On a trip to London, July 14-25, 2006, I discovered that credit cards and debit cards in the United Kingdom use “chip & PIN” numbers for added security. U.S MasterCards, Visa cards, American Express et al. will work only if, for example, store or restaurant cashiers are equipped to “swipe” your card. However, if your card has to be inserted into a machine which has a key pad that requires a “chip & PIN” number, as in automatic ticket machines in London tube stations, it will not work. In this case, you’ll have to wait in a queue at a ticket window, where the clerk is able to swipe your card.
I did find that U.S. credit or debit cards work fine at ATMs.
JACK CARROLL
New York, NY
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