billybovine
Active member
Canadian and US credit cards, payment systems and how they are different.
For those of you that have traveled recently across the Canadian/US border, there will be nothing new here. I thought this would be helpful for those that have not done so recently and are planning to. I am not an expert on this topic but sharing my experience and what I have read.
Canadians going to the USA
In the US almost all transactions are done using the magnetic strip on the back of the card and signature on the slip. Not chip and pin like we do here. Basically it’s just like we did in Canada 5 or 6 years ago. So depending on how and where you use your card now. You may never use the magnetic strip anymore. Make sure it works before you go and the back of the card is signed.
At many gas pumps you are asked to enter your Zip Code. There is a conversion formula for Canadians. Take your 6 digit postal code, strip out the 3 letters and add 2 zeros to the end. For example if your postal code happened to be N5A 9K3. For this example, remove the letters leaves 593. Add 2 zeros to the end leaves a zip code of 59300. This worked at every pump I tried, but I have read that it sometimes does not work.
For the most part where you would expect to use the Tap and Go feature, it does not work. I tried it at a McDonalds and it worked there. What they have instead is swipe and go. That works just as well.
Americans coming to Canada
Canada has moved on with the rest of the world in credit card technology but don’t worry your cards will work here. So come and visit we are happy to have you. All manned payment terminal have a magnetic strip reader. The process will be exactly the same as you are used too. Swipe the card, sign the slip. Where you will have an issue is at automated payment terminals, example pay at the pump. Most will only accept a chip and pin smart card. So you will have to go inside to pay.
I am reading that the US will be going to smart credit cards in October of 2015. I would expect if you recently got a new credit card. It will be a smart card with a chip on it. In that case I would think you could contact the issuer, activate the chip feature and set up a pin number. That way your credit card will work seamlessly in Canada.
I hope this will be helpful.
For those of you that have traveled recently across the Canadian/US border, there will be nothing new here. I thought this would be helpful for those that have not done so recently and are planning to. I am not an expert on this topic but sharing my experience and what I have read.
Canadians going to the USA
In the US almost all transactions are done using the magnetic strip on the back of the card and signature on the slip. Not chip and pin like we do here. Basically it’s just like we did in Canada 5 or 6 years ago. So depending on how and where you use your card now. You may never use the magnetic strip anymore. Make sure it works before you go and the back of the card is signed.
At many gas pumps you are asked to enter your Zip Code. There is a conversion formula for Canadians. Take your 6 digit postal code, strip out the 3 letters and add 2 zeros to the end. For example if your postal code happened to be N5A 9K3. For this example, remove the letters leaves 593. Add 2 zeros to the end leaves a zip code of 59300. This worked at every pump I tried, but I have read that it sometimes does not work.
For the most part where you would expect to use the Tap and Go feature, it does not work. I tried it at a McDonalds and it worked there. What they have instead is swipe and go. That works just as well.
Americans coming to Canada
Canada has moved on with the rest of the world in credit card technology but don’t worry your cards will work here. So come and visit we are happy to have you. All manned payment terminal have a magnetic strip reader. The process will be exactly the same as you are used too. Swipe the card, sign the slip. Where you will have an issue is at automated payment terminals, example pay at the pump. Most will only accept a chip and pin smart card. So you will have to go inside to pay.
I am reading that the US will be going to smart credit cards in October of 2015. I would expect if you recently got a new credit card. It will be a smart card with a chip on it. In that case I would think you could contact the issuer, activate the chip feature and set up a pin number. That way your credit card will work seamlessly in Canada.
I hope this will be helpful.
