by KYW's Lynne Adkins
If you're planning a trip overseas in the near future, better make sure your credit card will work, before you run into trouble.
Credit cards in many countries around the world often have smart card technology not used in cards here. That means a simple swipe of your American Visa or Mastercard might not work. Abbe Forman, professor of Science and Technology at Temple University, says cards in other countries often have an embedded microchip that must be used with a pin number:
"The purpose of this is to cut down on crime. It's very difficult at this time to get the pin number that's embedded in the chip and match it with the embedded number and if you don't have that number, you can't use the card."
She suggests checking with your credit card company before traveling to make sure the card will work when and where you need it. It's also good for the card company to know that it will be you using the card - not a thief.
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