Why do ATMs and shops in Guadeloupe just keep declining my wise card. It worked fine in other countries
Just returned from a week in Deshaies, and my Wise card was basically useless. It failed at multiple ATMs, especially Banque Populaire ones, and not a single shop accepted it. Even some touristy restaurants looked confused when I handed over the card. Locals said the networks prioritize cards with French billing addresses. Wise seems hit or miss here-you’re safer with euros and a physical Visa or Mastercard from a regular bank.
My Wise Mastercard worked perfectly at the LCL (Le Credit Lyonnais) ATM in Saint-François. I set my card to EUR in the app, used chip+PIN, and declined any currency conversion. It didn’t work at every ATM, but this one went through smoothly. I also managed to pay with it at a surf shop in Sainte-Anne. So it’s not impossible-just pick LCL or BNP Paribas, and always carry cash as backup.
In Basse-Terre, I couldn’t pay for groceries with Wise at Carrefour Market, and the Societe Generale ATM outside the store rejected my withdrawal too. It was strange because the card had just worked in Martinique a few days before. Wise support told me that some overseas French territories have regional banking rules that can block certain prepaid cards. I ended up using my main bank’s debit card, which worked fine.
I was in Pointe-à-Pitre and tried my Wise card at La Banque Postale and Caisse d'epargne ATMs-both declined it with a ‘technical error’ message. Same problem at a gas station near Gosier, and again at a bakery in Le Moule. Locals said only certain French-issued cards work reliably. Had to rely on cash I brought in euros, and next time I’d definitely carry a traditional Visa credit card as backup.