Now, here in sunny France there has been a lot of talk of card scams at service/ fuel staions in particular. One issue that keeps coming up on forums here is the practice of automatically taking 60 or 100 euros when the card is used at a fuel pump irrespective of how much fuel is added, this practice is quite usual ( though I don't know why) and then credited back into the card account a few days later. The banks claim it is for security bit I really can't think how it would help, however, just be aware that it is better to use cash if using self service pumps

the "card scam" is universal to france (maybe europe too, I don't know); on the fuel charge the machine tells you the maximum you can take. The bank concerned take the full amount in suspense and recredit it after the actual amount has been cleared. However, this can apparently take 10 working days. British banks are well aware of this. On the last occasion it happened to us with Super U, this amount has not been recredited, but the amount for the fuel has been taken and cleared. Apparently there is nothing we can do about it until after the 10 working day period when it is recredited automtically. If you consider someone travelling through France, using the card machine (as far as I am aware it only happens with fuel or automated machines), using a card several times a day could amount to several hundred pounds being held in suspense until the actual amounts clear.
It certainly bears watching and well worth buying from attended kiosks

On the subject of cards, I would have thought it worthwhile for those choosing to travel/tour abroad this coming year to pay as much as possible using a major UK credit card e.g. fuel and campsite charges etc. Paying Euro prices with a UK credit card would, I believe, even allowing for card charges and currency conversion fees still work out a lot cheaper than changing ones Sterling currency into Euro's back in the UK where you're likely to get even less at the current exchange rates.
I recently made a major caravan purchase purchasing in Euros via my PayPal account but charged to my UK credit card. Following conversion and charge by the latter, the final bill in GBP was considerably less than if I'd purchased outright in Euros.

I still use my Nationwide credit card here in France and there are no charges and they also give a good exchange rate

In the last decade sometime whilst touring France we were desperate for fuel and had little choice but to fill up at a service station
that was totally unstaffed ( this was quite common ). Initially we had problems in getting the automated pumps/card handling to accept our
cards(there used to be a reason for this ...something different about the digits on UK cards if I remember). Anyway eventually we were successfuland we filled up with fuel however the machine failed to give us a receipt. Anne who insists on receipts for everthing was not amused and made sure she wrote down the details of the purchase. A day or two later Anne telephoned the credit card company to query what amount the petrol station had charged to be shocked at over 7000 euro's!

Naturally we disputed this pointing out that we were driving a Renault not a Boeing. Eventually they cancelled the payment.

Take care

Ian

Quote: Aaron Calder wrote in post #2

---

I noticed this summer in France that some fuel stations now refuse to accept both cheques and cash (except by prior arrangement) so cards are the only option for tourists.

Last year I took out a pre-paid Euro cash card to use for fuel but found that a lot of 'pay at the pump' places would not accept it and I had to revert to using an ordinary credit card and incur currency conversion charges. It was frustrating that supermarkets would accept the card at the checkouts but not at the pumps which I understand is due to the pumps not connecting to the Internet when the transaction is made.

I note that Santander now offer a card that does not charge for continental use so that might be a better alternative.

---

Looks like a trip for us to the EU is out then, we've not had a credit card since 1984.

don't be put off, just be aware

Quote: dranddad wrote in post #9

---

Looks like a trip for us to the EU is out then, we've not had a credit card since 1984.

---

Not in France, you still see people paying by cheque in the supermarket.
Dave

Its not really a scam as the surplus is returned to you, its an inconvenience.
Dave

The Post Office also has a credit card that doesn't have any charges for using it abroad. Pay it off in full every month and then there is no interest to pay. Have this card just for purchases abroad.

Ditto the Post Office.
This business of charging the card then refunding it is not exclusive to French fuel stations. I posted a long and bitter diatribe several years ago after Hilton hotels pre-authorised a charge of £800 to my account and then despite all 3 room accounts being paid took 10 days and numerous phone calls to refund the money. I went overdrawn in the intervening period and was not best pleased.