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"There are no fees or minimum transactions for using your debit card at a business." isn't always true. For (small) business with not enough transactions, accep

"There are no fees or minimum transactions for using your debit card at a business." isn't always true. For (small) business with not enough transactions, accepting debit cards is an expense, and below 10 euros they often charge 0.25. Nothing major though. And the big downside to all of the above? Credit card acceptance is very very low. Tourists can only purchase train tickets by credit card at Schiphol Airport. Everywhere else the option is disabled due to fraud issues.

rmc 15y ago
For (small) business with not enough transactions, accepting debit cards is an expense Here in Ireland it's not uncommon for shops to insist on cash only for amounts less than €10 (except in some extrenuation circumstances (like the ATM in their shop being broken)). Credit card acceptance is very very low. That has definitly not been my experience. Perhaps you are thinking of chip-and-pin credit cards. Here in Ireland (& IME UK), credit cards are accepted in many, many point of sales/retailers. But they might only accept chip and pin credit cards, which I believe are uncommon the USA.
- joelhaasnoot 15y ago
  In the Netherlands very few stores accept credit cards, most accept just the dutch "PIN" and "Maestro" (=EMV). Not many people in the Netherlands have a credit card. Vice-versa however, I was able to pay at WalMarts in the US with my Dutch debit card with no issues (once I hit the right button, it's confusing).
wlievens 15y ago
Most stores and restaurants acecpt VISA in Belgium, and our banking system works as described above.
furyg3 15y ago
About the charges, you're correct. I originally thought that this practice was a violation of the merchant's agreement... but I was wrong: http://www.pin.nl/en-US/Zakelijk/Pages/Veelgesteldevragen.aspx#kosten_3 http://www.pin.nl/en-US/Zakelijk/Pages/Veelgesteldevragen.as... Still, it occurs infrequently. About the credit card acceptance: Good! Most Dutch people have a healthy and rational fear of credit card debt, and the fact that you can't use your Visa to buy groceries encourages good consumer behavior. Sad if you're a tourist, but easily solved by taking out some cash from the ATM which, on this side at least, is free! :)

rmc 15y ago

For (small) business with not enough transactions, accepting debit cards is an expense Here in Ireland it's not uncommon for shops to insist on cash only for amounts less than €10 (except in some extrenuation circumstances (like the ATM in their shop being broken)). Credit card acceptance is very very low. That has definitly not been my experience. Perhaps you are thinking of chip-and-pin credit cards. Here in Ireland (& IME UK), credit cards are accepted in many, many point of sales/retailers. But they might only accept chip and pin credit cards, which I believe are uncommon the USA.

joelhaasnoot 15y ago
In the Netherlands very few stores accept credit cards, most accept just the dutch "PIN" and "Maestro" (=EMV). Not many people in the Netherlands have a credit card. Vice-versa however, I was able to pay at WalMarts in the US with my Dutch debit card with no issues (once I hit the right button, it's confusing).

wlievens 15y ago

Most stores and restaurants acecpt VISA in Belgium, and our banking system works as described above.

furyg3 15y ago

About the charges, you're correct. I originally thought that this practice was a violation of the merchant's agreement... but I was wrong: http://www.pin.nl/en-US/Zakelijk/Pages/Veelgesteldevragen.aspx#kosten_3 http://www.pin.nl/en-US/Zakelijk/Pages/Veelgesteldevragen.as... Still, it occurs infrequently. About the credit card acceptance: Good! Most Dutch people have a healthy and rational fear of credit card debt, and the fact that you can't use your Visa to buy groceries encourages good consumer behavior. Sad if you're a tourist, but easily solved by taking out some cash from the ATM which, on this side at least, is free! :)