Clarity credit card - using it abroad (Poland)

spaceboy

I'm currently in Poland and have been using my Halifax Clarity card for some transactions. Thing is I checked the receipt for the last purchace and there was a 3% "fee mark-up". Also the exchange rate seems quite poor. Is this normal?

Exchange rate was 4.98zl

We've been changing pounds sterling to zl for about 5.10 to 5.13zl at the little Kantor money exchange places dotted about everywhere.

YorkshireBoy

You've fallen for DCC it seems.


You need to pay in local currency.

spaceboy

They have been asking me if I want to pay in pounds or zl I think but I haven't understood properly. Thanks.

spaceboy

Actually my partner is Polish and she heard me last time and I said I wanted to pay in polish. So not sure what's going on...

grumbler

If you pay in local currency, your receipt shows exactly that.
Your CC statement is the only place where you see the exchange rate.
As simple as that.

spaceboy

Yeah it seems the shopkeeper didn't do what I asked last time. I checked another receipt and it was in Polish currency and I have worked out I got a 5.22 exchange rate that time...

grumbler

Shopkeeper's motive is obvious: he gets his cut from every DCC transaction. However, it's you who ultimately authourises the transaction, supposedly after checking the details.

dzug1

The other possibility is that this retailer charges 3% for using - any - credit card.

spaceboy

I have another question - I know that interest on cash withdrawals starts from the dsy you take the money out but when abroad do purchases still work like they do in yhe UK?

grumbler

Yes, they do. What difference do you expect?

giblet10

I'll hold my hands up - I recently got ripped off by Avis Car Rental at Berlin Tegel Airport.

Despite warning others about DCC on here, I asked the rental guy "you will definitely bill me in Euro won't you?" - he assured me several times.

Needless to say when I checked the contract later that day it said "the customer has agreed to be billed in Sterling where Citibank will add 4% conversion fees to the exchange rate applied".

So check, check and check again! Sign nothing and don't enter your PIN until you've checked.

As with mobile roaming, DCC will eventually be outlawed by the EU but until then be wary - especially if as me you have a Clarity card - it kind of defeats the object if you allow them to use their own exchange rate.