Can I dispute a refund to avoid charges?

nafe12

Hi there,

Looking for some advice.
Recently hired a car in Austria. As usual, I gave a credit card where they were supposed to authorise/put a hold on a certain amount. Instead, the staff member was new, and actually CHARGED me for 700e. They admitted this was a mistake

I was annoyed, but they said they'd refund it when they returned the car. Which they did.

The issue is that I got stung with a big foreign transaction fee--- TWICE - once for the withdrawal, and once for the return of the funds (this on top of any exchange rate diffs). So I'm about 60€.

The rental company is being difficult (and pretending not to understand me) - saying they withdrew and refunded - it's up to me. My point it was because of THEIR mistake that I'm out of pocket. (Obviously, if i was to be actually charged, e.g. if I damaged the car, I couldn't complain).

Any ideas of possible remedies? Dispute both transactions (charge and refund)? Or am I just stuck

Cheers

Hooloovoo

I've had this happen to me, not with a rental car, but with foreign transactions where I have bought something and later had to get refunded. As you say you end up out of pocket due to the buy-sell spread in the exchange rate, and also any fees.

I'm afraid I don't have any advice to offer, but I am interested in hearing the result!

Personally I would talk to the card provider and tell them that the first transaction was incorrect. I doubt that will get you anywhere, they are only interested if the transaction was fraudulent which of course it wasn't - it was just a mistake by the company.

Have you tried contacting the UK head office of the rental agency, rather than dealing with the Austrians?

nafe12

Yes -- I know you can dispute transactions with VISA/MC. So maybe I could say I only authorised an authorisation (which is the truth!)

Too bad it's an Austrian company

somethingcorporate

Unfortunately the company making the refund would have no control over the exchange rate or your banks policy on charging for foreign transactions.

Whilst theoretically you should not be out of pocket I think you'll have to chalk this one up to experience.

No harm in calling your bank though.

meer53

Contact your card issuer. They can action a chargeback for the difference as the original transaction was retailer error. Doesn't matter where the company is, they can still do this for you. Make sure you tell them the original transaction should never have been debited, it should have been an authorisation only.

The only time they wouldn't help is if, say, you'd bought something abroad and decided to return it and you lost out because of the exchange rate.