Sep 25, 2014, 2:08 am
Last edit by: eponymous_coward
American Express
Platinum ($450 Annual fee) http://www304.americanexpress.com/ge.../Platinum-Card
Plum Card (Business) ($250 Annual Fee) https://www.americanexpress.com/us/s...dit-cards/plum
Delta Reserve Card ($450 Annual Fee) https://www304.americanexpress.com/c...ta-credit-card
Delta Platinum Card ($195 Annual Fee) https://www304.americanexpress.com/credit-card/skymiles
Delta Gold Card ($95 Annual Fee) https://www304.americanexpress.com/c...delta-skymiles
Starwood Preferred Guest Card ($95 Annual Fee)https://www.americanexpress.com/us/c...referred-guest
Associated Credit Union Visa Platinum Preferred (no annual fee) http://www.acuonline.org/home/products/credit
Bank of America
Alaska Airlines Visa Signature cards, both personal and business ($75 Annual Fee) see the wikipost in this thread for signup links (which periodically change)
Amtrak Guests Rewards (two versions, one version with no annual fee) http://agr.amtrak.com/apply/
BankAmericard Travel Rewards (no annual fee; includes chip with online PIN as backup CVM) https://www.bankofamerica.com/credit...credit-card.go
Celebrity Cruises ($69 Annual Fee) https://www.bankofamerica.com/credit...credit-card.go
Barclays
Arrival Card ($0 Annual Fee) http://www.barclaycardarrival.com/ar...4&cellNumber=1
Arrival Plus Card ($89 Annual Fee) http://www.barclaycardarrival.com/
Carnival Cruises FunPoints ($0 Annual Fee) https://www.barclaycardus.com/apply/...2&cellNumber=2
Hawaiian Airlines ($89 Annual Fee) http://www.hawaiianairlinescard.com/
Lufthansa Miles & More Card ($79 Annual Fee, waived for certain miles & more members) https://www.barclaycardus.com/apply/...erid=BCSHP1214
Princess Cruises Card ($0 Annual Fee) https://www.barclaycardus.com/apply/...1&cellNumber=3
AAdvantage Aviator Red MasterCard ($89 Annual Fee; new applications not available)
Priceline Rewards ($0 Annual Fee)https://home.barclaycardus.com/cards...visa-card.html
Capital One --all cards http://www.capitalone.com/creditcard...ts/browse-all/ also see partner cards http://www.capitalone.com/creditcard...04_T_CCBRWPTNR
Chase
IHG Rewards Club Select ($49 fee, waived 1st yr, one free hotel night cert. yearly) https://creditcards.chase.com/credit...edit-card.aspx (previously known as Priority Club Select)
Hyatt ($75 annual fee, one free hotel night cert. yearly for category 1-4 hotels) https://creditcards.chase.com/credit...yatt-card.aspx
Marriott Rewards Premier ($85 annual fee, waived 1st yr, one free hotel night cert. yearly for category 1-5 hotels) https://creditcards.chase.com/credit...dit-cards.aspx
British Airways ($95 annual fee, 2-for-1 cert. after $30k annual spend) https://creditcards.chase.com/credit...edit-card.aspx
JP Morgan Select Visa (has both chip & signature and magnetic strip--$95 fee, waived 1st yr, has primary rental car coverage) https://creditcards.chase.com/credit...lect-card.aspx
Sapphire Preferred ($95 fee, waived 1st yr, 20% point discount on travel, 7% annual points bonus) https://creditcards.chase.com/credit...rred-card.aspx
United MileagePlus Club card ($395 annual fee, $100 statement credit, United Club membership, 2 free checked bags on UA, UA Premier Access) https://creditcards.chase.com/credit...edit-card.aspx
United MileagePlus Explorer card ($95 annual fee waived first year; 30K-55K sign-up bonus, depending on landing page offer [see UA forum for more info], free checked bag on UA, priority boarding on UA) https://creditcards.chase.com/credit...edit-card.aspx
Ink Bold Business ($95 annual fee, waived first year)
https://www.chase.com/online/busines...s/ink-bold.htm
