Wandering in Madrid with SO, so in much better mood. Saw a poster 9/F Gourmet Floor in the Plaza del Callao El Cortes Ingles, wondered up.

Why this relates to Gallaries Lafayette: for some reason they honour a Galleries Lafayette charge card. I am not sure of the exact relationship, but we were using our Bank of East Asia Visa cards (6% cashback this month) so any mention of Galleries Lafayette makes us DCC-wary.

Payment for a beautiful spread of local caviar, crabmeat and Riesling by the glass - EUR48. When I handed over my BEA Visa I must have said "Charge Euro, charge Euro!" something like three times.

I didn't get a pic of this. Signature was on a touchpad like Korea. But DCC was offered on it as well:

"Do you wish to pay HK$532 or EUR48?"

I pulled out my iPhone to try and work out the rate, but after 5 seconds the cashier already keyed in EUR. The charge was posted in EUR in BEA.

It took me a few more seconds to work out the rate was 11.08. Presented this way, I knew it's an immediate ripoff cos the cash rate is approx 10.73 and BEA was charging me 10.92 for Euros that morning (I have access to online banking). But had I only have "HK$532 or EUR48?" to go on, I'd be stumped. I'm an accountant, but I have to pull out my calculator to do that division.

Wish rate calculation was made mandatory for DCC even if they have to offer it, but it's so wrought with non-compliance that it's a lost cause.