Paying for diesel in France

[Bluemac]

Heather (swmbo) and I are heading off to Cherbourg in two weeks for our first channel crossing, courtesy of MBM's 'Shakedown' Cruise. That is providing our boat is finally ready, as the engineer has been working on her since January and has had to wait an eternity for her to be lifted out to do the 'underneath' bits, due to the chaos that seems to be reigning in the Brighton Marina boatyard at present.

Anyway, the question is, will we be able to use a Visa card to pay for the fuel in France, as something in the back of my mind says that I read somewhere that there is a problem with this in French marinas? If so, is cash the only alternative?

 

[DAKA]

Visa should be OK in France but you will find it helpful to have a' CHIP AND PIN ' ID.
That said I would not go to France without at least one 'tank full' of Euros.
Check your range you may not want to fill up on full duty French deisel, don't go short but half a top up might be alright.

 

[peterandjeanette]

Having visited most marinas in northern France there has only been one time that the marina would not accept my ordinary debit card. I think it was Dieppe.

Agree with last reply. Take a tank full in cash just in case . No problem there.

Cherbourg is OK for debit card. Local wine merchant also takes debit card and delivers direct to your boat.

 

[neale]

Bluemac

You will be fine in Cherbourg with a credit card. But I agree with Daka and suggest having some Euros, as there is always the possibility of problems in some of the other marinas we will be visiting. When we visited Rouen last year I tried to pay with 7 different cards (visa, mastercard, maestro and amex and every one was declined due to their inability to process them correctly. Had to beg borrow and steal cash from other boats to pay the bill /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif

Neale

 

[Robin]

It shouldn't be a problem at all in any places where the fuel berth is manned, credit cards are usually accepted at these. Where you will have a problem is with unmanned pumps which accept payment out of hours by credit cards, because for some strange reason these will only accept French credit cards, I believe other European non-French cards are also a problem so it isn't a direct anti-Brit thing! Cherbourg are very good and you can even pay for your berth by credit card if you wish. Have a good trip.

 

[tcm]

i agree with others, having the cash.

Actually the alternative is a chequebook on a french bank - this is like writing out euros and EVERYONE in france accepts french cheques - cos they aren't bounceable like in other countries

 

[mjf]

Agree cash, use 10/20's as i had a problem once with the big pink jobs. even the bloody bank would not change them.

 

[Anchorite]

Re: Chips with everything.

ALL French credit cards have a chip and a PIN: with the notable exception of (French) motorway tolls, all payments are confirmed by entering the PIN no, the so-called ironing board + signature is never used. Travelling by car in France off the motorways the best (cheapest) place to fill up is at supermarkets which (nearly always) have 24 hour self-service pumps...but you need a card + PIN. This system is being adopted (slowly) throughout Europe AND i've just got a card + chip + PIN from... my UK bank! Of course the chip was invented by a Frenchman (chips by a Belgian?).

 

[Bluemac]

Thanks everyone who has replied. Just got a new chip and pin so I'll take that, plus my debit card plus some euros. That should do the trick!