Ensuring you get the MasterCard rate.

utigers

Hi there, I used my Clarity card once whilst in Spain and I think I paid in Euros. However the retailer converted this into £ at their rate. I have used the card on many holidays but never had this problem. Has anyone else? How do you ensure it doesn't happen again?

[Deleted User]

Make sure it shows Euros when you put your PIN in.

YorkshireBoy

Deleted_User wrote: »

Make sure it shows Euros when you put your PIN in.

I'd have said the same, but that doesn't always work, according to post #3 in this thread from yesterday...

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/5645223

stevenhp1987

Deleted_User wrote: »

Make sure it shows Euros when you put your PIN in.

What the PIN terminal says is irrelivant.

I was in Spain in March, PIN terminal (correctly) said €7... they still charged me in £... I complained and they refunded and redid the payment.

I don't think it's right that the merchant has the option to change currency after we've authorised it in €, but they can...

zagfles

It's quite hard in Spain. DCC is everywhere.

Always tell the retailer to charge the card in EUR, even if the PIN pad/machine shows EUR. If it's a held held machine like they use in restaurants, keep hold of the machine after entering the PIN as the DCC menu is usually after the PIN entry. It asks if you want conversion, you say NO, it then asks for confirmation. This does seem to be aimed at the customer not the retailer as it's in English.

But in Spain I find it less hassle to pay for most things in cash - for a short holiday it'll mean paying a few pence in interest (last holiday I paid 52p for getting out about 500 EUR - paid off as soon as I got back) and with an ATM you're totally in charge of the options.

The prevelance of DCC varies greatly by country - we've had loads of holidays in France and never once was DCC even offered anywhere, even at ATMs. I never tell them to charge me in EUR in France and never been DCC'ed. But I know there are exceptions - I've heard the wine warehouses around Calais will offer DCC, no surprise as most of their customers are English.