Dutch don't like SA credit cards, but Belgians do

[Space_Chief]

So I tried to buy a printable ticket on Thalys.com for a trip from Amsterdam to Paris. Not possible, because despite Verified by Visa, the Dutch don't like non-EU credit cards. But thankfully SNCB (Belgian Rail) on b-europe.com do accept international CCs for the same train and trip.

Raileurope.co.za would also book the same ticket, just that they'd charge me an extra fee and a large local courier fee too. Rip-off.

Anyway, go Belgium.

 

[grim]

I booked from Brussels to Paris a few weeks ago using my CC on Thalys.com, it is a Mastercard though

 

[Space_Chief]

I booked from Brussels to Paris a few weeks ago using my CC on Thalys.com, it is a Mastercard though

Possibly. They specifically said they don't accept most non-EU cards after the error came up. Maybe it was just a spurious thing. No issues with SNCB though.

 

[kim_bcs]

Possibly. They specifically said they don't accept most non-EU cards after the error came up. Maybe it was just a spurious thing. No issues with SNCB though.

I have booked a few train trips in the last two years with an SA CC on thalys.com and never had a problem. I would guess it was a temporary problem. Enjoy the trip, I love the Thalys

 

[azbob]

My MasterCard worked just fine on Thalys too.

 

[M3mPh1z]

I used my Visa card all around the Netherlands without issue, shops ATM's etc

 

[Space_Chief]

I used my Visa card all around the Netherlands without issue, shops ATM's etc

Yes -- just that the error message specifically said they refuse "most" non-EU cc's.

I haven't had CC problems either, online or offline, abroad. Just this one time, with Dutch Rail.

 

[Space_Chief]

I have booked a few train trips in the last two years with an SA CC on thalys.com and never had a problem. I would guess it was a temporary problem. Enjoy the trip, I love the Thalys

Thank you.

 

[TheShadow]

I took the same Thalys trip from Amsterdam to Paris in August last year. Excellent trip... saw beautiful greenery of Belgium along the route.

I did use my FNB Visa card to pay for it. Possibly a new requirement.

Slightly OT but I've had endless hassles with my FNB Cheque card when travelling. Before my next trip I'll be taking out a Virgin CC with a low limit just to avoid the hassles. Apparently our cheque cards are seen as debit cards so many international ATMs and some PoS devices don't accept them.

 

[Spizz]

I'm in Amsterdam at the moment and have had no problems so far with using my FNB cheque card both in store or at an ATM. A lady in a supermarket refused to even swipe it though because she didn't like the look of it. Had to pay cash :wtf:

 

[ponder]

I'm in Amsterdam at the moment and have had no problems so far with using my FNB cheque card both in store or at an ATM.

A lady in a supermarket refused to even swipe it though because she didn't like the look of it. Had to pay cash :wtf:

???

 

[Spizz]

???

The only word in English she seemed to know was 'normal' which she repeated a few times while handing it back to me, so I was as confused as you are now.

The line was a 'card only' line and I assumed she thought it was a credit card rather than a debit card???? Anyway, I didn't make a fuss as the queue was quite long and I had the cash anyway.

 

[mooks]

The Dutch retailers are only recently starting to accept MasterCartd & Visa as a rule and many stores outside of A'dam central still dont accept MC or Visa.

Before I moved here I would travel over with my UK CC and and get stuck at stores take my card. Don't even get me started on trying to pay on a UK debit card here! Either way, they're slowly rolling out the upgrade or whatever it is to accept MC and Visa.

I get that this is irrelevant because of UK vs SA credit card and also, what happens in A'dam is usually much more tourist orientated than anywhere outside the city, but I thought I'd give my 2c anyway.

Debit cards here are Maestro (is that standard?).

 

[Dryad]

Debit cards here are Maestro (is that standard?).

Maestro is Master Card debit cards, I think Visa is Visa electron

 

[Billy]

I blame it on Verwoerd.

 

[Spizz]

The Dutch retailers are only recently starting to accept MasterCartd & Visa as a rule and many stores outside of A'dam central still dont accept MC or Visa.

Before I moved here I would travel over with my UK CC and and get stuck at stores take my card. Don't even get me started on trying to pay on a UK debit card here! Either way, they're slowly rolling out the upgrade or whatever it is to accept MC and Visa.

I get that this is irrelevant because of UK vs SA credit card and also, what happens in A'dam is usually much more tourist orientated than anywhere outside the city, but I thought I'd give my 2c anyway.

Debit cards here are Maestro (is that standard?).

Thanks for that. Explains my story quite nicely

 

[guest2013-1]

Debit cards being Maestro is standard (it's Mastercard's version of the debit card, whereas there is a Visa counterpart too)

You also have to consider fraud. There's a huge amount of stolen/copied cards that come from overseas that is trying to be used in Europe (or international of the bank that supplied the card) because thieves normally have the ability to draw more than your daily limit. In 2008/9 there was a huge issue with cards being used like that in SA and Dubai (people living there found their cards used in Europe draining their accounts)

Also it might just be ABSA