My chase sapphire has the chip in it, used the card just like a regular card all over the French side of SXM and St. Barths with no issues. Was never asked for a pin. Most exchange rates came to 1.06-1.09. Much better than what the establishments were charging at 1.20.

Key word was "terminals"...if they are manned (like a restaurant) they will probably work (mine did)...

If they are unmanned they will NOT work (like toll booths, gas stations and trying to buy a train ticket and avoid the 45 minute wait for a human to dispense it)

So...yes they will work..but...not everywhere. Just have cash as a backup (and, when in Europe) NEVER get in the CC lane on the expressway <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Wink.gif" alt="" />

"Citi chip card will work at the Unmanned terminals, gas stations , paytolls, etc. You can either swipe the card and flash it to make the transactions on the account."

More From Citibank.....
I would bring cash backup as you said.......
I just had to ask---

Another difference is that with the old magstrip you dip the card in and pull it out immediately. With the EMV chip, the read heads must be in contact with the chip for the entire transaction. The screen lets you know when you can pull the card out.

Ha ha Dave...been to many functions there! Live a few blocks east!

So will swipe cards work?

There shouldn't be a problem.

The pin is only if you are using it as a debit card. If you use it as a credit card there is no need to enter a pin.
Debit card allows you to get a cash withdrawal or use it in an ATM.
So, if you tell clerk credit, they will run it as such and you do not need a Pin!!!!!

For your info, this is incorrect as it relates to the somewhat new chip & pin credit cards used in Europe. We're seeing chip & signature credit cards in the US now.

The way Irina explained it exactly how it was explained to me. Only need a "pin" if I was using the card as a debit card - to take money out. The difference is the type of machine used, the card is used as a swipe or also in the newer terminals it is inserted and left in until the transaction is complete.

No Kim, 2 different types of cards. The European "chip and pin" cards are credit cards, not debit cards. The pin is required for every transaction.

I guess you guys know more than American Express.
Oh well.
So you really think you will be unable to use your cards around the world?
Give me an example of a european "chip and pin" card please.

Ok must be different. Mine is a credit card with an embedded chip. But only need a pin if I want to take cash. Im assuming this is what most Americans will be getting. chase info

Well whatever I have it worked all over the French side and St. Barths. As a swipe and inserted into a machine

EMV system is what you are referring to?

Europay, MasterCard, Visa got together to come up with a standard for this chip. It's so that POS and ATMs will be able to read the chip.

Yes. Here is an explanation. In particular, see items 4 and 8.

http://www.creditcards.com/credit-card-news/emv-faq-chip-cards-answers-1264.php

I live in the US and have traditional cards. My sister lives in the UK with EMV cards. When I visit the UK, there are many terminals that will not accept my US based cards. Every time she uses her card, she is required to enter her pin.

Nope...sorry...won't happen (unmanned terminals).

1) no way to swipe a card...2) no way to "flash" a card.

As was mentioned a few times the card is inserted in the device/terminal (not removed/swiped/flashed) and it will ask you for a PIN...not a CC/debit choice...no PIN no transaction...with a PIN it will be a CC transaction

I have (and tried) an Gold World AA Citibank card with chip and it did NOT WORK in France (Paris, Toulouse, Carcassonne) at unmanned terminals. (Sorry for repeating myself but...)

As a Cdn, don't anything specific to add to this thread, our cards - cc and debit are all PIN [NIP en francais!]
However 2 general comments
To the person who took a new cc on a trip and had a problem, I always try out a newly issued cc to check if it works, once it did not! and I got a replacement
And, after I got my 1st PIN card, later that year phoned the bank to let them know I was travelling out of country [note you no longer have to do that for Cdn Visa and AmX] and the bank person told me if my PIN was more than 4 digits to change it to 4 digits.

J&B

That is correct. Only four digit pin numbers work internationally. All our credit cards in Canada are chip and pin so it makes travelling with them so much easier.

In the last week, I've gone to both banks with which I hold credit cards, Chase and CapOne. I've managed to get both of them to issue me new cards with chips.

Unfortunately, they are both Chip and Sign, which seems to be the standard for most USA banks from what I've observed. Again the USA seems to want to be counter to the rest of the world as if saying "The USA knows best." Of course we know that's true, we're still on the imperial measurement system, along with Liberia, while the rest of the world has gone Metric. My guess is, like everything else in the USA corporate world, cheaper is better, and damn the people of the country, lets just be dumb and let the companies maximize their profits. The official explanation is, "We don't want you to have to remember another PIN."

Here is my takeaway (from the responses here) on the "chip and sign" vs "chip and pin" situation as it pertains to St. Martin. Please correct me where I am wrong.

1. Businesses are slowly but surely upgrading credit card terminals. Most (if not all) of the upgraded terminals will only accept "chip with pin" cards.

2. "Chip and sign" cards can be used at any business that does not have a new "chip and pin" only terminal.

3. Only "chip with pin" cards can be used at an unmanned kiosk terminal. "Chip and sign" cards will not work at these locations.

Question: Will cards with no chip work with the new "chip and pin" only terminals and/or unmanned kiosks? If so, it seems we would be better off with a no chip card (rather than a chip and sign card) when on the island.

4. the safest bet is to carry a chip+PIN card...a less favorable option would be to carry a chip+sig...but even if worst case you didn't have any chip card, don't worry too much carrying a non-chip card...as has been mentioned, very rarely would you be in a situation where it wouldn't work, especially in the caribbean right now

Key words: "Chip and PIN only" ...no chippee...no workee

..and yes, on SXM you probably will not have this situation....

Just to give you an idea of how far behind the U.S. is compared to the rest of the world.... Even Iran and North Korea have had the chip and pin system for at least 2 or 3 years.

1. SXM yes, US, slowly. All manned terminals still accept a swipe card, but fraud is at merchant risk.

2. It's the same terminal. In SXM most (all?) Chip terminals also have a swipe slot.

3. That's a definite maybe. Chip-and-PIN cards will work. A small number of Chip-and-Sign cards may also work (Most don't, I have one that does).

All cards still have a mag strip, and all cards will likely work at any retailer, at least for the next year or so.