"1506" wrote in message
...

Indeed, currently, I am still adjusting to the changes in the UK
during my absence. The first time I tried to use a chip and pin debit
card was embarrassing. It was at Victoria Station and I kept removing
the card too soon.

There have been differences in credit card handling between the US and
Europe for many years, but the nature of the differences has changed. When
I first visited the US I had a struggle to convince some retailers that my
Access card, as it was then still branded, could be accepted as a
Mastercard. On recent visits it's been a surprise to find that PINs still
aren't used when paying by credit card.

Relevant to urban transit - if way off-topic for the thread - I was also
intrigued by ticket machines on the New York subway, which would accept my
credit card to buy two one-day passes, but no more. They were clearly
programmed to accept a maximum of two transactions in quick succession using
the same card, and I couldn't find a way to buy four cards in a single
transaction

Martin