This thread is surprisingly quiet!

Here is the update on my dispute of an involuntary DCC by a restaurant at Dubai.

Please refer to the previous post to learn the details, as it is too long to quote here.

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/27882900-post47.html

1) Got a call from Chase about 2 weeks ago - the lady left message but when I called back a few times, never got a call back.

2) Finally called CSR number and the rep said the dispute dept has left a note on the account. He transferred me to the proper dept which turned out to be in Philippines! I have a very hard time to understand what the Philippina talked about as she has very heavy accent. The only thing I could figure out is, the merchant contests the dispute. Asked to be transfer to a US-based rep. Got transferred but after 15 min still no human pick up the phone I gave up. The Philippina did mention a letter was mailed to me explaining the thing, and I should get it in 5 business days.

3) Letter or rather, a package, did not arrive until almost 2 weeks later. Covering letter is dated March 30. It arrived me on April 12, with a deadline to respond on April 13!
There is a covering letter, a form for me to fill out whether I accept the original billing, or continue to dispute the charge. MANY pages of print out from the Acquirer's details. A page of the Acquirer's statement on they are willing to accept the "Arbitration Value" of the difference between non-DCCed amount and the DCCed amount - in this case, $49.45 - $47.10 = $2.35.

4) I wrote down the reason to dispute one more time, and stated that I just wanted the non-DCCed amount to be billed. Or the credit of the 5% additional amount caused by the DCC. Already sealed the envelop and put on stamp but haven't mailed it yet thinking no matter what, it would already pass the 04.17 deadline anyway...

5) Called Chase number one more time and left a message again.

6) Chase rep called this morning around 9:30am. Rep was based in Columbus, Ohio. (The form to send back is to send to Delaware). Rep said she was out of office the last 2 weeks hence the delay. In any case, she said it is impossible to make the merchant to rebill in AED. Therefore, Chase offers me $40 credit and only rebill me $9.45 to settle the dispute. I said this was not Chase fault but the merchant's. Not really right but I gather this would be easier for Chase to take care. She said yes. I thank her for Chase customer service but mentioned about the 2 weeks lag in receiving the package. She said, yeah, many customers have complained about the mailing delays... She added, no need to mail the form back, the recorded phone call is sufficient. I will receive a letter to confirm the resolution Meanwhile she is processing the credit and rebill. The items would show up online in 24 to 48 hours.
This afternoon I have seen the available credit has changed to reflect the $40 credit and $9.45 rebill, even though the actual line items have not shown up un activities yet

7) Bottom Line - it is still the US banks eat the DCC disputes, not the merchants. It might be easier in the future just call to dispute the difference as online, there is no space to fill out the reason when the dispute amount is small. Chase online only gives the space to fill out reasons when doing the full amount dispute - but that has proven to cause A LOT OF WORK for the US Banks. While the Acquirer still gets away with it.
A friend has a DCC dispute on a Citi card. The front line rep has no clue on what the friend is talking about. He asked for a supervisor who immediately understands. The supervisor gives $9.xx credit - the overcharged amount caused by DCC, immediately over the phone.
So from now on I would handle DCC dispute over the phone instead.

8) The response from the merchant is not really from the merchant, but from the Acquirer, under the Acquirer's letter head. This makes me wonder - WHO benefits from the DCC? May be it is the Acquirer, not the merchant. I dont know.