Charged in US Dollars instead of local currency
Apr 4, 2010, 4:39 pm
#16
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: SNA
Programs: AA EXP, UA 1K (until it expires then never again), *wood Plat, Marriott Gold
Posts: 9,239
I've had several hotels in EU ask, some more insinuated they were going to charge in USD unless I said otherwise, in each case I've never had a hard time getting them to charge in local currency. If they tried to do so against my wishes they'd end up not enjoying the hoops and cost I'd make them go through to get anything at all.
Apr 4, 2010, 4:47 pm
#17
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: London
Posts: 6,265
If you pay by Amex, then the chances of this happening are extremely low (but not impossible if the merchant for example is able to get a merchant account that charges in $US)
Apr 4, 2010, 5:09 pm
#18
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: IAD
Programs: Free Agent
Posts: 1,937
The Sheraton Saigon did this to me. I initially fought it until I noticed that the folio stated a conversion rate of 19,100 Dong to 1 USD, which was actually the prevailing exchange rate. So I shrugged and signed my AmEx slip.
Apr 4, 2010, 6:38 pm
#19
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Singapore
Programs: SPG Lifetime Gold
Posts: 247
I am interested in your experience in having your credit card billed in US dollar instead of local currency. I am seeing this in more frequency. I found it a disturbing trend because the conversion rate by the local bank is really bad; usually equivalent to 3% conversion fee. On top of that credit card issuing company tacks on their own ForEx fees.
...
What is your experience? Should we as travelers tolerate this type of extra fees tacked on by foreign businesses. I don't what the SPG hotel gain by charging me in US dollars. I do know that it is the default way of settling the account by many hotels and restaurants. During my recent trip, I made the businesses cancel the charge and re-do the charge in local currency.
...
What is your experience? Should we as travelers tolerate this type of extra fees tacked on by foreign businesses. I don't what the SPG hotel gain by charging me in US dollars. I do know that it is the default way of settling the account by many hotels and restaurants. During my recent trip, I made the businesses cancel the charge and re-do the charge in local currency.
Apr 4, 2010, 10:53 pm
#20
Join Date: May 2004
Programs: spg-plat, aa-1mm and exp,hh-Diamond,hyatt-gld
Posts: 165
credit card an us dollars
help me out-
thought bill submitted in foreign currency- convedrted at the "the then" ex change rate and processed on your US bill in dollars!
lately my hotel bill in brazil states on bill that all charges will be processed in US dollars!!
atty- what are your options if front desk refuses to allow your "note"?
thought bill submitted in foreign currency- convedrted at the "the then" ex change rate and processed on your US bill in dollars!
lately my hotel bill in brazil states on bill that all charges will be processed in US dollars!!
atty- what are your options if front desk refuses to allow your "note"?
Apr 4, 2010, 10:55 pm
#21
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Singapore
Programs: SPG Lifetime Gold
Posts: 247
help me out-
thought bill submitted in foreign currency- convedrted at the "the then" ex change rate and processed on your US bill in dollars!
lately my hotel bill in brazil states on bill that all charges will be processed in US dollars!!
atty- what are your options if front desk refuses to allow your "note"?
thought bill submitted in foreign currency- convedrted at the "the then" ex change rate and processed on your US bill in dollars!
lately my hotel bill in brazil states on bill that all charges will be processed in US dollars!!
atty- what are your options if front desk refuses to allow your "note"?
Apr 4, 2010, 11:11 pm
#22
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Capetown
Programs: Marriott Lifetime Plat, IHG and Hilton Diamond, LH SEN, BA Gold
Posts: 10,167
Apr 4, 2010, 11:14 pm
#23
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Capetown
Programs: Marriott Lifetime Plat, IHG and Hilton Diamond, LH SEN, BA Gold
Posts: 10,167
This is one of the reasons I teach my associates that it is - in particular in international business - to make use of plain language and avoid legal language which can easisly become ambiguos (sometimes even between native English/American/Canadian/Australian speakers)
Apr 5, 2010, 1:03 am
#24
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Australia
Programs: QF,VS,SQ,SPG,IC
Posts: 796
Apr 6, 2010, 6:59 am
#25
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: IAH
Programs: UA MM, AA almost MM
Posts: 1,164
Good news
Just want to share my good news. After fighting this for a week, the hotel agreed to refund $15.00 to my credit card. The over charge actually occurred in October 2009. I called SPG customer service. The agent offered to contact the hotel for me but never did. With the holidays, work, and travel, I forgot about it until late March and called SPG again. This time the agent told me that previous agent did nothing and the hotel was never contacted. She started the process and contacted hotel.
According to the email from the hotel guest relations manager, I should get my $15 in 2-3 weeks!!! Here is a wish: you who have been over charged by hotel would flight to get your money back. Hopefully, hotels and foreign businesses would stop such a deceptive practice.
According to the email from the hotel guest relations manager, I should get my $15 in 2-3 weeks!!! Here is a wish: you who have been over charged by hotel would flight to get your money back. Hopefully, hotels and foreign businesses would stop such a deceptive practice.
Apr 6, 2010, 1:50 pm
#26
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: India
Programs: Bonvoy Lifetime Titanium, IHG Plat, HH Gold, Trident Plat, DL Diamond, AI Maharajah
Posts: 29,678
recently lost out on about $30 due to the conversion....never realised it at checkout but saw it when i saw my credit card statement....lesson for the future....
Apr 21, 2010, 8:20 am
#27
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: IAH
Programs: UA MM, AA almost MM
Posts: 1,164
Update
Although the hotel agreed to refund the $15. They did not. I won't bore you with the long story. I called SPG today. SPG told me to stop dealing with the hotel and will mail a check to me directly.
Good job SPG! I will report back when I have the check in my hands.
For those of you who have been cheated by the foreign SPG properties, please do take up the issue with SPG. It is possible that SPG will get tired of dealing with us and put some pressure on the foreign properties to stop this scam.
Good job SPG! I will report back when I have the check in my hands.
For those of you who have been cheated by the foreign SPG properties, please do take up the issue with SPG. It is possible that SPG will get tired of dealing with us and put some pressure on the foreign properties to stop this scam.
Apr 21, 2010, 11:51 am
#29
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: HH Diamond, Marriott Gold, IHG Gold, Hyatt something
Posts: 33,539
I had only had this pulled on me a couple of time successfully. Once at the BKk Conrad, which they stayed they HAD to charge me in USD, the other at a restaurant in London, which they said they couldn't change since it had been printed already.
Never again, though. I have yet to see a rate that was good. It's always 2-4% hit, plus whatever forex fee your card charges.
Every hotel I've gone to in Bangkok this month, has asked what I want to pay in. Every time, I tell them Thai baht.
Never again, though. I have yet to see a rate that was good. It's always 2-4% hit, plus whatever forex fee your card charges.
Every hotel I've gone to in Bangkok this month, has asked what I want to pay in. Every time, I tell them Thai baht.
Apr 21, 2010, 4:41 pm
#30
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Programs: UA-1k, 1mm, Marriott-LT Platinum, Hertz-Presidents Circle
Posts: 6,355
If you are charged in local currency then obviously the starpoints are calculated off US dollars. Thus I'm curious if the rate to convert to dollars in order to sum up starpoints is at the hotels rate.
Anyone know the answer to this as it could be a way to cheat one out of 5-10% of starpoints earned.
Anyone know the answer to this as it could be a way to cheat one out of 5-10% of starpoints earned.