Merchant repeatedly overcharging on Electron card

aramo

The merchant is Ryanair and the card is a VISA electron but this doesn't feel like a travel specific issue so I'm posting here.

I've noticed on several occassions that Ryanair is overcharging by about 1.5% on fares originating in the UK and therefore in sterling. The electron card is also a sterling card issued by a UK company.

I've contacted the card issuer Halifax and while they accept that Ryanair initially place a hold on the card for amount X (the correct amount) they subsequently place an actual charge for X+. TBH the amounts are small, under £1, but I'm wondering of others have noticed the same from Ryanair. I am a liitle disappointed with Halifax as they seem keen to wash their hands of the matter.

This is not a Dynamic Currency Conversion issue all transactions are in sterling.

jonesMUFCforever

Looking at Entropay 's website I cannot find anywhere where it states that the card they issue is a Visa Electron but I quote EntroPay Virtual VISA Cards are categorized, and branded by VISA as the 'VISA Classic Debit'.

If that is the case then Ryanair's charges are there for you to see before proceeding.

aramo

jonesMUFCforever wrote: »

Looking at Entropay 's website I cannot find anywhere where it states that the card they issue is a Visa Electron but I quote EntroPay Virtual VISA Cards are categorized, and branded by VISA as the 'VISA Classic Debit'.

If that is the case then Ryanair's charges are there for you to see before proceeding.

Hi jonesMUFCforever thanks for the reply and your right, I got my cards mixed up it's a Halifax card

mum2one

trying to be neutral, but the quickest way to distinguish a visa electron card from a visa debit card, the debit card the numbers are raised, the electron they are in the card.

a lot of banks are phaseing out the actual electron card and issueing a debit card, but without the cheque quarentee facility.

aramo

mum2one wrote: »

trying to be neutral.

I did make a mistake Mum2One and I've corrected it, the card is a Halifax electron and I am being overcharged imho anyways

Alfie_E

It could be Halifax who are charging you the difference. The following is from the Using your debit card abroad (General Charges) section of the Easycash Account Conditions.

If you pay in pounds sterling, the Shop Assistant should advise you upfront of the exchange rate to be used, which could be higher than the rate we will use if you pay in foreign currency. We will also charge a transaction fee which will be taken out of your account for each transaction.

So, although you are paying in pounds sterling, the question is: Where are Ryanair processing your card transaction? If they are processing it in the Republic of Ireland or in the flight’s destination country, you could well be hit by a transaction fee for use abroad. I can’t see a copy of the Interest Rates and Account Charges leaflet on the Halifax website that the Easycash Account Conditions refer to, but 1.5% sounds about right for this fee. Where Halifax believe the transaction has taken place will be determined by the merchant ID used to process the transaction.

aramo

That's interesting Alfie E although I have been informed that the amount charged is just the money Ryanair asked for, that is, all the money goes to Ryanair, Halifax tell me they checked this with VISA.

Right now I am more interested in finding out if anyone else has noticed this 'overcharging' by Ryanair. Specifically where ALL transactions are in sterling (UK originating flight billed and paid for in sterling) and yet the amount billed to the card differs from the amount stated on the website and on the confirmation email.

dmg24

I use a Halifax Easycash Electron card, and always pay the amount that I agree to when buying the tickets (I buy lots of flights - not all for me!).

Sam37

I can't help you with your original question, but thought it might be worthwhile to post this info here anyway.

To the best of my knowledge I have a Visa Debit Card (it says so on the card and it has raised digits), but when I tick the Visa Electron box other budget airlines tend to accept this and I avoid the Debit Card fee (with Ryanair this trick doesn't work.. have tried). Start to wonder now if my debit card is actually secretly an electron card too???

For anyone with a Debit card, I'd always try if the number is accepted as an Electron Card number.

NickX

Alfie_E wrote: »

Where are Ryanair processing your card transaction? If they are processing it in the Republic of Ireland or in the flight’s destination country, you could well be hit by a transaction fee for use abroad.

I have booked Ryanair on several occasions of late and I am always charged the correct Sterling total shown on the website although this does included their extortionate surcharges.

I don't think the transactions are processed in any currency other than Sterling.

Vanilla_Bean

NickX wrote: »

I have booked Ryanair on several occasions of late and I am always charged the correct Sterling total shown on the website although this does included their extortionate surcharges.

I don't think the transactions are processed in any currency other than Sterling.

It depends where you start your journey, it can be in €'s or £'s. I haven't noticed extra charges from what I agreed to unless there was currency conversion going on and that should be very clear on your statement. Puzzling.