Using an American credit card at Southampton train station

[FamilyVacation2012]

The folks at CrossCountry Trains insist I will be able to use an American credit card (with a magnetic strip but not an EMV chip) to retrieve pre-paid tickets from the machines at the Southampton train station. I've read that at least for purchases, vending machines in the UK require a card with a chip and pin. Any advice? Thank you.

[Cubechick]

The folks at CrossCountry Trains insist I will be able to use an American credit card (with a magnetic strip but not an EMV chip) to retrieve pre-paid tickets from the machines at the Southampton train station. I've read that at least for purchases, vending machines in the UK require a card with a chip and pin. Any advice? Thank you.

 

I've used my regular credit card at machines all over London without a problem.

 

I think you should be okay.

[Artemis]

We had no trouble with the train tix machines at Gatwick for our journey to Southampton...I realize you prefer to hear about picking up tix at Southampton!

 

We *did* have a few instances of Chip & PIN problems at other places in the UK and Europe. You can now purchase a preloaded Chip & PIN card at big airports, or online pre-trip if you have time, see, e.g., http://www.travelex.com/US/For-Individuals/Cash-Passport/Cash-Passport/ Hmmm, I note Travelex has a US retail locator on that website so you may be able to find a place near your home to do it in person if you prefer. I would not put too much on it because of the bad currency exchange rate! But it might make you feel better to arrive with just enough to cover the train tix in the event the Southampton machine doesn't like your card.

 

Have a great trip!

[southwestie]

I see this so often, dont worry about it, your card is fine, it will work, if something did happen, and I am sure it wont, take your card into the ticket office and they can do it for you there

[ToadOfToadHall]

I'm trying to recall, but as far as I can visualise, UK Chip & Pin readers also have a magnetic strip reader as well. So I'd guess that a machine where you insert the entire card will still be able to read the strip if you card does not have the chip thing.

 

I know a couple of years ago in NY I wondered if my C&P was going to work; but they swiped it and I had to sign !! How quaint :)

 

I'm sure it will work fine.

[sddsddean]

Don't forget to phone your card company and tell them you will be in Europe. Its not unknown for US cards to be 'blocked' because they are out of the US and it can be a right pain...especially when you are trying to catch a train!!

 

Simon

[srpilo]

Personal experience... Our cards did not work with the machines, but the attendents are aware of it, so one of them escorted me inside the station to the internal ticket offfice where they hand ran my card through the normal credit card terminal and then processed our tickets, and then I exited the station picked up my wife and luggage and reentered the station with our tickets.

 

 

Once again this was my actual personal experience at the Southampton station

Srpilo

[SwissDave]

One thing to be aware of ..... if you have prebooked your tickets online and are just using the machine to collect the tickets using the reference number on the confirmation, you need to have the credit card that was used to book the tickets. You need to insert the card and enter the booking number to get your tickets. This is to prevent someone else from collecting and using your tickets should they manage to get hold of the booking ref.

 

If the card you booked online with does not work in the machine (if it is a chip only machine) then you need to take the card and a copy of your booking receipt, not just the booking number, to the ticket counter and they will process it for you, although some stations really dont like doing it.

[onthelake]

Personal experience... Our cards did not work with the machines, but the attendents are aware of it, so one of them escorted me inside the station to the internal ticket offfice where they hand ran my card through the normal credit card terminal and then processed our tickets, and then I exited the station picked up my wife and luggage and reentered the station with our tickets.

 

 

Once again this was my actual personal experience at the Southampton station

Srpilo

 

I had the same experience. There was some discussion with the agents because they did think the problem was that the machine was not working properly - not the card. I was escorted to the office and the tickets were processed quickly. I was glad I had purchased in advance. This was Nov. 2011.