Best card for foreign exchange?
#1756
Join Date: Feb 1999
Location: Denver CO
Posts: 3,682
Great work, Moondog!
It stands to reason that being charged an amount you didn't approve would be an actionable basis for denial.
BTW, FIA was very professional and effective in helping beat back an issue for me (unrelated to DCC). I was glad to have them on my side.
It stands to reason that being charged an amount you didn't approve would be an actionable basis for denial.
BTW, FIA was very professional and effective in helping beat back an issue for me (unrelated to DCC). I was glad to have them on my side.
#1757
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: Shanghai
Posts: 42,031
Thanks. Between creating my letter/spreadsheet and talking to them, I wasted an enormous amount of time in the pursuit of a mere twenty bucks, but I think I'll put my spreadsheet on offer in the DCC thread. If more people make a stink about DCC, the banks might get better at dealing with it.
#1758
In memoriam
Join Date: Jan 2006
Posts: 4,020
Moondog obviously struck one of many needed blows against DCC. Thanks MD.
I, before DCC was even dreamed off, had some involvement in a billing eror dispute involving undisclosed forex fees by a major US Bank.
The bank just ignored the card user's billing error letter and written list of around a hundred incorrect forex conversions on card user's statements and never responded.
Card user sued for violations of Truth in Lending Act. Bank settled case for $1000 for each violation of TiLA. Each unaddressed, disputed amount is a separate violation.
Now, no one on FT is hot to get into a lawsut--but, at least there are options to just rolling over for the so called Dynamic Currency Conversion.
I, before DCC was even dreamed off, had some involvement in a billing eror dispute involving undisclosed forex fees by a major US Bank.
The bank just ignored the card user's billing error letter and written list of around a hundred incorrect forex conversions on card user's statements and never responded.
Card user sued for violations of Truth in Lending Act. Bank settled case for $1000 for each violation of TiLA. Each unaddressed, disputed amount is a separate violation.
Now, no one on FT is hot to get into a lawsut--but, at least there are options to just rolling over for the so called Dynamic Currency Conversion.
#1759
Join Date: Feb 1999
Location: Denver CO
Posts: 3,682
Moondog obviously struck one of many needed blows against DCC. Thanks MD.
I, before DCC was even dreamed off, had some involvement in a billing eror dispute involving undisclosed forex fees by a major US Bank.
The bank just ignored the card user's billing error letter and written list of around a hundred incorrect forex conversions on card user's statements and never responded.
Card user sued for violations of Truth in Lending Act. Bank settled case for $1000 for each violation of TiLA. Each unaddressed, disputed amount is a separate violation.
Now, no one on FT is hot to get into a lawsut--but, at least there are options to just rolling over for the so called Dynamic Currency Conversion.
I, before DCC was even dreamed off, had some involvement in a billing eror dispute involving undisclosed forex fees by a major US Bank.
The bank just ignored the card user's billing error letter and written list of around a hundred incorrect forex conversions on card user's statements and never responded.
Card user sued for violations of Truth in Lending Act. Bank settled case for $1000 for each violation of TiLA. Each unaddressed, disputed amount is a separate violation.
Now, no one on FT is hot to get into a lawsut--but, at least there are options to just rolling over for the so called Dynamic Currency Conversion.
#1760
Join Date: May 2008
Posts: 1,603
Good luck! When I called about Citibank Brasil I got transferred around to a dozen different people. Finally a very aggressive lady came on the line, telling me I was damn lucky to be a Schwab client because of the 0% foreign exchange fee and that I should just accept that Schwab doesn't always fulfill it's promise of refunding all ATM fees. She said it was just too much work to attend to every single customer's individual problems and hinted that many of them would not be telling the truth anyway (I suppose she really meant that I could be one of them). She kept insisting that Citibank's fee was for foreign exchange, not use of the ATM. As it happened, I had the receipt the Citibank ATM printed out, clearing specifying the nature of the fee, and I read it to her. She finally gave in, and refunded the fee manually, but said she would note on my account that I had been told that there would be no more refunds of ATM fees under these circumstances.
In Brazil, I withdraw currency from a TD Bank checking account on HSBC ATMs and pay absolutely no fees!
#1761
Join Date: Jun 1999
Location: Rio de Janeiro, BRAZIL
Programs: AA 4MM EXP; Starwood Lifetime Plt
Posts: 2,498
Citibank is, as far as I know, the only bank in Brazil that charges a fee for foreign ATM withdrawals. However, the vast majority of banks, including even foreign banks, simply do not allow foreign ATM withdrawals at all. HSBC and Banco do Brasil are among the few banks that allow foreign ATM withdrawals. At Banco do Brasil it is necessary to search out specially marked ATMs that accept foreign cards.
#1762
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: ORD
Programs: UA MM PG, Marriott Lifetime Platinum, IHG Platinum
Posts: 140
From the US bank side of fees, I figured using and HSBC bank card on an HSBC bank would eliminate any fees, and it looked that way on my bank statement. However, I tested it once by using 2 different cards and pulling out the same amount on the same day from the same machine. It turns out HSBC US just hid the fee amount in the transaction amount. So, as an example, it showed one debit of $150. My other card (Charter One) showed one debit of $142, then a foreign exchange fee of $8.
Something to keep an eye on. . .
#1763
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: RDU
Programs: A few
Posts: 5,499
Can someone tell me what recourse (if any) there is for a foreign currency fee charged to my Citibank card for a charge that was billed in USD? I really don't see how anyone can justify a foreign currency fee in this situation given last time I checked USD was not "foreign". But the travel agency was British so bang 3% fee which is not trivial on a $5k payment.
