Credit Card Payments in Chile

When you use a credit card at a store or restaurant, the cashier will almost always ask "¿Con cuotas?" or "¿Cuántas cuotas?" — then you'll be asked to complete the transaction on the payment device.

What cuotas means

"Cuotas" translates to "installments." In Chile, it's common to pay for items over time. You will see buttons on the card reader:

"Sin Cuotas" — paying in full immediately. This is what you want.

"Con Cuotas" — paying in installments over months.

As a tourist, always choose Sin Cuotas. The installment option is designed for Chilean bank accounts and credit plans. If you accidentally choose cuotas on a foreign card, you might get charged extra fees by your bank.

Pro tip

If the cashier asks and you're not sure, just say "sin cuotas" and press the corresponding button. After a day or two, it becomes second nature.