Non Sterling Transactions

grumbler

mdavison wrote: »

What will be the position for contact-less CC operation?

I don't see any difference. With or without PIN you authorise the amount and the currency you see on the small screen of the card machine. And only if the receipt shows different amount and currency you have grounds for complaining.

chattychappy wrote: »

It seems to me that DCC was applied to the transaction when they printed out the receipt.

I don't see any indication of this. IMO, most likely the OP failed to check what exactly he authorised. In this (and any other) case it's pointless to make corrections on the receipt. The only way is to reverse the transaction (process a refund) and to make it again correctly.
Cashier's suggestion to make corrections on the slip looks like a primitive fobbing off to get rid of the annoying customer.

chattychappy

eDicky wrote: »

My understanding was that the proceeds of DCC goes to the merchant and/or a third party payment processor, or the bank that operates an ATM - not to MasterCard and Visa. Do they in fact take a cut?

Yes, I corrected myself. Both sides get a cut, but the merchants benefit the most.

grumbler wrote: »

I don't see any indication of this. IMO, most likely the OP failed to check what exactly he authorised. In this (and any other) case it's pointless to make corrections on the receipt. The only way is to reverse the transaction (process a refund) and to make it again correctly.
Cashier's suggestion to make corrections on the slip looks like a primitive fobbing off to get rid of the annoying customer.

Far from pointless. It is true that it would be necessary to run the transaction again to get it to process properly. But legally, if you modify the receipt before signing, then you are covered. They print all kinds of stuff on it, in the case of DCC usually something to the effect that you agree you were given a choice. There is nothing to stop you adding your stuff too. Yep, it might be processed wrongly, but it should be easy to dispute.

Actually I've often written stuff on receipts before signing, particularly if there are T+Cs on the back which I can't be bothered to read or I've got somebody standing over me saying "don't worry, it will be X not Y". In this case, I write "X" above my signature.

And guess what.. one time on such an occasion I ended up being sued because of some small print they thought I had agreed to. When the company concerned got around to checking the original paperwork their lawyers dropped the action and paid my (modest) costs.

PINs make it pretty much impossible.

grumbler

chattychappy wrote: »

...legally, if you modify the receipt before signing, then you are covered.

I don't remember the last time I signed any receipt and I don't think there are duty free in Dubai requiring signatures.
I can be wrong, but it looks to me like the cashier suggested to correct their own copy that didn't require any signature actually as the transaction was PIN-authorised.

KxMx

agarnett wrote: »

As we know, Paypal is based in Europe (Luxembourg, I think?)

I frequently make Paypal transactions in USD AUD and EUR (including purchases from outside Europe) paid via a credit card with no Europe FOREX commission or fee. I am pretty certain they ALL come through as the straight Mastercard rate on the day.

If I am right, using Paypal to "spoil" the attempts by card issuers to surcharge for non-Europe transactions can be circumvented by using Paypal. I have a feeling that the card issuers define non-Europe not by a currency's location, but only by the location of the merchant (irrespective of the currency of the transaction). And if PayPal is used, then they become the merchant, and their location is Luxembourg? Has anyone else noticed anything similar, or can anyone confirm?

PayPal have their own charges for converting foreign currencies into the nice neat GBP amount you see on screen, and their own exchange rate used in the calculations. They then bundle it all into the GBP total.

I've now set up one of my credit cards to pay in the foreign currency, still via PayPal, every time it's come out cheaper. So that's using the MasterCard exchange rate & my CCs foreign exchange fee which is a typical 2.75%.

Sometimes it's cheaper by just a few pence, and I'll admit I expected bigger savings, but it all adds up!

eDicky

grumbler wrote: »

I don't remember the last time I signed any receipt and I don't think there are duty free in Dubai requiring signatures.
I can be wrong, but it looks to me like the cashier suggested to correct their own copy that didn't require any signature actually as the transaction was PIN-authorised.

It's common in some countries that both pin and signature are required to complete a card transaction - this could well be the case at DXB duty free shops.

chattychappy

Oh yeah, I get that alot in SE Asia where they can't quite believe they can issue a us$2000 flight ticket without a signature for the money...

mdavison

Pleased to report:
After multiple pleasant emails with dfs, submission of statement, submission of copy vouchers, request to raise matter to a higher level and report to Abu Dhabi Consumer Office, dfs not only agreed to refund the exchange difference and also volunteered an extra amount (that helped assuage my feelings). Refund has been received.
Grindingly slow and inspired by Martin (drip, drip...) this consumer is much happier.
Also wiser about merchant exchange rates. My comment is, I only pay for goods, I do not want a foreign exchange deal.
Thank you for all your comments and regards