Abbey Cashback Credit Card recommended by Martin a Year ago.

billiesbird

Hello, newbie here. I have the cashback credit card from Abbey as recommended by Martin a year ago. I have just received my bill for this month to find I have been charged "international" rates as I use my card to pay Paypal. The Abbeys excuse being that Paypal are registered in Luxembourg! As you can imagine I am furious about this as I ordered something off Ebay from a bloke in Nottingham!

Abbey claim they haven't charged me before as one off the offers on the card was free international usage until the 1st September. I have used various credit card accounts with Paypal and have NEVER been charged international rates. Abbey have told me to contact Paypal but why should I when they haven't charged me anything?

I am really angry about this, and wonder if anyone else has come across this? Any ideas on how to get my money back? I have written to them about it.

Mozette

I think you need to have a good read of the terms and conditions, and if it is in there, well, it's a lesson learned.

billiesbird

My complaint is that I have been charged for something that is international when it isn't. Nowhere in the terms and conditions does it say using Paypal is international. How am I suppose to know where a payment method id based.

I bought these goods from the UK, from someone in the UK using UKpounds sterling. I didn't pay international postage as they came from Nottingham, which is in the UK. No other credit card does this as far as I am aware including previous Abbey credit cards I have had. I think Abbey should be named and shamed about this as it is unfair, sneaky and underhand.

methusala_2

I sympathise Billiesbird but your stuck with it. I have the same problem with Argos mastercard, after months of argument i couldn't win so now i just use another card that doesn't charge Foreign Exchange Charge. That's what i tried to argue on, there is no exchange taking place, paypal are paid in GBP.
It's like talking to a brick wall though.

HamiltonL

I have seen instances like this before. I recall some months ago dealing with someone who bought something (I shan't be specific in this case) from another Benelux country (registration of company) but through UK operations. Don't think there is much you can do I'm afraid.

LongTermLurker

I've never had that happen with a range of other cards - must be an Abbey thing. The thing is, it shouldn't have anything to do with wheer the company is registered, rather what currency they charge in. The big one to beware of is AMEX, where non-UK and non-US transactions will be converted to $ first, then to sterling.

If you've been charged- and paid in sterling then it looks like really dubious rules by Abbey. However, if you've paid in euros then yes, I would expect the commission to be added. Same would happen if you somehow chose to pay by euros in the UK.

Solution - change cards.