Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
ers, and self-serve gas pumps. If a machine won't take your card, find a cash-
ier who can make your card work (they can print a receipt for you to sign), or
find a machine that takes cash.
But don't panic. Most travelers who are carrying only magnetic-stripe
cards never encounter any problems. Still, it pays to carry plenty of cash (you
can always use an ATM with your magnetic-stripe debit card). Memorizing
the PIN lets you use it at some chip-and-PIN machines—just enter your PIN
when prompted.
If you're still concerned, you can apply for a chip card in the US (though
I think it's overkill). While big US banks offer these cards with high annual
fees, a better option is the no-annual-fee GlobeTrek Visa, offered by Andrews
Federal Credit Union in Maryland (open to all US residents; see
www.andrewsfcu.org ) .
Dynamic Currency Conversion: If merchants offer to convert your pur-
chase price into dollars (called dynamic currency conversion, or DCC), refuse
this “service.” You'll pay even more in fees for the expensive convenience of
seeing your charge in dollars.
Damage Control for Lost Cards
If you lose your credit, debit, or ATM card, you can stop people from using it
byreportingthelossimmediatelytotherespectiveglobalcustomer-assistance
centers. Call these 24-hour US numbers collect: Visa (tel. 303/967-1096),
MasterCard (tel. 636/722-7111), and American Express (tel. 336/393-1111).
European toll-free numbers (listed by country) can be found at the websites
for Visa and Mastercard.
At a minimum, you'll need to know the name of the financial institution
that issued you the card, along with the type of card (classic, platinum, or
whatever). Providing the following information will allow for a quicker can-
cellation of your missing card: full card number, whether you are the primary
or secondary cardholder, the cardholder's name exactly as printed on the card,
billing address, home phone number, circumstances of the loss or theft, and
identification verification (your birth date, your mother's maiden name, or
your Social Security number—memorize this, don't carry a copy). If you are
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