Ink Plus Business ($95 annual fee, waived first year)
https://creditcards.chase.com/ink-bu.../ink-plus-card
Ritz-Carlton Rewards Credit Card (has both chip & signature and magnetic strip--$395 Annual fee. Has primary rental car coverage) https://creditcards.chase.com/credit...lton-card.aspx http://www.ritzcarltonrewardscard.com/home.php?pid=home
Citi
ThankYou Premier ($125 annual fee, waived 1st yr) https://www.citi.com/credit-cards/cr...er-credit-card
Prestige ($450 annual fee) https://www.citi.com/credit-cards/cr...-prestige-card
Executive AAdvantage ($450 annual fee) https://www.citi.com/credit-cards/cr...ite-mastercard
Expedia+ Voyager ($95 annual fee) https://www.citi.com/credit-cards/cr...a-plus-voyager
Hilton HHonors Reserve ($95 annual fee) https://www.citi.com/credit-cards/cr...s-reserve-card
AAdvantage Platinum MC ($95 annual fee, waived first year, retention offers may be possible subsequent years) -- as of 15 Nov 2015
Costco Anywhere Visa (no separate annual fee, requires a paid Costco Membership) https://www.citi.com/credit-cards/cr...sa-credit-card
Discover --all cards. no annual fee.
http://www.discovercard.com/credit-cards/
HSBC--several cards (But be careful--many of these cards have *very* low limits. The
Premier card, no annual fee, is a notable exception.) http://www.premiercardbenefits.com/1/2/3/
PenFed --all cards
examples:
Amex (no annual fee) https://www.penfed.org/productsandra...cards/amex.asp
Promise Visa (no annual fee) https://www.penfed.org/productsandra...romisecard.asp
Petal https://www.petalcard.com/ (Issued by WebBank, no AF, 1-1.5% cashback based on on timely payment, non-traditional approvals without credit scoring possible)
Navy Federal Credit Union --all cards
https://www.navyfederal.org/products...reditcards.php
Andrews FCU GlobeTrek Rewards Visa (No Annual Fee/Supports Chip & Pin) https://www.andrewsfcu.org/credit_ca...k_rewards.html
State Dept FCU Visa Platinum EMV Card (No Annual Fee/Supports Chip & Pin) https://www.sdfcu.org/emv-creditcards
San Francisco Fire Credit Union Platinum Visa (no annual fee) http://www.sffirecu.org/loans/credit-cards
Synchrony Bank/Cathay Pacific Signature Visa ($95 AF, no waiver, 1.5 Asia Miles per USD): https://us.cathaypacific.com/offers/credit-card/
Union Bank Graphite American Express ($99 annual fee, waived first year)
https://www.unionbank.com/personal-b...ards/index.jsp
**please check UA Fan's excellent list to see current bonus sign-up offers**
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/miles...er-thread.html
Platinum ($450 Annual fee) http://www304.americanexpress.com/ge.../Platinum-Card
Plum Card (Business) ($250 Annual Fee) https://www.americanexpress.com/us/s...dit-cards/plum
Delta Reserve Card ($450 Annual Fee) https://www304.americanexpress.com/c...ta-credit-card
Delta Platinum Card ($195 Annual Fee) https://www304.americanexpress.com/credit-card/skymiles
Delta Gold Card ($95 Annual Fee) https://www304.americanexpress.com/c...delta-skymiles
Starwood Preferred Guest Card ($95 Annual Fee)https://www.americanexpress.com/us/c...referred-guest
Associated Credit Union Visa Platinum Preferred (no annual fee) http://www.acuonline.org/home/products/credit
Bank of America
Alaska Airlines Visa Signature cards, both personal and business ($75 Annual Fee) see the wikipost in this thread for signup links (which periodically change)
Amtrak Guests Rewards (two versions, one version with no annual fee) http://agr.amtrak.com/apply/
BankAmericard Travel Rewards (no annual fee; includes chip with online PIN as backup CVM) https://www.bankofamerica.com/credit...credit-card.go
