Dynamic Currency Coversion Should Be Illegal

[Happy]

Even when we specified to pay in local currency, the contract still spilled out with a clause that we "are informed, and agreed" to have local currency converted to our billing currency. The manager claimed it was a default option on the contract and he forgot to check it off despite he fully agreed that we had requested so. He re-did the contract but did not give us an English translation any more.

At car return we crossed out the clause and demanded the clerk to verify with the system that such option was dropped. It took them a few minutes to fiddle on their keyboard to get it done. Bill came out in Swiss Franc.

Now we have an Avis bill from Auckland airport that I have to see the card statement when we return home to know whether it is billed in NZD or in USD. The authorized amount is some 5% lower than the billed amount, led me to suspect that it has suffered the conversion eventhough the contract / receipt from the return are shown in NZD.

[bjerregaard]

This should be a "sticky" on AM, Diners and Other Credit Cards. Any moderators?

[superflush]

Originally Posted by bjerregaard

This should be a "sticky" on AM, Diners and Other Credit Cards.

yea, I think we should also keep a list of 1. places that force DCC without asking.

[USAFAN]

Originally Posted by Happy

..At car return we crossed out the clause and demanded the clerk to verify with the system that such option was dropped. It took them a few minutes to fiddle on their keyboard to get it done. Bill came out in Swiss Franc.....

You may still be charged with conversion.

I often rent with AVIS but only recently I detected the fine print you are mentioning.
All my bills showed Euro. However, they converted Euro to US $ and than charged my Euro CC with Euro ... higher than the amount of the bill.
Last time when I returned the car I asked the Avis agent to change this. He did. By now are NO charges on my Euro CC card?!? And I returned the car to FRA one month ago!?!

Is there a way to change that default option
"the clause that we "are informed, and agreed" to have local currency converted to our billing currency" when we make a reservation or even better in the account?