U.S. credit cards in Canada

Our Credit Union Visa cards (Debit/Credit) work just fine in Canada.

There was a separate listing on our statement for the International transaction. It was 1% for our card. Don't mind paying 1% for the convenience. There were not any other fees or charges. It was a little difficult to balance the checkbook because of the fee and the exchange rate.

Looking forward to the USA getting the chipped cards. We are so behind.

oilslick wrote:
About 12-14 years ago, together American Express, CIBC and Costco had a chipped card that was the first one introduced in Canada, they kept it for a few years until CIBC and American express tore up their agreement. American Express and Costco's replacement card was non chipped card and still is, a step backwards.

??? My AMEX is chipped. Has been for a couple of years.

I had a problem with the chipped card one time. I had a chip on my credit card and also a debit card. When I bought gas by tapping it read the wrong chip so I didn't get my gas discount and also took out more than I planned from the debit acct.

Tap and go sounds like the new Disney Magic bands. They will get you into the park, open your hotel room door, pay for park purchases, get you fast passes,etc. still have to use a PIN number for purchases though. I have a Mobil Oil fast pass button on my key ring that allows me to purchase fuel and it adds it to my credit card on file with Mobil.

Makes a person wonder wher money handling will be in ten years.

About 12-14 years ago, together American Express, CIBC and Costco had a chipped card that was the first one introduced in Canada, they kept it for a few years until CIBC and American express tore up their agreement. American Express and Costco's replacement card was non chipped card and still is, a step backwards.

Nothing new here. We know it as "Tap And Go" ..... but it has a very low transaction limit. If the bill is over $50 or so it requires you to use the chip card and pin. Pretty useless.

it is ''Tap and Go'' here as well, but good up to $100

JackD wrote:
Magnetic strip is being phased out, the chip is already being replaced by the new ''Flash Card''
best thing since sliced bread;

CHECK THIS OUT

Nothing new here. We know it as "Tap And Go" ..... but it has a very low transaction limit. If the bill is over $50 or so it requires you to use the chip card and pin. Pretty useless.

Orion wrote:

When I receive my bill it showed a favorable exchange rate and no fees.

Fair enough! As I did say, no separate fee will appear on your visa bill, but if you did compare the rate used on your visa bill with the SELLING rate your bank used on the same day for other items, and they were the same, then the 'fee' is not hidden in the visa exchange rate.

Your US banks must be more honest than our Canadian ones! I've never been able to get a bank rate of exchange using Visa, there is always a little bit taken by Visa or the bank!

When I receive my bill it showed a favorable exchange rate and no fees.

Fair enough! As I did say, no separate fee will appear on your visa bill, but if you did compare the rate used on your visa bill with the SELLING rate your bank used on the same day for other items, and they were the same, then the 'fee' is not hidden in the visa exchange rate.

I'm always surprised how the US is behind the times in money transactions considering they have more money than anyone else. We've been using the chip for years up here.

All the places I've seen have machines that read chips and strips and you should be ok up here for a while yet.