Par Andrew

On m'a demandé beaucoup de fois si des cartes de crédit et de débit peuvent être employées en Chine. La réponse simple est OUI, dans la plupart des villes. Hong kong devrait n'être aucun problème, Changhaï et Pékin ne devrait pas également poser trop de problèmes. Nanning, Guangzhou et villes semblables devraient également être CORRECTS.

Incline… bien que votre carte soit morceau et vous goupiller dans presque tous les cas sera invité « à signer pour » ne le laissez pas hors de votre vue.

Ils peuvent être employés dans la majorité des hôtels plus grands, mais non toutes les cartes seront acceptées, dans mon VISA d'expérience semble être le plus aisément reconnue et admis. Avant que vous partiez pour la Chine, informez votre banque (pour la carte de débit) et la compagnie de carte de crédit que vous serez en Chine les dates données, ils diminueront alors vers le haut de votre compte et vous ne devriez pas devez beaucoup de questions. Vous pouvez également encore trouver après que votre première tentative à employer l'un ou l'autre ils soit encore diminuée avec le message « se rapportent au fournisseur ». Ne paniquent pas le téléphone juste votre banque ou compagnie de carte à votre plus tôt. Tips…So always carry your card and bank contact phone numbers with you and also the numbers to report lost or stolen card.

On my last few visits to Nanning I used both my debit card and credit card in Hotels, Department stores and ATM machines with varying and erratic degrees of success. For instance, the ATM machines happily accept Debit cards but will vary on the daily amount given, I use Bank of China ATM’s only and found that at some Branches 2000RMB per day was permitted and others I was able to draw 3000RMB per day.

Tips…When the machines are empty of cash no indication was given, only that withdrawal was declined, it was only after asking the security guard (present in all Banks) that he informed me the machine was empty. So this could be misleading as the first reaction is to think someone has cleared your account out.

Tips… Also worth noting in the Department stores credit cards are preferred.There are numerous “pay” counters scattered around where you pay for your purchases, these vary in what they will accept, it is worth pointing out to the sales assistant that you will be paying by International card, she will then direct you to the correct counter. Internet connections are variable in China and as these transactions require Internet connection, sometimes this will be down and once again you will not be able to use your card. So in summary, Larger Hotels, Department stores and restaurants will in most cases accept International Credit cards and ATM’s will accept Debit cards.

Tips…Beware, never let the card out of your sight. Although your cards will be chip and pin it is highly likely that all transactions will be “sign for”

Do not be fooled by the reaction you might receive in smaller shops, they will appear at first to accept your card and go through the process of purchase, it is usually at this point the machine will reject it as they are not allowed to accept international transactions (only domestic transactions), it is likely that the shop staff have never encountered this before and it will throw them into orbit, managers will appear, your card will be passed from one to another, do not let it out of your sight and finally when all else fails they will probable offer to walk you to the nearest ATM to draw the cash. This happened to me in Nanning on my first visit, I declined there kind offer and walked away and ended up purchasing a similar product in the larger department store using my credit card.

Tips… When you do make purchases remember the Chinese are great hagglers. The only places where the prices are usually fixed and not negotiable are the large department stores but it might be worth a go. Everywhere else, especially the street vendors, Haggle, Haggle, Haggle the prices can be talked down. Ideally let a Chinese national do this for you. They know how to do it… and stay out of sight yourself, as soon as there is a glimpse of a westerner the price will double.

Andrew, mynanning.blogspot.com