Using a Payment App

Europe is speeding ahead with payment apps such as Apple Pay, Google Pay, and PayPal.
Instead of inserting your credit card into a machine, you hold your
phone near a contactless reader (look for a Wi-Fi-like logo). The app
then uses your fingerprint — or even your face — to verify your identity
and authorize the payment. While this may sound risky, it's actually
more secure than a credit card. Instead of recording your credit card
number, a "token" — a one-time encrypted number — is used to make the
purchase, and expires shortly afterward. And you don't have to worry
about curious eyes watching you as you enter a PIN.

Some public transit systems, such as the London Underground, have
integrated their payment machines with mobile-phone apps, making riding
the bus or taking the subway even easier.

But banks in some countries — such as Germany and the Netherlands —
may be slow to adopt these systems, and older phones may not support
contactless payments, so it's not time give up on plastic yet.

Dynamic Currency Conversion: Just Say No

Some European merchants and hoteliers — capitalizing on the fact that
some Americans are intimidated by unusual currencies — cheerfully
charge you for converting your purchase price into dollars. If it's
offered, refuse this "service" (called "dynamic currency conversion," or
DCC). You'll pay extra for the expensive convenience of seeing your
charge in dollars. The price is usually based on a lousy exchange rate
set by the merchant's bank — and even though you're paying in "dollars,"
your credit-card issuer may still levy its standard foreign-transaction
fee.

DCC charges are common all over Europe; in some countries major banks
require merchants to offer it. If you're handed a receipt with two
totals — one in the local currency and the other in US dollars — circle
the amount in the local currency before you sign.

According to Visa and MasterCard, consumers have the right to decline
DCC service: If your receipt shows the total in dollars only, ask that
it be rung up again in the local currency. If the merchant refuses to
run the charge again, pay in cash, or mark the receipt "local currency
not offered" and warn the clerk that you will be disputing the charges
with your bank.

Some ATM machines also offer DCC, often in purposefully confusing or
misleading terms. If an ATM offers to "lock in" or "guarantee" your
conversion rate, choose "proceed without conversion." Other prompts
might state, "You can be charged in dollars: Press YES for dollars, NO
for euros." Always choose the local currency.

================================

Using a Payment App

Europe is speeding ahead with payment apps such as Apple Pay, Google Pay, and PayPal.
Instead of inserting your credit card into a machine, you hold your
phone near a contactless reader (look for a Wi-Fi-like logo). The app
then uses your fingerprint — or even your face — to verify your identity
and authorize the payment. While this may sound risky, it's actually
more secure than a credit card. Instead of recording your credit card
number, a "token" — a one-time encrypted number — is used to make the
purchase, and expires shortly afterward. And you don't have to worry
about curious eyes watching you as you enter a PIN.

Some public transit systems, such as the London Underground, have
integrated their payment machines with mobile-phone apps, making riding
the bus or taking the subway even easier.

But banks in some countries — such as Germany and the Netherlands —
may be slow to adopt these systems, and older phones may not support
contactless payments, so it's not time give up on plastic yet.

Dynamic Currency Conversion: Just Say No

Some European merchants and hoteliers — capitalizing on the fact that
some Americans are intimidated by unusual currencies — cheerfully
charge you for converting your purchase price into dollars. If it's
offered, refuse this "service" (called "dynamic currency conversion," or
DCC). You'll pay extra for the expensive convenience of seeing your
charge in dollars. The price is usually based on a lousy exchange rate
set by the merchant's bank — and even though you're paying in "dollars,"
your credit-card issuer may still levy its standard foreign-transaction
fee.

DCC charges are common all over Europe; in some countries major banks
require merchants to offer it. If you're handed a receipt with two
totals — one in the local currency and the other in US dollars — circle
the amount in the local currency before you sign.

According to Visa and MasterCard, consumers have the right to decline
DCC service: If your receipt shows the total in dollars only, ask that
it be rung up again in the local currency. If the merchant refuses to
run the charge again, pay in cash, or mark the receipt "local currency
not offered" and warn the clerk that you will be disputing the charges
with your bank.

Some ATM machines also offer DCC, often in purposefully confusing or
misleading terms. If an ATM offers to "lock in" or "guarantee" your
conversion rate, choose "proceed without conversion." Other prompts
might state, "You can be charged in dollars: Press YES for dollars, NO
for euros." Always choose the local currency.

================================

Using a Payment App

Europe is speeding ahead with payment apps such as Apple Pay, Google Pay, and PayPal.
Instead of inserting your credit card into a machine, you hold your
phone near a contactless reader (look for a Wi-Fi-like logo). The app
then uses your fingerprint — or even your face — to verify your identity
and authorize the payment. While this may sound risky, it's actually
more secure than a credit card. Instead of recording your credit card
number, a "token" — a one-time encrypted number — is used to make the
purchase, and expires shortly afterward. And you don't have to worry
about curious eyes watching you as you enter a PIN.

Some public transit systems, such as the London Underground, have
integrated their payment machines with mobile-phone apps, making riding
the bus or taking the subway even easier.

But banks in some countries — such as Germany and the Netherlands —
may be slow to adopt these systems, and older phones may not support
contactless payments, so it's not time give up on plastic yet.

Dynamic Currency Conversion: Just Say No

Some European merchants and hoteliers — capitalizing on the fact that
some Americans are intimidated by unusual currencies — cheerfully
charge you for converting your purchase price into dollars. If it's
offered, refuse this "service" (called "dynamic currency conversion," or
DCC). You'll pay extra for the expensive convenience of seeing your
charge in dollars. The price is usually based on a lousy exchange rate
set by the merchant's bank — and even though you're paying in "dollars,"
your credit-card issuer may still levy its standard foreign-transaction
fee.

DCC charges are common all over Europe; in some countries major banks
require merchants to offer it. If you're handed a receipt with two
totals — one in the local currency and the other in US dollars — circle
the amount in the local currency before you sign.

According to Visa and MasterCard, consumers have the right to decline
DCC service: If your receipt shows the total in dollars only, ask that
it be rung up again in the local currency. If the merchant refuses to
run the charge again, pay in cash, or mark the receipt "local currency
not offered" and warn the clerk that you will be disputing the charges
with your bank.

Some ATM machines also offer DCC, often in purposefully confusing or
misleading terms. If an ATM offers to "lock in" or "guarantee" your
conversion rate, choose "proceed without conversion." Other prompts
might state, "You can be charged in dollars: Press YES for dollars, NO
for euros." Always choose the local currency.

================================