FlyerTalk Forums - View Single Post - DCC at Harrods - unable to void transaction in home currency

Oct 4, 2012 | 9:35 pm

#15

percysmith

Ambassador, Hong Kong and Macau

Join Date: May 2009

Location: HKG

Programs: Non-top tier Asia Miles member

Posts: 22,050

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jagboi

I wondered too, but last time I was in the UK all my charges in GBP converted to CAD at about $1.60-1.61 per £ and the DCC charge for the rental car where I did it in CAD came to $1.57ish. I'm going by memory, but the exchange rate was about 3-4 cents cheaper when I had the merchant charge me in $ rather than £. I had charges in GBP that closely bracketed the CAD charges and were at similar rates so I know it wasn't a currency fluctuation.

This was with a TD Bank visa.

That's compelling...

I've never received a rate like that. My forign currency charges convert to HKD at at 2% above the wholesale rate (largely due to bank-imposed translation fee - 1.95%) and DCC is usually 1-2% above that (i.e. 3-4% above wholesale rate).

Furthermore I've foreign currency miles earning bonus to consider. Had the bonuses not existed, I would be more willing to consider DCC.

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