Celebrity Cruises ($69 Annual Fee) https://www.bankofamerica.com/credit...credit-card.go
Barclays
Arrival Card ($0 Annual Fee) http://www.barclaycardarrival.com/ar...4&cellNumber=1
Arrival Plus Card ($89 Annual Fee) http://www.barclaycardarrival.com/
Carnival Cruises FunPoints ($0 Annual Fee) https://www.barclaycardus.com/apply/...2&cellNumber=2
Hawaiian Airlines ($89 Annual Fee) http://www.hawaiianairlinescard.com/
Lufthansa Miles & More Card ($79 Annual Fee, waived for certain miles & more members) https://www.barclaycardus.com/apply/...erid=BCSHP1214
Princess Cruises Card ($0 Annual Fee) https://www.barclaycardus.com/apply/...1&cellNumber=3
AAdvantage Aviator Red MasterCard ($89 Annual Fee; new applications not available)
Priceline Rewards ($0 Annual Fee)https://home.barclaycardus.com/cards...visa-card.html
Capital One --all cards http://www.capitalone.com/creditcard...ts/browse-all/ also see partner cards http://www.capitalone.com/creditcard...04_T_CCBRWPTNR
Chase
IHG Rewards Club Select ($49 fee, waived 1st yr, one free hotel night cert. yearly) https://creditcards.chase.com/credit...edit-card.aspx (previously known as Priority Club Select)
Hyatt ($75 annual fee, one free hotel night cert. yearly for category 1-4 hotels) https://creditcards.chase.com/credit...yatt-card.aspx
Marriott Rewards Premier ($85 annual fee, waived 1st yr, one free hotel night cert. yearly for category 1-5 hotels) https://creditcards.chase.com/credit...dit-cards.aspx
British Airways ($95 annual fee, 2-for-1 cert. after $30k annual spend) https://creditcards.chase.com/credit...edit-card.aspx
JP Morgan Select Visa (has both chip & signature and magnetic strip--$95 fee, waived 1st yr, has primary rental car coverage) https://creditcards.chase.com/credit...lect-card.aspx
Sapphire Preferred ($95 fee, waived 1st yr, 20% point discount on travel, 7% annual points bonus) https://creditcards.chase.com/credit...rred-card.aspx
United MileagePlus Club card ($395 annual fee, $100 statement credit, United Club membership, 2 free checked bags on UA, UA Premier Access) https://creditcards.chase.com/credit...edit-card.aspx
United MileagePlus Explorer card ($95 annual fee waived first year; 30K-55K sign-up bonus, depending on landing page offer [see UA forum for more info], free checked bag on UA, priority boarding on UA) https://creditcards.chase.com/credit...edit-card.aspx
Ink Bold Business ($95 annual fee, waived first year)
https://www.chase.com/online/busines...s/ink-bold.htm
Ink Plus Business ($95 annual fee, waived first year)
https://creditcards.chase.com/ink-bu.../ink-plus-card
Ritz-Carlton Rewards Credit Card (has both chip & signature and magnetic strip--$395 Annual fee. Has primary rental car coverage) https://creditcards.chase.com/credit...lton-card.aspx http://www.ritzcarltonrewardscard.com/home.php?pid=home
Citi
ThankYou Premier ($125 annual fee, waived 1st yr) https://www.citi.com/credit-cards/cr...er-credit-card
Prestige ($450 annual fee) https://www.citi.com/credit-cards/cr...-prestige-card
Executive AAdvantage ($450 annual fee) https://www.citi.com/credit-cards/cr...ite-mastercard
Expedia+ Voyager ($95 annual fee) https://www.citi.com/credit-cards/cr...a-plus-voyager
Hilton HHonors Reserve ($95 annual fee) https://www.citi.com/credit-cards/cr...s-reserve-card
AAdvantage Platinum MC ($95 annual fee, waived first year, retention offers may be possible subsequent years) -- as of 15 Nov 2015
Costco Anywhere Visa (no separate annual fee, requires a paid Costco Membership) https://www.citi.com/credit-cards/cr...sa-credit-card
Discover --all cards. no annual fee.
