Originally Posted by
percysmith
Majuki - same. The vigilantism behind this thread owes much the underhandedness and cynicism behind these DCC perpatators' activities.
Plus that of Visa/MC Int'l (not care, boost merchant acceptance and turnover) and vested interests like the Chinese state (do nothing to curb non-compliance, boost their home-grown alternative)
A good analogy is the body scanner controversy in the US compared to Canada. Compare the way things are handled between the TSA in the US and CATSA in Canada. In the US, most airports use MMW scanners as a primary screening device to clear passengers. In Canada, use of the MMW is random and mostly in the transborder terminals for flights to the US to placate the US. Think of being selected for the body scanner as being confronted with DCC. In the US, the TSA rarely informs you of the option to opt out and receive a pat down. CATSA is required to disclose the options available to you and allow you to decide between using the body scanner and a pat down. In the US, many acquiesce to the body scanners and don't know that a pat down is an option. In Canada, the opt out rate tends to be higher. Furthermore, in the US there are sometimes comments TSOs make to discourage you from opting out. "It's going to take a really long time to find someone to do the pat down." "The pat down is invasive vs. this." It's similar to how some merchants/POS systems/ATMs make it seem like the world will end if you don't accept the DCC exchange rate. "Lock in the exchange rate of xxx/yyy right now. Warning! By declining this option you will be subject to an unknown exchange rate by the network processing the transaction, and we won't be able to help you!"
I would be able to live with DCC if all transactions were to abide by the following rules:
- Having the cashier inform the customer of the option to pay in local or the card's issued currency
- Showing the customer the offered exchange rate should the customer accept DCC
- Demonstrating to the customer the steps necessary to opt in to DCC (currently DCC is greatly biased toward an opt-out process and is usually the default option; with the "ideal" DCC I would have the default be to opt out)
- Confirming the currency choice to the customer
- Not trying to coerce or influence the customer into accepting DCC
- Handing the customer a final receipt that confirms the total amount and denomination charged (no quote slips or tick boxes allowed on the final receipt)
This way most people who don't know about DCC would probably not opt in. Those who really want to use DCC still have the option of doing so.