Can you be charged extra based on the exchange rate?

Not_Me_Officer

It's a carry on from my other thread but as someone may wonder this in the future i thought i'd ask in a standalone thread.

This could apply to any website, country etc but i'll give you the information for my case:

Website used: https://www.pdmgames.co.uk/
Item bought: https://www.pdmgames.co.uk/official-wii-u-pro-controller-black-new-in-box.html
Price: £26.99
Delivery: "Free UK Delivery".
Terms: https://www.pdmgames.co.uk/terms-use.html
Total price charged on email invoice: £26.99
Amount actually charged upon checking online statement: £28.37

I'd just like to stress that this is not about £1.38. It could've been 10p, it could've been £1000. The point is that i was charged more than the advertised price and the amount on my email receipt without being told what i was going to be charged.

You don't go to your local Curry's, buy a TV for £500, pay at the till £500, get the receipt £500 & then go to check your bank & you got charged £1,000.


So i asked PDM games for a response to this:

We are sorry for the delay respond, it is because the payment gateway provider in oversea, so there may have different exchange rate between your bank and theirs,
eg: if you paid 20 pounds, they may exchange 20GBP to 32.5 USD, and processed it, then your bank will exhcange the 32.5 USD to 21.3 GBP charge from your card.

My question is can they do this?

Surely there needs to be notice that they're going to do this & the notice should be before you place the order, not afterwards when it's too late & can be a deciding factor as to whether you purchase from them or not.

bris

It doesn't take a genius to work out that this is a Chinese website, expect customs charges too.

dj1471

The short answer is no they cannot, they should charge you the amount and currency agreed when the contract was formed. Did they charge your card in GBP or some other currency?

In any case it's legitimate to initiate a chargeback for incorrect amount or incorrect currency as applicable, but you'll still need to pay the agreed amount.

But as suggested I'd be more concerned about the VAT you'll need to pay to receive your counterfeit controller when it arrives from Hong Kong, with handling fees this is likely to be around £15.

Not_Me_Officer

bris wrote: »

It doesn't take a genius to work out that this is a Chinese website, expect customs charges too.

At what point is it obvious that it is a Chinese website?

When you read my other thread? When questions start getting asked which prompts you to delve deeper?

Because on the face of it to me that is an English website. Ok we know that it's Chinese now, but I look at it & it appears English. Only when i start looking in to it do i see that it's Chinese.

Where ship from

We have Warehouses in UK and Hongkong .

And when you start looking around the website, they have 'warehouses' in the UK also.

dj1471 wrote: »

The short answer is no they cannot, they should charge you the amount and currency agreed when the contract was formed. Did they charge your card in GBP or some other currency?

All it says on my statement is the amount i quoted in the OP. It doesn't say anything about Hong Kong money.

In any case it's legitimate to initiate a chargeback for incorrect amount or incorrect currency as applicable, but you'll still need to pay the agreed amount.

I don't have a problem with the £26.99. I never did. That's why i paid it originally. I have an issue with this overcharging and yes i would return the whole thing based purely on this alone. It's the principle of it. I'd do the exact same thing if they were totally 100% UK based.

I've asked them to refund me this overcharging so i'll see what they say.

But as suggested I'd be more concerned about the VAT you'll need to pay to receive your counterfeit controller when it arrives from Hong Kong, with handling fees this is likely to be around £15.

You reckon i'll have to pay £15 just to pick up the controller?

I'll have to get in touch with them to see where they want it returned to. Since they have 'warehouses' in the UK i should be ok to post back to one of those though i suspect they'll want it shipped back to Hong Kong.

dj1471

I'd be amazed if anyone connected to the website has ever set foot in the UK...

But for info, Royal Mail charge an £8 handing fee and you'll have to pay VAT @ 20%, so over £13. If they send by courier the handling fee will be even more.

If you return it you can reclaim the VAT but you won't get the handling fee back.

Not_Me_Officer

dj1471 wrote: »

I'd be amazed if anyone connected to the website has ever set foot in the UK...

Knowing what i know now i would have to agree with you 100%.

But for info, Royal Mail charge an £8 handing fee and you'll have to pay VAT @ 20%, so over £13. If they send by courier the handling fee will be even more.

If you return it you can reclaim the VAT but you won't get the handling fee back.

Thanks.

I'll wait to see what happens. Oh & it is Royal Mail who are apparently bringing it according to their email but who knows, it could be anyone.