Visa International - Where Are They??!!

js474

Does ANYONE have a contact address or number for Visa International please???

This is the outfit that charged me £25 for a STERLING transaction in this country!

Briefly:

I ordered Euros online through Travelex. They quoted me a sterling price and instructed me to pay at the airport on collection, which I did on my Visa DEBIT card. A sterling payment to settle a sterling bill.....

Lo & behold, I'm charged £25 by Visa. A call to my bank confirmed that this is a payment that Visa make for currency transactions. That may be the case & had they done any work whatsoever in relation to the exchange, I would accept it.

HOWEVER, they actually did NOTHING. Travelex provided the website, the facility to order, the collection point and the currency itself. WHY does Visa International have the right to take any money???? I'm livid!!!!

BUT!!! Trying to find the bugg*ers is impossible. My bank hasn't got the number, it's not listed anywhere on the web and Travelex can only supply Barclaycard's contact details.

It's not the amount that annoys me, it's the fact that they see fit to just debit an account simply because I happened to use the card in a currency outlet. Unfair charges similar to those in the news at the moment?

If anyone can supply me with a number, I'd be most grateful!!

James
:mad:

PBA

js474 wrote: »

Lo & behold, I'm charged £25 by Visa. A call to my bank confirmed that this is a payment that Visa make for currency transactions.

No, it's a charge your bank makes for Visa currency transactions and should be in the tariff of charges. If an advisor in the bank told you to speak to Visa about it he's just passing the buck.

jonesMUFCforever

Must be a crap bank as some banks cap the fee at £4.50.

[Deleted User]

this happens with any visa card whether it be debit or credit.

its a con as they dont make this clear to customers, and its free if you withdraw the money first and then buy the travellers cheques.

my best guess is -
I believe when you buy things visa gets a slice and your bank gets a slice as they cant get a slice of travel cheque purchases then they levy this fee. Im guessing that the 25 quid didnt all go to visa, im guessing the biggest chunk went to your bank.

Im not sure if you can reclaim this in small claims, it will certainly be a tricky one.

js474

Thanks to those who replied....

Still fuming yesterday, I called (Co-operative Bank) Visa AGAIN and this time managed to speak to someone with a bit more knowledge than the previous two.

This is a charge that Visa International make simply because I used my debit card in a currency outlet. Then came the old chestnut "It's in the T's & C's of your card"!!!!!!!

My (albeit ridiculous) analogy was that if Travelex suddenly begin selling cuddly toys & I buy one, will I then be charged simply because I used my card in a currency outlet??

Anyway, the guy finally admitted that it was an unreasonable fee as yes, Visa actually did nothing whatsoever, and offered me a 50% refund as a gesture. I accepted it with thanks not for the sum of 12 quid, but more to prove the point that they accepted the unjustification of the whole thing.

I've learned the hard way & when ordering via Travelex online next time, I'll make sure I pay cash!

It's no wonder that Visa's turnover in 2005 was $4 TRILLION!!!!!

:mad:

pin

Doesn't happen with all visa cards.

NW (visa debit card) can be used for free payments to the likes of Travelex and other money changing companies.

King_Of_Fools

You would face the same charge if you used your Visa Debit card (apart from Nationwide) to walk into a bank that is not your own and ask for money. It is a cash advance fee and is intended to cover the cost of providing the cross-bank transfer.

The same thing happens when you withdraw money from a "free" ATM that is not your bank there is a transaction fee but that is absorbed by (most) banks. Alternatively if you use a fee charging ATM you get charged up-front and some of this fee is passed onto you bank.

It is very annoying as if you want to get travel money for more than the £250 daily limit on ATM withdrawals you have to visit ATMs multiple times beforehand or visit your bank beforehand. However, this is yet another reason to get a Nationwide debit card.