Jaja credit card

thegentleway

Hi, I used my Jaja credit card abroad after checking on https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/credit-cards/travel-credit-cards/#bestbuys that it was one of the top overseas spending card. However there are loads of FOREIGN EXCHANGE FEE, totalling £17 so far! Is the advice on the website not up to date?

dr_adidas01

thegentleway said:

Hi, I used my Jaja credit card abroad after checking on https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/credit-cards/travel-credit-cards/#bestbuys that it was one of the top overseas spending card. However there are loads of FOREIGN EXCHANGE FEE, totalling £17 so far! Is the advice on the website not up to date?

Have you been paying in local currency or GBP when paying? 

To me it sounds like you’ve accepted paying in GBP hence the charges for converting GBP to the currency of where it is you are. 

You should always pay in the local currency that way you won’t be charged a Foreign exchange fee. 

If you have been paying in the local currency then you will need to call JaJa and ask why the fee has been applied. 

Checking my JaJa card (old post office travel card) it does say this on my statements. 

Foreign Usage

Payment Scheme Exchange rate: www.visaeurope.com/en/cardholders/exchange_rates.aspx

 One or more of the following may apply:

Non-Sterling Purchase Fee: 0.00% of the transaction Non-Sterling Cash Fee: 0.00% handling fee, minimum £0.00

So provided you pay in local currency then there is no fee applied. 

cymruchris

As above - when you come to pay - wherever you are in the world - the terminal your paying with should show the total amount in your local currency. If it doesn't - ask the retailer to ensure that it does.

callum9999

I don't know why you both think they're paying in GBP if they're getting FX fees applied to their account? Granted it's not particularly clearly written, but it doesn't read as if they're being billed in GBP to me.

Jaja is apparently only FX free if you previously had a card that was FX free before they took it over. Is that the case for the OP?

thegentleway

Most of the time, I didn't have the option, but when I did, I selected Euros.

I don't know if my card was FX free previously (I used to use my Nationwide Select for abroad); it was a Post Office card that became Jaja.

dr_adidas01

callum9999 said:

I don't know why you both think they're paying in GBP if they're getting FX fees applied to their account? Granted it's not particularly clearly written, but it doesn't read as if they're being billed in GBP to me.

Jaja is apparently only FX free if you previously had a card that was FX free before they took it over. Is that the case for the OP?

Well based on the post below yours it looks like they have been paying in GBP hence the right assumption Foreign exchange fees had been applied.

I have used my JaJa card recently in Germany and have always paid in Euro's and not been charged a fee for it, granted it was an an old Post office card that was FX free that JaJa took over when they bought Bank of Ireland's credit card portfolio.

It might not be the case for the OP and they will need to check with JaJa or check their statements to see what fees are applied when spending abroad.

penners324

The t&Cs of your post office card would have remained, unless told otherwise, when transferred to jaja.

So if there was a forex fee on your po card there will be on your jaja card 

penners324

It doesn't sound like your paying in gbp at all as the exchange will happen by the merchant (or their payment provider) and will just show the gbp amount on your statement 

thegentleway

Jaja says Non-Sterling Purchase Fee: 2.99% of the transaction

callum9999

dr_adidas01 said:

callum9999 said:

I don't know why you both think they're paying in GBP if they're getting FX fees applied to their account? Granted it's not particularly clearly written, but it doesn't read as if they're being billed in GBP to me.

Jaja is apparently only FX free if you previously had a card that was FX free before they took it over. Is that the case for the OP?

Well based on the post below yours it looks like they have been paying in GBP hence the right assumption Foreign exchange fees had been applied.

I have used my JaJa card recently in Germany and have always paid in Euro's and not been charged a fee for it, granted it was an an old Post office card that was FX free that JaJa took over when they bought Bank of Ireland's credit card portfolio.

It might not be the case for the OP and they will need to check with JaJa or check their statements to see what fees are applied when spending abroad.

Well, based on their following post it looks like they've been using both currencies and have been receiving FX charges, hence your assumption is wrong.

If it was only in GBP then there wouldn't be a FX fee listed anywhere to complain about...

thegentleway

Good news: I complained to Jaja and they have promptly refunded all the foreign exchange fees