This is far less likely to happen if you call your cc company or bank atm
(both) before you leave, apprising them of your travel dates and plans.
They note it on your account so that they know it is you buying trinkets in
Amsterdam even tho your area of primary activity is Cow Holler, Kentucky.

We always do this...and our cc company is very appreciative. It saves them
a lot of time and effort and it saves us any embarassment and inconvenience
of having a purchase declined or delayed.

Two questions as I am leaving for Europe in a couple of weeks.

1) What about using a debit card for purchases? I have heard that there
is no 3 percent up charge for foreign transactions, just the same as if
you were at an ATM machine.

2) I have heard the latest "scam" is that they will process your
purchases in dollars rather than local currency. This incurs all kinds
of fees--exchange fees, foreign transaction fees, etc. I was told that
you needed to make it very clear before turning over your card that you
want the charge in local currency. Anyone had any experience with this.
Ireland was mentioned in particular. I'm going to Germany and Prague.

Another thing I was told was to be sure that the ATM machine you use is
in the "network", i.e. Cirrus, Pulse, etc. There should be a decal on
the front of the machine that tells you. If you use an out of network
machin

Richard Whitlock wrote:

We were in Ireland last month and we encountered the situation you're
describing. We knew we might enounter this and, sure enough, we did.
However, I'm not sure that scam is the right word to describe the
situation. With only one exception, we were always asked if we wanted
the charge processed in Euros or in dollars, and the waiter/store clerk
followed our instructions.

Get cash by using your ATM card. Not a credit card.

Sometimes it still doesn't work. Whatever message the ATM gives you,
don't take it literally. Either it won't recognize your network or it
has a transaction limit which you exceeded. Try taking out a smaller
amount; if that doesn't work then try another ATM.

Fees: I've never run into a situation where I was charged a fee for
out-of-network use of an ATM card. In my experience if it's out of
network it just won't work.

Credit and ATM cards charge a fee up to 3% for any foreign
transaction. Call your bank(s) - know before you go. I have some
cards that charge 3%, My BofA platinum check card and my credit union
charge 1%. (The credit union gives 1% cash back, so I'm dead even.)

While you're on the phone, tell your bank when you're going to be
abroad and where, so they don't turn your card off.

They still might, so take at least two ATM cards from different banks.
(This also helps if one doesn't work in a particular machine.)