Merchant choose curency of credit card

I_do_sums310457

Help. Just got back from Egypt. When in Cairo I paid my room bill with my credit card. The hotel insisted that I pay in $ when I sated that I wanted to pay in Egyptian pounds. They showed me a statement saying that the Prime Minister had issued a decree that all foreign guests pay in foreign currency. I debated this for a while and then gave up and paid in $. IS THIS LEGAL. When your in a foreign country you really don't want to get into an argument about the legality of the Prime Ministers decree.

I phoned my credit card company for advice they said its between me and the merchant. REALLY not happy about this found them as helpful as a chocolate fire guard! Looking for new credit card provider.

Also is there anyway I can find out where banks/credit cards etc have their call centres as I encountered a communication problem with the credit card company.

anguilla

This is not unusual especially in countries with poor local currencies. I first came across this in Trinidad where the merchants at the airport were only allowed to give change in TT dollars even if you pay in US$. It got better when I realised that you could not change TT dollars anyware but Trinidad and Tobago and were also limited on what you could export! I think things have improved somewhat. Other countries where I hit this included Dominican Republic where the tourist card has to be paid in foreign currency.

dzug1

It may well be legal in Egypt if that's what the Egyptian government has decreed. It really is up to them.

It is not an acceptable practice in Europe (though some merchants try it on). Whether it's actually a matter of law is doubtful, but it's breach of the merchant's contract with his card supplier.

dwsjarcmcd

What is the issue of paying in $ rather that Egypitian £'s?

As has been mentioned above this is common in such countries

fifeken

dwsjarcmcd wrote: »

What is the issue of paying in $ rather that Egypitian £'s?

The merchant sets the exchange rate for foreign currencies to their own benefit (you lose). In this case, if the OP was using a US$ account, the bank would be setting it when they paid if charged in Egyptian pounds and the OP would benefit.

If the OP was using a sterling account then the merchant is still deciding the exchange rate no matter what and they'll probably still be paying more than if charged in local currency and letting the bank convert.
That's my take on it - maybe the OP can explain more?