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Credit card use in Mexico

lgreenspan

TUG Review Crew
TUG Member
Joined
Jul 19, 2005
Messages
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Location
Ohio
Resorts Owned
Resort On Cocoa Beach , Sedona Springs , Marriott Grand Chatuea
How safe do you feel using a Credit card in Mexico? At what establishments will you use a credit card?
 
Do it all the time, resort, big box stores, online reservations, local restaurants, etc. and never had a problem. Only thing I do is make sure the charge is in Pesos so I get the bank exchange rate instead of some ridiculous corporate rate.

Cheers
 
I always prefer to use a credit card since you will end up getting the best exchange rate and you can save your pesos for tips or places that don't take credit cards. You can also earn rewards depending on the card you use. I have several cards that don't charge a foreign transaction fee. I use one particular card for any charges at stores or restaurants and have alerts set up for all charges. If there is fraud, I will see it right away and then can cancel the cards and use a different one. I normally go to Mexico at least twice a year and have been going since 2007. I've never had any fraud on any of these cards. I do try and keep an eye on the card after I hand it to someone. Most of the restaurants I've eaten at in Mexico now have the hand held devices and they run the transaction right at the table so you can watch.
 
I've never understood why people are afraid of having their credit card stolen or fraudulent charges. It's happened a few times to me over the 40+ years I've had a credit card, and each time all it took was a single phone call and *poof* everything was taken care of. I've never been out a single penny.

With that said, I don't think there is any more or less credit card fraud in Mexico than there is anywhere else. In fact, all of the times it has happened to me, I was in the US. The only "cautions" to take when using a CC in a foreign country is to use a CC w/ no foreign transaction fee, always have the merchant run the charge in local currency, and bring a backup CC stored in your luggage in case you do happen to lose it or have the CC flagged for fraudulent charges.

Kurt
 
We only use our credit cards at the resort and large stores like Costco, Mega and Walmart. I use the Amex for car rental. I never use credit cards at a gas station, restaurant, bar, for activities or any oxxo type store. In the past, occasionally our card was declined at the check out and we had to call the bank. Supposedly, with these new chips it isn't a problem to use the card anywhere. If you can tap and pay it's a chip.

Bill
 
It probably isn't any worse than in the US. We just had a fraudulent charge of about $60 for Domino's pizza, which we never buy. My DW keeps track of charges and once identified I called Chase and reported it. They cancelled the card and shipped a new one to within 2 business days. So, you just never know. Keep on eye on your account.

Best regards.

Mike
 
I use a credit card everywhere for everything as I dislike carrying cash be it dollars, pesos or yen. You get the point. In many cases I won't eat at a restaurant if it is cash only. Cash only places make me think they aren't reporting their true income for tax purposes. Just my pet peeve. And when it comes to buying merchandise or art that I want to have shipped home I always pay with a credit card in case there is any breakage or other product issues.

I find some countries like Guatemala, Honduras, and remote parts of Mexico are more reliant on cash transactions. In those cases I go with the flow, but it is annoying to have to manage and calculate currency - IMO.

Currency for tipping is sadly still required. However, I have seen a growth in electronic tipping and expect that option to expand. We will see.

As stated above, make sure you use a card that has no foreign transaction fees. Also, mentioned above, credit cards are the best for any dispute or problem that arises. When cash is stolen it is gone. When a card is used fraudulently the consumer is protected.
 
The good thing about most restaurants in Mexico is that they will bring a handheld device to your table to run your card, so your credit card doesn't necessarily leave your sight. This is more reassuring as no one can skim the card while it is away from the table. So there is little concern about fraud when using a credit card at restaurants in Mexico. Honestly, they need to do this at US restaurants.
 
The good thing about most restaurants in Mexico is that they will bring a handheld device to your table to run your card, so your credit card doesn't necessarily leave your sight. This is more reassuring as no one can skim the card while it is away from the table. So there is little concern about fraud when using a credit card at restaurants in Mexico. Honestly, they need to do this at US restaurants.
That is happening at more and more restaurants now in San Francisco. It is so much easier/safer for everyone.
 
That is happening at more and more restaurants now in San Francisco. It is so much easier/safer for everyone.
I've only seen it at the big chains like Darden, where they have the Ziosk like terminals on the table.
 
I always look at it this way. If I lose cash I am out that money. If someone steals my credit card I am out nothing. The bank takes care of it with nothing more than a phone call and maybe a letter I have to sign and return. Credit Card is way less risky for me!
 
I've only seen it at the big chains like Darden, where they have the Ziosk like terminals on the table.

It is definitely becoming more common- even at non-chain restaurants. I would say that last 5 times I have been out to eat I have paid table side with an iPad or handheld device 4/5 times. BJ's still took my card and ran it an then returned with it.
 
