Cashback Cards & Foreign Transactions

[ChargedUp]

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@Taurus22 wrote:

@ChargedUp   Hmmm, I wonder if that is an Amex-specific thing, or Gold-specific?  Given what you've said about misc. coding, maybe overall it would mean general Non-Category would be the best bet...

So, for travel purposes, make sure your non-category is FTF.  Check. 

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Being that Amex has control of their own network, they can get their own coding kinks worked out on a global scale. For Chase, USB, Citi, et. all to do this would require indepth cooperation with Visa and MC to straighten merchant coding irregularities. I'm fairly certain what codes as a restaurant on Gold would code the same on any card using the Amex network. Gold just happens to be no FTF and have a dining bonus category.

[staticvoidmain]

In most cases, if it does not say anything "US" specific (like US Supermarkets and US Gas Stations), then they will do cashback. All my cards have no FTF and they give me the full cashback.

[NRB525]

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@Taurus22 wrote:

@ChargedUp   Hmmm, I wonder if that is an Amex-specific thing, or Gold-specific?  Given what you've said about misc. coding, maybe overall it would mean general Non-Category would be the best bet...

So, for travel purposes, make sure your non-category is FTF.  Check. 

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The AMEX Gold situation is a bit unique as they used to clearly market it as "US Restaurants" to get an added point ( as PRG) or added 3 points ( after the refresh), until just two years ago when they expanded / changed it to "Restaurants Worldwide".  

You'll note the AMEX Gold marketing still clearly states "US Grocery stores" for the 3 extra points. 

I specify "extra points" because you almost always get the base rewards on all cards, even on international purchases. I use "almost always" in case anyone has a "gotcha!" from Marx Brothers Bank that has no FTF, but zero rewards on the Groucho Card internationally. 

[MrT_521]

We are expats living in Africa. We have a couple no AF flat cashback credit cards that work as expected. We also use a few premium Chase and Citi cards that have category rewards.

These cards are CSR, Citi Premier, and Citi Prestige. The CSR codes as expected for the most part. Citi is a different story. It seems that they mostly code as some generic category that does not get bonus points. The cashback for all cards work though.

[Anonymous]

[Edited] The other consideration, aside from FTF, is to get a card that supports "chip and PIN" technology, the standard in the rest of the world, if possible.

[NRB525]

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@Anonymous wrote:

The other consideration, aside from FTF, is to get a card that supports "chip and PIN" technology, the standard in the rest of the world. While cards from major banks should all generally support "chip and PIN," the same may not necessarily be true of cards issued by smaller/niche issuers.

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The banks issuing true Chip+PIN cards in the US can be counted on one hand and as far as I know are Credit Unions with international focus such as State Department FCU meaning niche financial institutions. No major US banks have Chip+PIN.
 
Nearly all chip cards issued in the US are Chip + signature. 

[coldfusion]

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@NRB525 wrote:

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@Anonymous wrote:

The other consideration, aside from FTF, is to get a card that supports "chip and PIN" technology, the standard in the rest of the world. While cards from major banks should all generally support "chip and PIN," the same may not necessarily be true of cards issued by smaller/niche issuers.

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The banks issuing true Chip+PIN cards in the US can be counted on one hand and as far as I know are Credit Unions with international focus such as State Department FCU meaning niche financial institutions. No major US banks have Chip+PIN.
 
Nearly all chip cards issued in the US are Chip + signature. 

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You're correct.  There were (are) a couple of outliers like IIRC the Target Mastercard that were issued by banks but in general if you wanted chip+pin you had to go through one of a handful of credit unions like (from memory) UNFCU, SDFCU, and First Tech.   Andrews FCU may still show up on lists but I know had stopped offering them.

With increased availability and use of contactless cards worldwide the need for chip+pin priority has been diminishing.

[Anonymous]

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@coldfusion wrote:

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With increased availability and use of contactless cards worldwide the need for chip+pin priority has been diminishing.

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True, but still amusing to realize how far behind the US is.    I was speaking to a mid-20s person in the UK, and she was recalling how during her last trip to the US she was using her credit card "And it asked for a signature!!!!"  Thirty years ago this was standard in the UK too, but she has grown up without it....

[Anonymous]

What's a "true" chip-and-PIN card? My Citizens Bank Cash Back Plus World Mastercard specifically allowed me to request a PIN for use in "chip-and-PIN" transactions.

I haven't traveled internationally since getting the Cash Back Plus but I assume that PIN qualifies as a "true" "chip-and-PIN" PIN?

[Anonymous]

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@Anonymous wrote:

What's a "true" chip-and-PIN card? My Citizens Bank Cash Back Plus World Mastercard specifically allowed me to request a PIN for use in "chip-and-PIN" transactions.

I haven't traveled internationally since getting the Cash Back Plus but I assume that PIN qualifies as a "true" "chip-and-PIN" PIN?

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In this context, "true" means PIN priority, which the Citizens isn't.   If you go to a place with a chip&pin enabled terminal and use your card, you will probably still be asked for a signature (which, if outside of a US tourist area, will often confuse the clerk as they don't see that usually).   The card prefers signature and will negotiate that wherever possible.  The PIN MIGHT be useful for unattended terminals, where they don't allow signatures anyway.