Warning Payment by Card!!!!!!!!!!

stilltheone

poet123 wrote: »

I always use my Nationwide Flex Account though, into which I transfer monies from my primary current account to use for travel purposes. So, worst case scenario is that they would hit my O/D limit which I purposely keep small.

Still wouldn't use it. I used the Nationwide CC for payments and debit card for withdrawals. The debit card is in the bin now... as there are better options.:)

ferf1223

Ilovecubbage wrote: »

Sorry to sound dumb, but what is DCC and how do you recognise that they put it on top?

In general, the merchant gives you the choice - pay in local currency, or in GBP...if you pay in local currency - your bank/card provider determinds the exchange rate...if you pay in GBP, the merchant determines the exchange rate (and it will be in their favour - the conversion to GBP will mean you will pay more in GBP than you would if you paid in local currency and your bank/card provider set the exchange rate).

As a rule - if you are offered the option, you want to pay in local currency.

Unfortunately, it sounds as if some merchants are sneaky.

poet123

stilltheone wrote: »

Still wouldn't use it. I used the Nationwide CC for payments and debit card for withdrawals. The debit card is in the bin now... as there are better options.:)

Yes, there probably are better options in terms of cost,( I use some of them too;)) but that wasn't the point. It was from a safety angle that the use of debit cards was being vilified. I simply don't think from that angle that the risk is so much greater abroad than at home.

stilltheone

poet123 wrote: »

Yes, there probably are better options in terms of cost,( I use some of them too;)) but that wasn't the point. It was from a safety angle that the use of debit cards was being vilified. I simply don't think from that angle that the risk is so much greater abroad than at home.

It probably is. All of the attempted fraud on my cards originated from usage abroad.

stilltheone

ferf1223 wrote: »

In general, the merchant gives you the choice - pay in local currency, or in GBP...if you pay in local currency - your bank/card provider determinds the exchange rate...if you pay in GBP, the merchant determines the exchange rate (and it will be in their favour - the conversion to GBP will mean you will pay more in GBP than you would if you paid in local currency and your bank/card provider set the exchange rate).

As a rule - if you are offered the option, you want to pay in local currency.

Unfortunately, it sounds as if [STRIKE]some[/STRIKE] most merchants are sneaky.

Took the liberty of editing your post.

zagfles

Ilovecubbage wrote: »

Sorry to sound dumb, but what is DCC and how do you recognise that they put it on top?

Basically when you pay for anything:

1) Always state that you want to pay in Euros (or whatever the local currency is) when handing your card over.

2) Always check the amount carefully before entering your PIN or signing. If you see GBP anywhere (sometimes in small print) or if the amount is different to the Euro amount you were expecting, do not sign or enter your PIN. Demand they void the transaction and do it again in Euros.

As above sometimes they'll lie and say they can't, or not to worry you'll be charged in Euros, but you will not if you see GBP anywhere.

These are the rules merchants are supposed to follow:

http://www.visaeurope.com/en/businesses__retailers/retailers_and_merchants/how_it_works/rules__regulations/currency_conversion.aspx

lemontree

Zag the only problem was, I signed in a little box on top of the machine and could not check anything!!!

ferf1223

stilltheone wrote: »

Took the liberty of editing your post.

haha! Fair enough.

I guess since we mostly travel to the US, we haven't had as many issues...we're rarely even given the option to pay in anything other than USD...the once we were given the choice (before we knew to avoid it) we thought it was a 'nice' option (naive, much?)...by the time I read about DCC, it was too late to figure out how much we were screwed by - probably not enough to worry about especially now that we know to avoid it in the future..

stilltheone

ferf1223 wrote: »

haha! Fair enough.

I guess since we mostly travel to the US, we haven't had as many issues...we're rarely even given the option to pay in anything other than USD...the once we were given the choice (before we knew to avoid it) we thought it was a 'nice' option (naive, much?)...by the time I read about DCC, it was too late to figure out how much we were screwed by - probably not enough to worry about especially now that we know to avoid it in the future..

It's prevalent in Thailand's tourist areas. So anyone heading there should watch out.
Even when you say that you want to pay in Thai Baht beforehand, they still make 'mistakes'.
Sometimes they have two machines, one with the option for DCC and one without. They will try the DCC option first.
They know what they are doing. They'll say "Thai Baht yes, yes, yes" in agreement and then still try to rip you off.
Watch out for that smile.

zagfles

lemontree wrote: »

Zag the only problem was, I signed in a little box on top of the machine and could not check anything!!!

If you can't see the amount you're signing for then don't sign! They could have put through £8000 not £800 :eek: