caramel

Has anyone experienced problems paying for goods using a Debit Card from their English Bank Account? Both my husband & I experienced this problem in a branch of Le Clerc in the Gers a few days ago, when our cards were rejected, so had to use a credit card to pay for 60 euros of goods. I had a similar experience, again only at a branch of Le Clerc in Touques (Normandy) last October, when I was asked for my passport as identification.