Join Date: Feb 1999
Location: San Jose, California, USA
Programs: AS 100K, UA MM, AA MM, IC Plat Amb, Marriott Gold, Hilton Gold, Hyatt Explorist
Posts: 3,146
Sounds like this is one of those situations in which a company offers to charge you in U.S. dollars "for your convenience," and then they add on a fee for the privilege. I always insist being charged in local currency, because I know that Visa will add on a 1% foreign transaction charge, anyhow.
The trick is to catch them doing this before they run the charge. I've had them do the conversion and present me with the charge slip before I knew what they were doing.
In any event, I appreciate the heads up. I have an upcoming Hertz rental in a foreign country, so I'll be on the lookout for this language.
FWIW, I agree with the "completely unethical" part!