Don't rely on credit cards for purchases when abroad

The lack of a special chip inside Irish credit cards is not supposed to be a hindrance to using Irish Visa or Mastercards in France, but Mr B's recent experience certainly challenges that view.

Mr B writes: "Having just returned from France I must correct some misinformation that has been printed about the use of Visa cards in that country. Having disembarked in Roscoff, we drove south until we needed petrol. The pump had a slot for the Visa card. When I inserted it, it was promptly rejected. It took me 20 minutes to locate an attendant to open a special non-Visa pump.

"We were eating up our cash quickly, so we decided to use Visa to pay the road toll. Again the Irish Visa card, without the chip, was rejected. It was with some difficulty that I got out of the queue and joined one that took cash."

Things did not improve in towns along the way when Mr B tried to withdraw some cash at bank counters using his card: "Only the French can say `non' in such a supercilious and infuriating manner." Not having his PIN number meant Mr B couldn't use his Visa card in the ATM machines and an urgent phone call to AIB in Dublin for his PIN number "was met with policies and procedures and a firm refusal". Mr B wants us yet again to warn visitors to France that they should not rely strictly on their credit cards for purchases or cash withdrawals, something the banks are eager to emphasise as well. Bring a range of payment methods with you when going abroad, to avoid the trouble Mr B encountered. Not all retailers accept credit cards and in France not all machines will accept a card without the microchip (there to facilitate other transmissions.) Credit card transactions are subject to currency exchange and commission charges of between 1.75 2 per cent (though some building societies have commission-free credit card transactions) and when withdrawing cash the 2 per cent is charged and interest is charged immediately. - your credit free period does not apply.

Other cards you should bring along include your bank ATM card, since these can now be widely used in ATM machines abroad. You simply key in your personal PIN number and the amount you wish to withdraw in the local currency. Your account back home will be immediately debited and - you will have to pay the foreign exchange charges/ commission. Look for international PLUS and CIRRUS signs on the plaques outside the bank. Eurocheques are losing ground to other payment methods but they are still available and can be used to pay bills or withdraw cash of up to about £140 at a time. Most French banks refuse to cash Eurocheques at their counters if an ATM machine is available, so bring your PIN number with you. You will be charged £1 plus 1.6 per cent of the value of your purchase per cheque. Travellers' cheques remain one of the safest ways to carry "cash" with you on holiday. They are universally acceptable, are not expensive to buy (commission is just 1 per cent) and if you lose them they can be quickly replaced so long as you have kept the serial numbers separate from the cheques. Ideally, you should buy them in the currency of the country you are visiting to avoid further exchange charges.

As for cash itself, bring enough along to get you through the tolls, to fill up the car and feed your children and to pay for any other incidentals for the first few days. Rely on your flexible friends after that to feed your cashflow needs, but remember to keep them safe too.