Beware debit card charges if buying currency at Debenhams

parthianshot

Be warned, Debenhams make a hidden charge when you use your debit card in store. I recently purchased Euros having gone through the tool on here and printed the voucher. In-store I presented this and my debit card, never expecting to be charged for using this form of payment.
Only later when checking my account did I find a separate deduction for this transaction, effectively a 2% surcharge.
I immediately emailed Debenhams to complain, here's their reply:-

I am concerned to learn of your disappointment with regard to the issues outlined in your email.
I fully appreciate your concerns and I assure you it is never our intention to have our customers feeling let down or misled in any way.
Debenhams works in partnership with Travel Money, who provide and administer our currency services. I cannot view your transaction, as this can only be accessed by an FCA approved organisation.
To resolve your query, please contact Travel Money directly via:

- Telephone [IMG]resource://skype_ff_extension-at-jetpack/skype_ff_extension/data/call_skype_logo.png[/IMG]0800 840 2887 FREE
- Travel Money desk in your local store

So basically they are absolving themselves of any responsibility.

I am particularly annoyed as this surcharge is not flagged in any way, nor is it shown on the receipt. You only find out about it when you see the debit on your bank statement. I have looked at their T&C's too, again no mention is made. It's a bit shocking to realise companies can be so underhand.

Since then I have gone back over previous bank statements and found I was similarly charged on two occassions last year, so it's a long-term stealth charge.

I'm not dropping this, but feel others should be aware.


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HHarry

Who is the debit card provided by? Are you sure it's not a cash advance fee, or foreign exchange fee charged by the card issuer?

richie_t

I've had the same issue. Paid part cash and part debit card for my Euros, lady at Debenhams Travel Money went through the exchange details on a printed invoice which did not mention any Debit Card charges. Lady also never mentioned anything.

2days later I see the Debenhams debit on my account for the Euros and an additional cash fee charge of 2%.

Reviewed the Cooperative Bank terms and conditions online which states that the 2% foreign currency cash fee only applies abroad and not in the UK.

Contacted the Cooperative Bank and explained the situation and their terms and conditions only to be told that the charge was from Debenhams and not the bank. Advised by the bank to return to Debenhams and take it up with them as they had not highlighted this charge.

Returned to Debenhams and spoke with member of staff who confirmed that Debenhams **DO NOT** charge for debit card transactions when buying foreign currency. Member of staff asked which bank and when I informed her of the cooperative she laughed saying she had previously experienced the same problem with them.

Re contacted cooperative bank and spoke to a further member of staff who stated he was aware of this issue and could not understand why I had been given the initial advice. He also stated that the bank were well aware that for some reason transactions through Debenhams Travel Money automatically creates the foreign currency cash fee. He stated that when a customer contacts the bank a refund should be given and could not understand the advice from his colleague.

Fortunately I spotted this straight away on my bank statement and after some in inconvience and cost of phone calls to the bank and travel costs to and from Debenhams this issue has been rectified with a refund. Otherwise my currency exchange rate using moneysavingexpert would have worked out far less competitive than most high street Bureau de Change.

Martin Lewis and moneysavingexpert.com please highlight this issue on your website to prevent others from being potentially unaware of such charges and not saving money as expected !!!!