expat blogger

living in Serbia

Saturday, June 11, 2011

Credit Cards in Europe

The use of credit cards in Europe is different than that in America.

While we are in Serbia, we don't use them. We change money to use it while we are there. But, if we did, many places don't even accept credit cards. When I go to the pijatz or the farmers market, they don't accept anything but cash. Grocery stores accept them, but I am not sure if our credit cards would work after reading the article posted here.

In 2007, while on a trip to the UK I used my visa everywhere and I am wondering if things have changed so much that they would not work like they used to. ?

In Thailand in 2003, I simply went to the bank, gave them my Credit card and had they charged money to it and I didn't have to change money, simple and easy!

Any info you have to share on this subject. I would love to hear them. My experiences and are limited and dated. I am curious how time is changing the process. Please reply. :))
Thanks!!

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

A lot has changed in the last 10 years, and mostly meaning that there aren't big differences anywhere.

Yes, you can't use credit cards at pijace, but you can't use them at the markets in Seattle or San Francisco either.

We use credit cards for just about everything in Serbia including restaurants, grocery stores, on-line purchases, other retail stores, etc.

Serbia also now has widespread chip/PIN debit cards which makes transactions more secure than with most US Bank debit cards.