http://www.discovercard.com/credit-cards/
HSBC--several cards (But be careful--many of these cards have *very* low limits. The
Premier card, no annual fee, is a notable exception.) http://www.premiercardbenefits.com/1/2/3/
PenFed --all cards
examples:
Amex (no annual fee) https://www.penfed.org/productsandra...cards/amex.asp
Promise Visa (no annual fee) https://www.penfed.org/productsandra...romisecard.asp
Petal https://www.petalcard.com/ (Issued by WebBank, no AF, 1-1.5% cashback based on on timely payment, non-traditional approvals without credit scoring possible)
Navy Federal Credit Union --all cards
https://www.navyfederal.org/products...reditcards.php
Andrews FCU GlobeTrek Rewards Visa (No Annual Fee/Supports Chip & Pin) https://www.andrewsfcu.org/credit_ca...k_rewards.html
State Dept FCU Visa Platinum EMV Card (No Annual Fee/Supports Chip & Pin) https://www.sdfcu.org/emv-creditcards
San Francisco Fire Credit Union Platinum Visa (no annual fee) http://www.sffirecu.org/loans/credit-cards
Synchrony Bank/Cathay Pacific Signature Visa ($95 AF, no waiver, 1.5 Asia Miles per USD): https://us.cathaypacific.com/offers/credit-card/
Union Bank Graphite American Express ($99 annual fee, waived first year)
https://www.unionbank.com/personal-b...ards/index.jsp
**please check UA Fan's excellent list to see current bonus sign-up offers**
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/miles...er-thread.html
USA Cards with no Foreign Transaction Fees
Mar 7, 2012, 1:34 am
#121
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: SNA, LAX
Programs: TK Elite+(*G), UA*S, IHG Plat, Avis First
Posts: 43
Sorry if this is already been mentioned, but the JCB USA card has no forex fees. It's not as widely accepted as VISA/MC/AMEX, but they recently signed a reciprocal agreement with Discover and Union Pay in China for more acceptance.
The only drawback is I believe you may have to live in certain states to qualify (like CA or HI) for some of the cards. http://www.jcbusa.com/
The only drawback is I believe you may have to live in certain states to qualify (like CA or HI) for some of the cards. http://www.jcbusa.com/
Mar 12, 2012, 1:01 pm
#123
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: USA
Programs: DL PM, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 2,367
Sorry if this is already been mentioned, but the JCB USA card has no forex fees. It's not as widely accepted as VISA/MC/AMEX, but they recently signed a reciprocal agreement with Discover and Union Pay in China for more acceptance.
The only drawback is I believe you may have to live in certain states to qualify (like CA or HI) for some of the cards. http://www.jcbusa.com/
The only drawback is I believe you may have to live in certain states to qualify (like CA or HI) for some of the cards. http://www.jcbusa.com/
Mar 13, 2012, 2:37 pm
#124
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: SHV
Programs: Nada :(
Posts: 109
I just wanted to chime in and say that I like the foreign transactions on my chase Sapphire. They charged me within 2% of the exchange rate quoted on xe.com, much better then I have been charged in the past.
Mar 13, 2012, 3:16 pm
#125
Join Date: Jul 2007
Posts: 1,762
Chase sapphire comes in 2 varieties....the premium one with an $85 annual fee (first year free) with no foreign transaction fee and the ones for the masses with a 3% foreign transaction fee (pass along 1% mc fee and 2% Chase). Which one do you have?
Mar 13, 2012, 4:30 pm
#126
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: SHV
Programs: Nada :(
Posts: 109
The premium sorry, the one with no fees, but im sure that we have all seen different exchange rates that can be from 2-5% worse instead of fees.
Mar 13, 2012, 4:44 pm
#127
Join Date: Jul 2007
Posts: 1,762
Ever since the law suit regarding disclosure of foreign currency and foreign transaction fees, that has not been all that much of an issue, at least I've found that to be so. Almost all the banks I deal with are upfront about the fees and when I check say with xe, usually they're spot on. Remember the conversion occurs when the transaction hits the international system and it does vary all through the day (but not by really all that much). At least that's my experience; perhaps you have had different experiences.
