LOTS of gripes related to credit cards and foreign currencies, and recent changes have been WAY underreported by the consumer media.

Visa, for example, recently decided to change its exchange rates to ones it decides on, rather than wholesale or government rates. Then the banks like Wells Fargo or Citibank will pile on 2%, 3% or flat fees, sometimes both.

It's yet another case of big banks inventing fees and then trying to see how much customers will tolerate. None of it is even remotely driven by costs (the industry has been a declining cost industry for years, with all technology investments well offset by labor cost savings).

Fortunately my credit union doesn't play along. I can do unlimited Visa cash advances outside the U.S. with no cash advance fee and no "conversion fees."

I think CapitalOne is also still a major holdout on not charging the "conversion fees," as are many smaller issuers. On the ATM side, check out online banks like State Farm Bank, which can do unlimited ATMs with no fees from their side and even rebates (up to a limit) if the ATM surcharges.

Definitely vote with your feet. In my case if I had the same activity with a company like Citibank the extra cost would be like having to pay about a $200 annual fee on the card!