Debit Card Charges

winston75

Hi all,

I've made several purchases in the last few months from the website Aliexpress. I used my debit card since I don't have a credit card and just noticed on my bank statement that my bank charged me several fees for each transaction. These seem to be foreign currency charges since the transactions were in US dollars which I was not aware I was going to be charged. There is something like a 2% fee plus a set fee of £1.09 per transaction.

Each purchase price of each transaction was only between £0.76 to £3.47 so in some cases the fees were not just a high percentage on top of the cost of the actual item, but actually cost more. Payng more in fees than the actual item cost seems to defeat the object of shopping around.

Is there a way around paying these fees or less in future? I used a LLoyds bank account with a Visa Debit card. Any help is greatly appreciated!

masonic

Essentially, you can treat this as spending overseas.

Lloyds debit cards are one of the 'cards from hell' on this list: http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/credit-cards/travel-credit-cards#rule7

Perhaps get one of these credit or debit cards if you are going to be making a lot of foreign transactions.

frank777

I use Aliexpress and don't get charged a penny in charges - recently received a quality gents watch for £1.24 including postage - sent by China Post/Royal Mail - no foreign transactions fees with a credit card payment, don't forget to change the default US dollar payment to GBP

http://www.aliexpress.com/store/product/Vosicar-Fashion-Classic-Men-s-Roman-Number-Quartz-Electronic-Leather-Wrist-Watch-2015-Hot-Sale/1084824_32288720009.html

grumbler

masonic wrote: »

Essentially, you can treat this as spending overseas.

It doesn't matter where you spend. What matters is what currency you pay in.

masonic

grumbler wrote: »

It doesn't matter where you spend. What matters is what currency you pay in.

Which was my point. Although where you spend can be relevant if you pay in £ and it is not the local currency.

grumbler

masonic wrote: »

Which was my point.

I know, but this point was sort of hidden.
You can be charged in $ when spending in UK, and you can be charged in £ when spending overseas.

ETA: I replied before you edited your post.

Although where you spend can be relevant if you pay in £ and it is not the local currency.

It is relevant, but you'll be charged the exact amount that you agreed to pay in £. No extra fees that the OP was concerned about.

winston75

@frank777 Thanks so much for posting this. I can't believe I never thought of that! I just ordered something else after changing the currency option and it didn't charge me any extra fees:T