Credit cards vs new smart cards
Does anyone know if Colombia if/when they'll upgrade to the new credit card technology? Has anybody run into this yet? The article says Brazil and Mexico are upgrading, and considering the credit card theft/scam problems in Colombia (and other countries), it would seem logical for Colombia to follow. Sounds like USA will lag behind.
[quote]Americans abroad run into trouble using credit cards
By Roger Yu, USA TODAY
Americans are increasingly facing difficulty using their credit cards abroad.
Chief culprit? Different technology standards.
U.S.-issued cards still have magnetic strips. More cards abroad are issued with encrypted microprocessor chips, and shops and businesses have adjusted the payment process to the varying standard, says Jack Jania of Gemalto, which develops chip cards.
The chip cards — called chip-and-PIN cards because users must enter their personal identification number — are "being deployed everywhere else," he says.
According to trade group Smart Card Alliance, 22 countries are migrating to the chip-and-PIN standard, including many in Western Europe, China, India, Japan, Mexico, Canada and Brazil. They're embracing the new technology because it's more secure than using magnetic strips, Jania says.
In a 2009 survey, consulting firm Aite Group concluded that the majority of U.S. credit and debit card holders had experienced some difficulty using their cards abroad.
Tom Griffin, a book editor at Rick Steves' Europe Through the Back Door, a website and publisher of travel books, says the issue is frequently discussed in his company's online forum. "It's getting worse."
Griffin experienced the difficulty when he visited his daughter, Emily, who lives in France. When he stopped at an automated gas station on a Sunday — many gas stations are closed on Sunday in France — he found the pump wouldn't accept his credit card. "Fortunately, my daughter's credit card worked," he says. "And I gave her the cash."
The problem is particularly acute at automated kiosks in Europe, such as the vending machines at regional rail stations and bicycle rental racks in Paris, parking meters in parts of London, toll roads and gas stations, all of which accept only chip-and-PIN cards. And the problem could get worse. More unattended pay stations are appearing in Europe.
Visa says most payment terminals in countries that have adopted chip-payment technology can still process U.S. cards. Visa advises American travelers to present their cards to attendants "in the rare instance that a card holder encounters a problem" at self-service machines.
Jania agrees but says European sales clerks are more accustomed to chip-and-PIN cards and often don't know how to process other types. "You have to argue with them to use the card," he says.
It's difficult for U.S. financial institutions to switch to the chip-and-PIN standard because they've invested heavily in the old technology. It'd cost the industry about $8.6 billion to convert, says consulting firm Javelin Strategy & Research.
Wal-Mart, however, is acknowledging more foreign visitors to the U.S. and the chip's international appeal. The retail giant is changing its payment system to begin accepting chip-and-PIN cards.
What should Americans do abroad? "Watch out and use cash," Griffin says.[/quote]
Do You Have to be Wealthy To Monger?
Sometimes I wonder if all mongers are wealthy. Let us be honest, between taking flights, booking hotels, cabs, food, tips, drinks, and having sex with your pro-non pro favoritas, I mean that adds up and require large amount of money every trip.
So how much money you guys make, and are all of you wealthy? As for me, I live on a limited monthly salary just little under $2000 a month. I save as much as I can and try to go out twice a year, I have been to Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Mexico, Ecuador, Panama and would love to travel a lot more than my budget can afford.
I remember a while ago one member wrote very eloquently about being a Kmart monger type, he was very entertaining but did make some sense in a way. I am not wealthy by all means as you know from my measly income, but when I go out, I try my best to maximize my pleasure without taking away from quality.
Not wealthy,but careful ( sometimes)
[QUOTE=Viajero]Sometimes I wonder if all mongers are wealthy. Let us be honest, between taking flights, booking hotels, cabs, food, tips, drinks, and having sex with your pro-non pro favoritas, I mean that adds up and require large amount of money every trip.
So how much money you guys make, and are all of you wealthy? As for me, I live on a limited monthly salary just little under $2000 a month. I save as much as I can and try to go out twice a year, I have been to Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Mexico, Ecuador, Panama and would love to travel a lot more than my budget can afford.
I remember a while ago one member wrote very eloquently about being a Kmart monger type, he was very entertaining but did make some sense in a way. I am not wealthy by all means as you know from my measly income, but when I go out, I try my best to maximize my pleasure without taking away from quality.[/QUOTE]First off I give you credit for beiing able to monger at all on your income. It is wise that you save money to monger as most of the money that you would spend in your country would not give you the pleasure you would get on a mongering trip.
Yes it gets expensive for even a budget monger. I try to keep costs down by staying in budget hotels or apts. I also wait for discount airline tickets. I don't take the high end girls but instead hunt for a gem in a more less costly setting. In MDE I rarely take a taxi. I use the Metro and I love to walk so that is a savings. When I find a good one I cut out the middle man ( stripclub or casa boss} and get them to my digs for better action and a more happy girl as she now does not have to share her fee with the house man. Also the drinks in my place are way less costly then in a bar or casa.
Good luck and keep pluging.