#1764
Original Member, Ambassador: OneWorld Alliance
Join Date: May 1998
Location: Austin, TX, USA
Programs: AA ExecPlat & 3MM; Marriott Titanium
Posts: 1,015
Can someone tell me what recourse (if any) there is for a foreign currency fee charged to my Citibank card for a charge that was billed in USD? I really don't see how anyone can justify a foreign currency fee in this situation given last time I checked USD was not "foreign". But the travel agency was British so bang 3% fee which is not trivial on a $5k payment.
#1765
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: NYC
Posts: 8,498
Can someone tell me what recourse (if any) there is for a foreign currency fee charged to my Citibank card for a charge that was billed in USD? I really don't see how anyone can justify a foreign currency fee in this situation given last time I checked USD was not "foreign". But the travel agency was British so bang 3% fee which is not trivial on a $5k payment.
#1766
Join Date: May 2010
Posts: 148
I'm looking at prospective banks and their debit cards for withdrawing money at ATMs.
Is it better to get a card with 0% foreign exchange fees, but does not reimburse/very limited reimbursement for any fees for actual withdrawal of money or a 1%-2% card that has unlimited reimbursement for withdrawing money?
Is it better to get a card with 0% foreign exchange fees, but does not reimburse/very limited reimbursement for any fees for actual withdrawal of money or a 1%-2% card that has unlimited reimbursement for withdrawing money?
#1767
Join Date: Sep 1999
Location: too far from the airport
Posts: 3,298
What if you're in FSM, Guam, the Northern Marianas, the Marshall Islands or Palau, where the currency is the US$, but technically you're not in the US? Does citi charge their 3% penalty? What about Chase?
#1768
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Florida
Posts: 29,759
Chase charges the same fee, too if my recollection is correct.
Note that now the card issuers said "foreign transaction" and define it as the transaction being processed outside US.
#1769
Join Date: Apr 2006
Posts: 889
So are you saying that you can use any debit card for a counter cash advance inside a foreign bank and not pay an ATM fee(from your home bank) or forex fee? Including the Visa/MC 1% fee? Or the bank's add on 2% fee? That sounds great! I've always been able to use my BofA debit card in France with no fees except the 1% Visa/MC fee. However, we are going to other countries this trip that have no relationship with BofA. So I'm looking to find another bank or better way of getting cash since BofA ATM charge is $5 plus 3%.
Of course it possible there are debit cards out there that charge a Forex fee, although the one I use (Schwab) doesn't. So assuming no disclosed fees from the card issuer the only fee is the the so called interchange fee that Visa/MC assess which is typically 1% over the wholesale rate. They used to guarantee it was the wholesale rate but both Visa/MC have eliminated that and only say it is the rate they use. That said in my experience it is or is very close to the published interbank rate.
I just did this one a trip to Thailand right in the airport. The currency exchange booth was a bank and they were displaying the Visa/MC logo so I asked to do a cash advance. Two minutes later I had US $1000 equivalent in Baht.
The only gotcha is that certain banks refuse to do counter cash advances and insist you use the ATM which is a direct violation of the rules. Generally this is in heavily touristed cities where they don't want to lose the fees. I insist on speaking to the manager when that happens and it usually fixes matters, but once in a while I have to go down the street to another bank. When that happens I file a complaint with Visa International or MC when I return.
#1770
Join Date: Apr 2006
Posts: 889
How a "local" charge became a foreign 3% charge
I gave my New Mexico travel agent my Citi PP credit card number. She sent the number on to Regent Seven Seas cruise line in Ft. Lauderdale, FL. My credit card statement showed a $479.14 foreign transaction fee (3% of nearly 16K). Regent explained that they process CC transactions in Ireland. Because I complained they sent me their check for $479.14. But note: Their terms and conditions states: "Regent Seven Seas Cruises accepts no responsibility for credit card foreign currency/transaction processing fees independently assessed by issuing banks." I assume a lot of people lose a lot of money this way.
I gave my New Mexico travel agent my Citi PP credit card number. She sent the number on to Regent Seven Seas cruise line in Ft. Lauderdale, FL. My credit card statement showed a $479.14 foreign transaction fee (3% of nearly 16K). Regent explained that they process CC transactions in Ireland. Because I complained they sent me their check for $479.14. But note: Their terms and conditions states: "Regent Seven Seas Cruises accepts no responsibility for credit card foreign currency/transaction processing fees independently assessed by issuing banks." I assume a lot of people lose a lot of money this way.
If the contract was between you and another US entity and the price was in $$ then it cannot be subject to a forex fee. There is no wiggle room on this.
However the reverse is not true. A charge in US $ made in a foreign country is subject to a fee. In fact you can actually get charged twice in this case. The reason is that certain banks convert the amount being charged to $ as part of the transaction (charging you a hefty fee or poor rate) then process the charge through in $$. Visa/MC and your bank tack on the forex fee because the charge was outside the US. So you not only get a terrible exchange rate, you pay a fee on top of that. The one time I had this happen recently was Australia and I simply asked them to cancel the charge and paid cash.
I don't think the poor desk clerk had a clue her establishment or their bank was taking advantage of customers so it wouldn't have been right to take it out on her but management got an earful by email when I got home including a succinct description of what happened on Tripadvisor.
Edited...Ah sorry, I see everyone already knows about DCC. Apologies.