I think you got it wrong about the DCC claim.
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It is the implementation of the resolution failed miserably. The time and efforts involved are TOTALLY NOT WORTH IT, principle or no principle.
I would say if you're fighting the charges on principle, the dollar amount is irrelevant. If you search back on the original DCC thread, there are people who have gotten successful reason code 76 chargebacks with the merchant with Chase cards. (This is more than just Chase giving some sort of credit to the account where they're eating the cost.)
Totally NOT worth it unless it is a big enough amount. How to define how much is big enough to worth the time and effort, of course is YMMV.
Even with a hotel charge of let's say $1000 with a 3% DCC rate, one's cost mailing certified letters and the like could exceed the DCC amount quickly. Most of these disputes are on principle in the first place. Merchants count on people saying, "Well, yeah... I got ripped off, but it's 50¢. I'm not going to worry about it." It's what allows the DCC con to not only continue but proliferate.
For you continue to advocate people to file DCC disputes, I strongly suggest you to read thru the Chase dispute thread and learn from others posts that Chase handles disputes very poorly, even including other disputes that have nothing to do with DCC.
I fully intend to file a DCC claim if forced into the situation. However, I have successfully managed to opt out since I started caring about the issue 4 years ago. Granted, I have not been to Mainland China nor have I been to Poland. Furthermore, I arm myself with tools to avoid DCC as much as possible to reduce the risk:
1) At hotels, I used my SPG AmEx if I'm staying at a Marriott or SPG property. This stops DCC in its tracks. In the case of a non-Marriott or SPG hotel, I book the reservation with my AmEx Platinum as the preauth card and then settle the bill using my Citi Hilton or Chase Sapphire Reserve. (In the case of Hiltons, this will likely be irrelevant next year if the Citi Hilton cards get converted.)
2) An increasing number of places will allow mobile payments if you say you're going to do contactless. Some countries have a limit - Estonia is €10, for instance, even though I didn't see DCC there.
3) At restaurants, I proactively offer that they should select local currency if it's an option. Normally in Europe this isn't an issue as they'll bring the terminal to the table.
4) For shopping, especially at tourist places, I stand back and watch to see if DCC is present and/or the merchant offers a currency choice. Sometimes based on this, I'll know my chances of success.
5) For small purchases, sometimes I hand over cash rather than risk getting hit with DCC on a small purchase where the best case outcome is the issuer giving a courtesy credit.
6) Included lounge access/breakfast/prepaid expenses do cut down on the number of exposure points, so I follow your strategy here as well.
7) If the location is known for rampant DCC, try an American Express if it's viable. For Mainland China, I have a UnionPay network card.
Now for those who pay their hotel bills at check out, that is a different scenario if they are being DCCed. Indeed, these folks definitely need to file claims should they be DCCed. Though I would suggest always follow up the claim with writing and send it to the address at the back of your statement - that is the only method protected by law.
Agreed. Sending a letter in writing will get a response and likely triggers a number of the required responses that a simple web form or phone call would not. However, as noted above, the cost and time of this correspondence can add up quickly. Unless the purchase is for something substantial, you're likely fighting on principle than to recoup any of the money.