It is definitely becoming more common- even at non-chain restaurants. I would say that last 5 times I have been out to eat I have paid table side with an iPad or handheld device 4/5 times. BJ's still took my card and ran it an then returned with it.
This is certainly good news, I hope it catches on with more restaurants. No one should be walking off with your credit card in this day and age.
 
What really needs to happen is no card number info including expiration or cvv visible on the card, for example how the Apple credit card is. If I need to access that information (for example, to input my number while online shopping) I can just open the app.
 
What really needs to happen is no card number info including expiration or cvv visible on the card, for example how the Apple credit card is. If I need to access that information (for example, to input my number while online shopping) I can just open the app.

And how does one access that info if they don't have an App, or even a smartphone? Sounds like an accessibility nightmare to me.
 
And how does one access that info if they don't have an App, or even a smartphone? Sounds like an accessibility nightmare to me.
I don’t know anyone without a smartphone these days. As of 2020, smartphone adoption is 86 percent among Americans age 50 to 59 and 81 percent for those 60 to 69. If you are one of those that fall outside that vast majority, then you should keep your card information on your card. For the majority of US consumers, especially non-boomers, there is no reason to have your card information on the card and it is more secure to not have it.
 
What really needs to happen is no card number info including expiration or cvv visible on the card, for example how the Apple credit card is. If I need to access that information (for example, to input my number while online shopping) I can just open the app.
Information can be skimmed from other places than just the physical information printed on the card. Card skimmers can get it from the magnetic strip and there have always been concerns about RFID and why people have RFID blocking sleeves.
 
Information can be skimmed from other places than just the physical information printed on the card. Card skimmers can get it from the magnetic strip and there have always been concerns about RFID and why people have RFID blocking sleeves.
You are right about card cloning. But card cloning is for in person use. Keeping your card number private prevents fraud from online or over the phone purchases.
 
I don’t know anyone without a smartphone these days. As of 2020, smartphone adoption is 86 percent among Americans age 50 to 59 and 81 percent for those 60 to 69. If you are one of those that fall outside that vast majority, then you should keep your card information on your card. For the majority of US consumers, especially non-boomers, there is no reason to have your card information on the card and it is more secure to not have it.

I'm a non-Boomer and have a smartphone, but I have no interest in having to open an app every time i want to use my credit card. And the larger point remains Card Issuers have to comply with accessibility regs and requiring App usage to use a credit card would never pass muster.
 
I'm a non-Boomer and have a smartphone, but I have no interest in having to open an app every time i want to use my credit card. And the larger point remains Card Issuers have to comply with accessibility regs and requiring App usage to use a credit card would never pass muster.
You might have misunderstood. You only need to open the app if you need to access your actual card number. You don’t need to do this for in person purchases. You also don’t need to do it for online purchases where your card information is stored, for example Amazon, your utility companies, etc. In reality, you most likely would only need to do this for over the phone purchases or online purchases from somewhere you don’t typically shop.

I’m not sure why you have such resistance to this. People should have the option to keep their card number private and card companies should enable that. If you want your card info visible to whoever you hand it to, you should be able to do so.

It is also worth mentioning, you can write down your card info and keep it separate from your card. That way, in the increasingly limited circumstances that you need your actual card number, you can access it without opening an app on your smartphone if that js too burdensome for you. But the point is you still can keep your card number private when you hand your physical card to someone.
 
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You might have misunderstood. You only need to open the app if you need to access your actual card number. You don’t need to do this for in person purchases. You also don’t need to do it for online purchases where your card information is stored, for example Amazon, your utility companies, etc. In reality, you most likely would only need to do this for over the phone purchases or online purchases from somewhere you don’t typically shop.

I’m not sure why you have such resistance to this. People should have the option to keep their card number private and card companies should enable that. If you want your card info visible to whoever you hand it to, you should be able to do so.

Back to my point about someone stealing my card number- doesn't cost me a dime. So yeah I don't card if someone I hand my card to can read the number or not.

The vast vast majority of credit card fraud occurs because of data breaches- not skimmers or people jotting down info printed on a physical card. That type of fraud is a drop in the bucket.
 
Back to my point about someone stealing my card number- doesn't cost me a dime. So yeah I don't card if someone I hand my card to can read the number or not.
Your point doesn’t apply to debit cards. But mine does.

The simple reality is, it is more secure to not have your card numbers on your physical cards. Period. Whether that added layer of security is worth it to you is consumer preference.
 
Banks aren't going to print some cards with numbers and some without unless they determine there is a cost savings to them to do so. Right now it seems to be cheaper and easier to just pass the added costs of fraud off on to merchants and consumers. Banks don't won't make the change until there is a benefit to them.
 
Your point doesn’t apply to debit cards. But mine does.

The simple reality is, it is more secure to not have your card numbers on your physical cards. Period. Whether that added layer of security is worth it to you is consumer preference.

I do not use debit cards. Credit cards are much more secure. The only reason I even have a debit card is to withdraw money at the ATM on rare occasions I need cash for something.
 
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