Originally Posted by
Kremmen
I'd prefer it too, but there are still sneaky ones which make this hard. I try to avoid DCC altogether by using Amex, but then there are those times when the business doesn't accept Amex or their own branded card which gives bonus points isn't an Amex. My first successful DCC was express checkout at a hotel, without any warning, so I had no way to know until it hit my account. The second time, just recently, was a shop that similarly never mentioned any currency other than local and put the receipt in the bag. (I first saw the receipt when I was making some of my packing neater in the taxi on the way to the airport!) In both cases, I'd used Chase cards and they made sure I didn't carry the loss.
I am vigilant with receipts at shops and restaurants to make sure there is no DCC. I also never use express checkout at a hotel outside of the US (or even in the US typically as I've had the occasional incidental charge I never made appear on my bill). A best practice when there is a risk of DCC is to have the preauth done with an AmEx and then upon checkout say you want to use a different card. It works every time for me and forces them to run the new card without a preauth. Fortunately these cases are now limited for me because I am using an AmEx for both Marriott/Starwood and Hilton hotels.