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Spanish banks and currency conversion

Chomeur
Chomeur Posts: 2,160 Forumite
Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts
in Credit cards
Twice on a recent trip to Spain I paid with my credit card, selected to pay in euros and then received a receipt showing the transaction currency in GBP with the statement "I have chosen not to use the MasterCard currency conversion services and agree that I will have no recourse against MasterCard concerning the currency conversion or its disclosure". I decide for myself what I agree to - it's not for a bank to tell me what I'm agreeing to after the transaction. In each case the bank has helped itself to about £5.

This really annoys me, and of course it's not worth the time it will take to complain. Is it better just to withdraw cash when in Spain and pay with that? What other countries have this shabby scheme apart from Spain?
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Comments

  • jonesMUFCforever
    jonesMUFCforever Posts: 28,898 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper
    It is not the banks IMO but the merchants - who get away with a lot.
  • eDicky
    eDicky Posts: 6,835 Forumite
    Ninth Anniversary 1,000 Posts Name Dropper
    This is now common practice in Spain, but against regulations. If your choice to pay in euros was ignored, or the choice not even given, you can ask your card provider to refund the difference involved. There is a reference code to quote in case of staff ignorance, which I don't have handy, somebody may. They may actually chargeback the merchant, but unfortunately don't usually bother.
    Evolution, not revolution
  • Chomeur
    Chomeur Posts: 2,160 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts
    Actually I have email addresses for both merchants so I'll try contacting them first. Easier than dealing with my bank (Halifax) with whom I will have to deal with the phone system, fill out a form and wait an eternity. I currently have a request for a chargeback with them which they've been sitting on without response for two months.
  • Chomeur
    Chomeur Posts: 2,160 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts
    jonesMUFCforever wrote: »
    It is not the banks IMO but the merchants - who get away with a lot.

    But they gave me the option to select euros on the terminal, which I did. So surely it's not in the hands of the merchant to override this?
  • jonesMUFCforever
    jonesMUFCforever Posts: 28,898 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper
    Chomeur wrote: »
    But they gave me the option to select euros on the terminal, which I did. So surely it's not in the hands of the merchant to override this?

    What does your receipt show?
  • zagfles
    zagfles Posts: 21,685 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Chutzpah Haggler
    Chomeur wrote: »
    But they gave me the option to select euros on the terminal, which I did. So surely it's not in the hands of the merchant to override this?
    Sometimes it asks twice! Seriously! See this thread and the MSE article:

    https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/5677965/mse-news-have-you-ever-paid-in-euros-abroad-but-been-charged-in-pounds
  • Chomeur
    Chomeur Posts: 2,160 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts
    jonesMUFCforever wrote: »
    What does your receipt show?

    Beyond what I mentioned in the intial post it says

    "Transaction Currency
    GBP 105.40

    111 euro"

    One of the companies has now responded to me saying that there is nothing they can do about it and that in future I should just pay in cash! Shame they couldn't have told me before. I think a bad review is coming their way.
  • jonesMUFCforever
    jonesMUFCforever Posts: 28,898 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper
    Chomeur wrote: »
    Beyond what I mentioned in the intial post it says

    "Transaction Currency
    GBP 105.40

    111 euro"

    One of the companies has now responded to me saying that there is nothing they can do about it and that in future I should just pay in cash! Shame they couldn't have told me before. I think a bad review is coming their way.

    Sorry then but you have signed /entered a PIN to pay in GBP and not Euro.
    It might not be what you wanted or thought you paid for.
  • zagfles
    zagfles Posts: 21,685 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Chutzpah Haggler
    jonesMUFCforever wrote: »
    Sorry then but you have signed /entered a PIN to pay in GBP and not Euro.
    It might not be what you wanted or thought you paid for.
    The PIN is entered when a EUR amount is displayed. It then asks if you want DCC, sometimes twice. The retailer often has control of the terminal after the PIN is entered.
  • Chomeur
    Chomeur Posts: 2,160 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts
    jonesMUFCforever wrote: »
    Sorry then but you have signed /entered a PIN to pay in GBP and not Euro.
    It might not be what you wanted or thought you paid for.

    No, the receipt is simply not a reflection of what I entered. So it seems the best thing is just to pay in cash in future. Or I suppose I could take a video of the terminal as I enter my details in order to prove that I selected euros. That would seem ridiculous but if it was a big amount like €1000 it would actually make sense.
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