Mar 14, 2012, 5:07 am
#128
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: HaMerkaz/Exit 145
Programs: UA, LY, BA, AA
Posts: 13,167
Mar 14, 2012, 8:08 am
#129
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: NYC
Posts: 8,498
Ever since the law suit regarding disclosure of foreign currency and foreign transaction fees, that has not been all that much of an issue, at least I've found that to be so. Almost all the banks I deal with are upfront about the fees and when I check say with xe, usually they're spot on. Remember the conversion occurs when the transaction hits the international system and it does vary all through the day (but not by really all that much). At least that's my experience; perhaps you have had different experiences.
For example, from March 6 to March 9, the Mexican peso gained almost 3% on the USD, so a purchase on March 6 that posted on March 9 might appear to be 3% worse than the exchange rate quoted by xe on March 6 even though the credit card isn't charging any fees.
Mar 14, 2012, 11:19 am
#130
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: SHV
Programs: Nada :(
Posts: 109
When I first moved to the US I would use my credit card that had "no fees" I think it was a scotiabank visa gold, and I would pay almost 5% worse then the xe.com rate, and the relative values were not really changing that much. I think I have used another US no fee card that also had 3+% variations from the daily rates. I dunno I am pretty happy with 2%, thats below the interbank buy price normally.
Mar 14, 2012, 12:04 pm
#131
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: NYC
Posts: 8,498
When I first moved to the US I would use my credit card that had "no fees" I think it was a scotiabank visa gold, and I would pay almost 5% worse then the xe.com rate, and the relative values were not really changing that much. I think I have used another US no fee card that also had 3+% variations from the daily rates. I dunno I am pretty happy with 2%, thats below the interbank buy price normally.
Mar 23, 2012, 2:41 pm
#132
Moderator: British Airways Executive Club
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: TPA/ABZ
Programs: BA Lifetime Gold. GGL/CCR.
Posts: 13,243
I'm having a problem with Chase at the moment which is related to this discussion.
I have the capacity to put quite a lot on my credit card monthly through work with a supplier in the UK but they only take VISA or MC. Until I moved to the US, I used to use a UK MC but now have a US Chase BA VISA so that I can collect points that are useful to me.
So, I've put a substantial amount through in the first month and am now looking at the numbers on my Chase statement. There is a significant discrepancy between the XE.com rates on the day and the rates that seem to have been applied to the transactions which amounts to about $1,000 loss to me on exchange in three transactions. I've called Chase and they need me to fax a letter to their Corporate Correspondence section which I'll do.
Chase tell me they use the WSJ daily rate. I can't see a history of these on the web so am using the XE.com historical rates for my calculations. The most recent is only three days ago. I'm assuming that the XE.com rates will mirror the WSJ rates quite closely?
The most recent transaction I put through was for Ł6,500 on 20th Mar. The XE.com rate on the day was 1.5845 which should have amounted to $10,299. The figure posted is $10,613.
I just wondered whether anyone else has come across this before and whether anyone has any experience of this kind of dispute with the likes of Chase?
Thanks
I have the capacity to put quite a lot on my credit card monthly through work with a supplier in the UK but they only take VISA or MC. Until I moved to the US, I used to use a UK MC but now have a US Chase BA VISA so that I can collect points that are useful to me.
So, I've put a substantial amount through in the first month and am now looking at the numbers on my Chase statement. There is a significant discrepancy between the XE.com rates on the day and the rates that seem to have been applied to the transactions which amounts to about $1,000 loss to me on exchange in three transactions. I've called Chase and they need me to fax a letter to their Corporate Correspondence section which I'll do.
Chase tell me they use the WSJ daily rate. I can't see a history of these on the web so am using the XE.com historical rates for my calculations. The most recent is only three days ago. I'm assuming that the XE.com rates will mirror the WSJ rates quite closely?
The most recent transaction I put through was for Ł6,500 on 20th Mar. The XE.com rate on the day was 1.5845 which should have amounted to $10,299. The figure posted is $10,613.
I just wondered whether anyone else has come across this before and whether anyone has any experience of this kind of dispute with the likes of Chase?
