Using credit cards/cash cards in France

[Ralf85]

A tip for those going over to France for the first time. There are now many 24 hour petrol stations where you insert your card into the machine at the pump and Brits have problems using them (just like me the first time I tried). Once you have put your card in you have to alway press the green/enter button before you put in your pin number. Then you press the green button again as normal. Your card then pops out for you to put away. After you have filled up and put the pump back don't forget to take your receipt.

The same press the green button first principle also applies when using cards in supermarkets etc. Having said that I try and pay in cash wherever possible because my bank and credit card company charge for each transaction and that cheeses me off! Bon voyage.

[ermie571]

And don't forget to tell them (AND YOUR INSURANCE COMPANY) you are going....or they might just stop it!!! Especially if they try to phone you and get no response...

regards

Em
xx

[Cruz]

urban Myth. Not all banks need notification. In fact most don't

[Ralf85]

urban Myth. Not all banks need notification. In fact most don't

I'm glad you said that because I have never contacted my bank or credit card company before going away and have never had a problem. It might be different perhaps if you were make an expensive purchase overseas. Like a new engine. Perhaps somebody in the business might clarify?

[ghost123uk]

My RBS card didn't work when I went to hire a car in Greece, I pood myself, but then the phone in my pocket rang and it was the bank checking it was me in Greece trying to hire a car. Tried the card again while they were still on the phone and it went through ok. Phew.

[1664]

I had to phone HSBC when I went to NZ years ago. Card wouldn't work in any ATM over there until I called them. They said it was for "security" and I should inform them when I'm going away. I told them they're not my mum....

[ermie571]

Bearing in mind all the fraudulent stuff going on nowadays, a quick call to let them know you are away saves any embarassment.

But if you don't want to, upto you.

But you ARE oblidged to tell your insurance company.

EM
xx

[72BUG]

Same here. Tried booking car hire for Bulgaria over the internet and it wouldn't go through. My phone rang and it said it was the bank but then went dead. Tried the booking again and my card had been blocked. Spent the next half hour on the phone to the bank going through security questions to get it unblocked and they said I needed to fill in a holiday form to let them know where and when I was going before using it abroad.

So not at all an urban myth but may depend on who you bank with and where you're going.

[tforturton]

If you take out a Post Office credit card, they don't charge for foreign transactions.
Can add up to quite a saving over a forernight's holiday.

[82JEW75]

A tip for those going over to France for the first time. There are now many 24 hour petrol stations where you insert your card into the machine at the pump and Brits have problems using them (just like me the first time I tried). Once you have put your card in you have to alway press the green/enter button before you put in your pin number. Then you press the green button again as normal. Your card then pops out for you to put away. After you have filled up and put the pump back don't forget to take your receipt.

The same press the green button first principle also applies when using cards in supermarkets etc. Having said that I try and pay in cash wherever possible because my bank and credit card company charge for each transaction and that cheeses me off! Bon voyage.

Depends on the machine, there are several different types.

Normal operation tends to be:
1. Insert card.
2. Select fuel type.
3. Confirm fuel type.
4. Enter PIN.
5. Recover card.
6. Get fuel.
7. Get receipt.

Variations can be where there is one machine to serve several pumps, so you have to enter the pump number at the start and return at the end and reinsert your card if you want a receipt.

If you have a dual function credit/debit card, you may be asked which function you want to use, default is normally debit.

About the only real advice I can give is to follow the instructions! There are lots of different types of automatic pump and they're all slightly different in operation.

Some of them might give instructions in English when a UK card is inserted, I know some cash machines do, but can't remember for fuel pumps.


Important for drivers of petrol vehicles
In the back of beyond (particularly the area south of Clermont-Ferrand and Lyon) fuel stations can be few and far between. Worse, many only have diesel on 24h.

On the A89 there is no petrol between Egletons and Manzat, that's over 100 km
(there is petrol off the motorway, but very little on 24h)

The only places that have LPG/GPL on 24/7 are the motorway services, elsewhere it will only be available while the fuel station is manned, think 9-5 with a 2 hour break for lunch.

Keep a good reserve of petrol in your tank, particularly for the weekend. If you see LPG/GPL, fill up!

[ghost123uk]

Good info there Steve (it is Steve, isn't it ?)

I wonder if there are easy to find POI's for TomTom Sat Navs for French LPG outlets ?

[82JEW75]

Not much clue on GPL (or LPG if you prefer), my only experience with it involved running out while driving my ex-girlfriend's mother's car, then discovering that there was only about 5 litres of petrol in the tank, on a sunday. Fortunately it was downhill all the way to the nearest 24h fuel station. There was a motorway services with GPL about the same distance away, but uphill all the way and I didn't fancy trying it. Still, I suppose the bollocking I got would have been far worse had I run out of petrol as well, probably within sight of the pumps...

Only advice I can repeat is if you see GPL, buy it. Most motorway services seem to have it, but not sure if all do. Some supermarkets in bigger towns do, but see above as regards opening hours.

In case you haven't noticed yet, it's GPL here. French acronyms are easy, just read them backwards, OTAN, GPL, etc.


Yes, it is Steve.

[ermie571]

Hi Steve,

thanks for the tips - and I can vouch for the lpg...keep topped up tip, having driven on LPG in France etc. However, only ran out the once...as we didn't realise that on a bank hoilday everything would be shut. So, while there were plenty of LPG stations (were on main roads going through towns, verdun to Dunkerque) they were not unmaned LPG. However, fortunately, the petrol was automatic.

Was dicey though....the van don't like petrol.....hairy 5 mins when we switch over....it shook, coughed, shook died. Flicked to gas, started, flicked to petrol immediately and revved the nuts off it.....bit kangaroo-y for the first mile or so, then it gave in and behaved itself!!

I have a microsoft autoroute map with lpg stations i think.....then export the poi to excel and run it through a poi converter? Let me know if you need me to try...but you may find it free on line....google will be your friend

Em
xx