Beware of foreign outlets selecting to pay in £ rather than the local currency

fifeken

Biggles wrote: »

That may (or may not) be true but isn't really the issue.

The issue is agreeing to pay an specified amount in the local currency and finding the vendor has charged you an undisclosed rate for converting that to a quite different currency, without even telling you, for no good reason other than for them to turn a profit.

I'm not sure I understand the difference between what you have written and what I experienced.

The chargeback rules say that I should have been given the opportunity to chose the currency, but at no time was anything mentioned where the article with the 54 Euro price sticker on it was going to be paid for in anything other than Euro.

Biggles

fifeken wrote: »

I'm not sure I understand the difference between what you have written and what I experienced.

The chargeback rules say that I should have been given the opportunity to chose the currency, but at no time was anything mentioned where the article with the 54 Euro price sticker on it was going to be paid for in anything other than Euro.

I'm just saying that, whilst you should have had a a choice, the issue for your CC company to consider was the fact that you authorised €54 yet they took £x and charged you extra to do so, all without telling you.

Still, as they did refund, albeit grudgingly, all was well.

bigadaj

Sounds like Accor as one of the biggest hotel chains in the world may be enforcing dcc as policy which doesn't sound good, and might need to be challenged on a corporate basis.

grumbler

fifeken wrote: »

The chargeback rules say that I should have been given the opportunity to chose the currency,

Any proof?
I know only

Incorrect currency or transaction code – the Card
Issuing Company is stating that the transaction
was not processed in the correct currency, or the
cardholder has been charged a conversion difference
when an incorrect charge has been requested.

fifeken

grumbler wrote: »

Any proof?
I know only

Mostly going by what I read on here. I know it's all from strangers on the 'net, but you get a feeling for the accuracy of what is posted.

Given Halifax's response I may need to re-think my approach.

I also found this, which seemed to back up my thoughts.

Code 4846 for MC.
POI currency conversion disputes in the following circumstances:
– The cardholder states that he or she was not given the opportunity to
choose the desired currency in which the transaction was completed or
did not agree to the currency of the transaction, . . .

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grumbler

fifeken wrote: »

Mostly going by what I read on here.

IIRC it's usually "Visa rules" rather than "chargerback rules".

fifeken

grumbler wrote: »

IIRC it's usually "Visa rules" rather than "chargerback rules".

In this case (Halifax Clarity Card) it would be "Mastercard rules" rather than "Visa rules" but that's what I found anyway.

MCGONIS

Hi. I was wondering if someone can offer any advice on this subject.

On Hotels.com I booked an apartment in Spain. The price displayed was £493. I was happy with this and went through the booking. It says that I will be charged in the local currency 624 EURO.

I used my Halifax Clarity card to pay due to the good rates it comes with. My credit limit is £500 so was enough to cover the charge.

However Apartamentos Stella Maris have charged me £519.

When I spoke to Halifax they said the charge is not in EURO but has been converted to pounds by a bank in Spain.

They could not help me any further as the charge is still pending. It's not the £12 over limit charge that annoys me, it is the fact the amount I booked at was shown to me as £493 but it is actually ended up £26 more.

I called Hotels.com and explained that I was not happy. They called the hotel and the hotel said they have billed me in EURO but their exchange rate converts is as £519.

Hotels.com fail to see that the hotel have carried out a conversion I did not agree to.

Do you think it is likely I can ask Halifax to do the chargeback process that has been mentioned here?

I am a bit shocked that the hotel would convert the sale to GBP when the cardholder was not present.

Any advice would be much appreciated.

grumbler

The only what really matters is what amount you authorised at the final stage and in what currency.
The original £493 is pretty much irrelevant as it was just an estimation.

MCGONIS

grumbler wrote: »

The only what really matters is what amount you authorised at the final stage and in what currency.
The original £493 is pretty much irrelevant as it was just an estimation.

Hi. Thanks for reply. I authorised 624 EURO not 519 GBP.

Which is also a very poor rate of exchange compared to what Mastercard was showing for that day.

The £493 Hotels.com was showing was roughly the Mastercard wholesale rate on the day I made the booking.

I am now wishing I had not booked this hotel. Anywhere else I have booked on line in Poland or Spain, I have always been charged in local currency and this has put me right off.