New French Supermarket scam

Ert · 15 April 2006 at 11:52AM

We know we need to purchase in euros using a 0% commission card when abroad, because Martin has told us, and we always do.
Last week we were tricked into paying in Stirling in Auchan Calais and it cost us 3% commission because they have started "dynamic currency conversion".
The checkout girl said "English?" and my wife answered "Yes we are English" and paid with the Liverpool Victoria card (0% on euro purchases). On the next trolleyload the girl said "Stirling?" and we said "No, euros" and paid the same way.
Later we noticed the following spiel on the end of the first bill "Cardholder has chosen to pay in GBP. This transaction is based on Reuters Wholesale Interbank exchange rate plus 3.0 per cent international conversion margin. My choice is final. Transactions can also be conducted in EUR."
The Guardian Money section this morning warns about this and says it is apparently legal, but it is an absolute racket aimed at cheating the Brits.
The moral is : always insist on paying euros or they might automatically con you into converting the bill into Stirling and charging you 3% for the privilege!

richardw · 15 April 2006 at 11:57AM

I was asked this in Cork on Tuesday, I said Euros. Cash machines have started asking in sterling aswell. It is a con. The EU should stop this.

LesD · 15 April 2006 at 3:01PM

This has also happened to me in a hotel in Spain. The moral is, always "think before you ink" when given a tab to sign!

balt · 15 April 2006 at 3:09PM

I had this at Sydney airport, receipt said I had a choice but wasn't asked so I complained and they changed it to A$. Article in today's Telegraph says this is becoming quite common but you must be given a choice. Also at Sydney airport bought half price opal necklace in the sale but when I gave it to my daughter she found the printed price on chain was the so called sale price. They are worse than Heathrow.

Altarf · 15 April 2006 at 3:29PM

Although this is worthwhile bringing to the attention of the few UK credit card holders with a 0% commision card, calling it a scam is over the top. For the vast majority of the customers of the overseas store it will make no difference, and they will probably be grateful not to have to do some mental arithmetic to convert the Euro amount back to sterling.

I am sure that if when you handed over your credit card you spoke to the shop assistant in their native language and explained that you would rather pay pay in Euros, rather than have them convert to sterling they would happily oblige.

Donnie · 17 April 2006 at 4:05PM

It is a scam. A lot of these transactions take place without informing the customer. It is for sure that many will not notice that they have had the wool pulled over their eyes.
Visa has counteracted this move by local banks and merchants to carve themselves greater profits by slapping a charge on transactions whether or not there has been a currency conversion.
It's only a matter of time before these charges are passed on.

Here is an interesting and detailed article on the scam; http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/07/29/AR2005072900927.html

Altarf · 17 April 2006 at 4:57PM

Donnie wrote:

It is a scam.

Not for the vast majority of customers who would pay either a conversion fee to the credit card company if charged in Euros or the DCC fee if charged in sterling.

The article you posted relates to the charges that American cardholders pay, so is hardly relevant to the UK.

As I said before, I am sure that if when you handed over your credit card you spoke to the shop assistant in their native language and explained that you would rather pay pay in Euros, rather than have them convert to sterling they would happily oblige.

crazyhazel · 18 April 2006 at 2:27PM

..."As I said before, I am sure that if when you handed over your credit card you spoke to the shop assistant in their native language and explained that you would rather pay pay in Euros, rather than have them convert to sterling they would happily oblige."

Altarf - I really dont know how many people speak the native tounge of the country that they visit when only going there on holiday -

Altarf · 18 April 2006 at 6:18PM

crazyhazel wrote:

Altarf - I really dont know how many people speak the native tounge of the country that they visit when only going there on holiday -

And a large number cannot do exchange rate conversions either which processing the transaction in sterling avoids and for the vast majority of people it cost the same.

I find it odd that we expect the world to speak English and when they try to do something helpful (such as processing in sterling) when we cannot understand them it is all their fault.

crazyhazel · 18 April 2006 at 10:58PM

Altarf wrote:

And a large number cannot do exchange rate conversions either which processing the transaction in sterling avoids and for the vast majority of people it cost the same.

I find it odd that we expect the world to speak English and when they try to do something helpful (such as processing in sterling) when we cannot understand them it is all their fault.

Please dont get me wrong - I lived in Spain for 4 years and took the trouble to learn the language and I will be the first one to agree that if I ever heard any English person, who said they lived in Spain, not trying to talk the language, I would be very angry. When you live somewhere you must learn to adapt to their ways.
However, for the majority of English holidaymakers, trecking to wherever their travel agent has sent them, it is unfair to expect them to speak the language. Yes we are a very lazy country because most other countries teach their children to learn English from the age of about 7, whilst we teach ours a second language from age 11, and then normally German and French only!

Maybe we should get the 'berlitz' and similar companies to put in their translation books ......

May I please pay in Euros.....

Veuillez pouvoir je paye en Euros - French
Kann bitte ich zahle in den Euros - German
Posso prego pago in Euros - Italien
Παρακαλώ μπορώ να πληρώσω σε ευρώ - And Greek as it is with almost everyone

oh and by the way in spanish if you speak loud enough it is

I WANNA PAY IN EUROS LUV AWRIGHT!!!

:rotfl:

Mary_Hartnell · 5 August 2006 at 9:57PM

Nationwide will give you a credit card sized piece of glossy cardboard that explains what Dynamic Currency Conversion is on one side in english.
On the reverse it reads
Spain - A Puedo pagar con divisa local, por favor.
France - Je voudrais payer en devises du pays, s'il vous plait.
Italy - Vorrei pagare con la valuta locale, per favore.

(I'm quite looking forward to a large trolly of goods going through the till and then seeing if the "muppet" can charge for them in Euro on the credit card maschine. My bet is that she cannot, thus breaking European law. I will let you know the outcome when I get home).

Mary.

Nationwide staff, in your local branch, may need to be educated about Dynamic Currency Conversion too - perhaps they should read the Posts article too.

New French Supermarket scam

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