apology letter from BA. Mind you, this is British Air, the company that holds it’s customers in such contempt my first reaction when I approach the ticket counter is usually to cower and say “Not in the face! Not in the face!”
I’ve had many run-ins with card companies in the 16 years I’ve had cards, and the Amex experience, if I have to rate it, is a “10/10”.
4) There are other rewards besides cash back. Through my Delta airlines Amex, I’ve got roughly…perhaps 100,000 or more Delta miles. That equates to a Business Class round-trip to London, or about $6200 “cash back”. Or about 4 US domestic round-trips, which is about $1600 to $5000, depending on where you go.
Hmmm… 1%, So your friend says? Did he tell you if it was actual cash or a choice of discounted “free items”. I think you will find it has some hidden catches. Discover is a flat 1% **cash back ** in the form of a **check ** payable to us.
In the last year I know of only one place that didn’t take Discover… But I live and stay in the USA.
Pay for service if you wish… In 17 years we have never had a complaint with Discover. Think what we have saved in fees in the last 17 years, not counting our cash back. 
Strange why you have had so many run-ins with card companies? And we have had none.
I would have no need for free air line tickets for I don’t fly. No thank you for your “rewards”. I will take the CASH, I can use it as I please. 
Why are you doubting me? Take a look here:
http://www.credit-card-applications-center.com/cash-back-credit-cards.htm
Are all of the cards here using “discounted free items”, or aren’t any of them giving cash back?
If you are going to contend I’m wrong, then back up your argument.
Also, Discover will NOT give you a check back if your reward is too small. I have a few bucks they will NOT send me a check for, until I get $5.00 or so. So, I could be an ass and say “See! See! Discover doesn’t give you cash back”, but that would be disingenuous.
You must lead a sheltered life. Every week I go to places that don’t take Discover, or Amex for that matter as well. It only takes one really bad customer service experience to make your life hell when you have $13,400 of erroneous charges on it and the vendor won’t even return your calls…
Umm…yeah. I’m thinking. And what I’m thinking is that your situation doesn’t apply to me, and my situation doesn’t apply to you, so yes, I will continue to pay for service.
No, actually, it’s not strange at all when you consider I’m a businesswoman who actually uses her card(s) in work. I typically charge well more than $100,000 a year for personal and business expenses in multiple countries.
Good luck with all that. I never said cash was bad. I said the cash value of my air tickets was good. So you keep your cash, whilst I fly Fierra and myself to Venice, Business Class all the way, for free.
Now, Now. No pit stuff.:o
Actually, debating is very educational for me. I am credit card illiterate and did not know what Discover or that Visa did.
I have only had one card of my own. My ex had 13 in my name and messed me up and I cancelled all of them. That was 11 years ago. Capital One accidentally gave me a Visa card then and I have not abused it.