money concerns

[MicCanberra]

I was recently in Europe, was asked to sign several times, I have a PIN if necessary.

[lyndarra]

33 minutes ago, MicCanberra said:

I was recently in Europe, was asked to sign several times, I have a PIN if necessary.

Curious. Where in Europe? I was recently in France, Spain and Portugal and never had to sign.

[MicCanberra]

Note that it was not every time, but it was once in Andorra, a few times in Spain, Portugal,  France, Italy and Greece. Mainly for larger purchases.

[lyndarra]

16 minutes ago, MicCanberra said:

Note that it was not every time, but it was once in Andorra, a few times in Spain, Portugal,  France, Italy and Greece. Mainly for larger purchases.

I didn't make any large purchases so that was probably the reason. Just cafes, meals, snacks at highway service stops and supermarket stuff (lots of yummy cheeses) in France.

[MicCanberra]

30 minutes ago, lyndarra said:

I didn't make any large purchases so that was probably the reason. Just cafes, meals, snacks at highway service stops and supermarket stuff (lots of yummy cheeses) in France.

Most likely, 

[chubbypiggy]

Last April, I visited Spain, Portugal, Greece, France, and Italy; visited Mexico in November.  In each of those countries, I made purchases (some over $200) with my U.S. Citibank card and Capital One card.  I was never asked for PIN.  All just tap and sign.

 

For my upcoming cruise in April, I will only have one day in Sydney and 3 port stops in NZ.  Besides paying for the Sydney hotel, most likely all other purchases should be under $200, so I am not going to bother getting a PIN, and take the chance of the purchases being taken as Cash Advance.  I am sure the hotel will figure out the way to get my money without a PIN.

 

Thank you to every one for the information and suggestions!!

[Galesa]

12 hours ago, lyndarra said:

I didn't make any large purchases so that was probably the reason. Just cafes, meals, snacks at highway service stops and supermarket stuff (lots of yummy cheeses) in France.

 I had to sign a couple of times in Finland last month too, bust mostly just tap and go or phone pay. On pre-pandemic trips to the UK and Europe I was quite often asked to sign.

[chubbypiggy]

On 1/22/2023 at 9:14 AM, chubbypiggy said:

Last April, I visited Spain, Portugal, Greece, France, and Italy; visited Mexico in November.  In each of those countries, I made purchases (some over $200) with my U.S. Citibank card and Capital One card.  I was never asked for PIN.  All just tap and sign.

 

For my upcoming cruise in April, I will only have one day in Sydney and 3 port stops in NZ.  Besides paying for the Sydney hotel, most likely all other purchases should be under $200, so I am not going to bother getting a PIN, and take the chance of the purchases being taken as Cash Advance.  I am sure the hotel will figure out the way to get my money without a PIN.

 

Thank you to every one for the information and suggestions!!

Just to make sure I will have no problem using my U.S. Visa card (have chip but no PIN) to pay for my Sydney hotel at check-in, I emailed the hotel and asked. 

 

Their reply "This is to confirm we could accept your US card without a PIN".  Besides the hotel charges, I am almost sure I will not have any single purchases of $200+.  So I am good.  Thank you everyone for suggestions and information.