Can you still buy things with a card thats NOT chip and pin?

[Cies]

DH and I are going back to UK on a visit, and would like to use our credit card there. But, it's a Spanish one that doesn't have a chip.

Is it still possible to pay for things without a chip?

I have taken money out at a cashpoint before, but this time we're planning on buying lots and don't want the hassle of getting cash out each day.

Sometimes the machines will request a signature,butthat's random apparently. So it is POSSIBLE.

I have been doing this for the last couple of days. I got a new card but am still waiting for my pin so I've just been signing. I've had no problems at all.

Foreign cards can be used without a pin, from what I know. There's no way that British businesses are refusing the money of foreign visitors!

Ok, that's reassuring.

I was wondering about the fact that it has no chip. Would it work in the new machines? Here in Spain they still swipe the magnetic strip.

That's true NotQuiteCockney! No one's going to turn away business!

Oh, no, I haven't. I'll do that now. Thanks!

We once had to take our business across the road because the staff in the shop were too young to remember what happens when your card hasn't got a chip! We did explain, but they couldn't get their heads around it. Only happened once, though.

unclefluffy!

Most of the machines have a slot to swipe the card or its on the till its self, you may encouter a few that can't or won't process your card, best to ask first before eating the 3 course special I suppose .

MY non chip and pin NZ credit card was refused a few times in a recent trip to the UK. It made me incandescant with rage and I stormed out of a chemist on one occasion. So, yes, some stupid businesses do turn away visitors' money . It was mainly in small shops that that happened. Some shops asked me for photo ID before getting my signature (which I was happy to supply).