Thanks
Mar 23, 2012, 3:00 pm
#133
Join Date: Jul 2007
Posts: 1,762
I'm having a problem with Chase at the moment which is related to this discussion.
I have the capacity to put quite a lot on my credit card monthly through work with a supplier in the UK but they only take VISA or MC. Until I moved to the US, I used to use a UK MC but now have a US Chase BA VISA so that I can collect points that are useful to me.
So, I've put a substantial amount through in the first month and am now looking at the numbers on my Chase statement. There is a significant discrepancy between the XE.com rates on the day and the rates that seem to have been applied to the transactions which amounts to about $1,000 loss to me on exchange in three transactions. I've called Chase and they need me to fax a letter to their Corporate Correspondence section which I'll do.
Chase tell me they use the WSJ daily rate. I can't see a history of these on the web so am using the XE.com historical rates for my calculations. The most recent is only three days ago. I'm assuming that the XE.com rates will mirror the WSJ rates quite closely?
The most recent transaction I put through was for Ł6,500 on 20th Mar. The XE.com rate on the day was 1.5845 which should have amounted to $10,299. The figure posted is $10,613.
I just wondered whether anyone else has come across this before and whether anyone has any experience of this kind of dispute with the likes of Chase?
Thanks
I have the capacity to put quite a lot on my credit card monthly through work with a supplier in the UK but they only take VISA or MC. Until I moved to the US, I used to use a UK MC but now have a US Chase BA VISA so that I can collect points that are useful to me.
So, I've put a substantial amount through in the first month and am now looking at the numbers on my Chase statement. There is a significant discrepancy between the XE.com rates on the day and the rates that seem to have been applied to the transactions which amounts to about $1,000 loss to me on exchange in three transactions. I've called Chase and they need me to fax a letter to their Corporate Correspondence section which I'll do.
Chase tell me they use the WSJ daily rate. I can't see a history of these on the web so am using the XE.com historical rates for my calculations. The most recent is only three days ago. I'm assuming that the XE.com rates will mirror the WSJ rates quite closely?
The most recent transaction I put through was for Ł6,500 on 20th Mar. The XE.com rate on the day was 1.5845 which should have amounted to $10,299. The figure posted is $10,613.
I just wondered whether anyone else has come across this before and whether anyone has any experience of this kind of dispute with the likes of Chase?
Thanks
Send to Chase Customer service a letter stateing you are disputing the following charges (outline them in yellow) on the grounds they have not followd their rules and used the retail transaction rate.
I believe the actual conversion is done by visa.
Tell them you are filing this letter of complaint under the US law on biling error disputes. They then have to investigate and report back to you duing which time they are prohibited from taking any enforcement activities on the disputed amounts.
At least that is what I would do.
Mar 23, 2012, 3:02 pm
#134
Moderator: British Airways Executive Club
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: TPA/ABZ
Programs: BA Lifetime Gold. GGL/CCR.
Posts: 13,243
Use the xe.com site where you can put in a currency, a convert to currency, an amount and a date...do each of the transaction separately and put them on a spread sheet (date, local currency, xe amount, chase amount...
Send to Chase Customer service a letter stateing you are disputing the following charges (outline them in yellow) on the grounds they have not followd their rules and used the retail transaction rate.
I believe the actual conversion is done by visa.
Tell them you are filing this letter of complaint under the US law on biling error disputes. They then have to investigate and report back to you duing which time they are prohibited from taking any enforcement activities on the disputed amounts.
At least that is what I would do.
Send to Chase Customer service a letter stateing you are disputing the following charges (outline them in yellow) on the grounds they have not followd their rules and used the retail transaction rate.
I believe the actual conversion is done by visa.
Tell them you are filing this letter of complaint under the US law on biling error disputes. They then have to investigate and report back to you duing which time they are prohibited from taking any enforcement activities on the disputed amounts.
At least that is what I would do.
Mar 23, 2012, 5:16 pm
#135
Join Date: Jul 2007
Posts: 1,762
There is one other possibility here that I just thought of. There is a scam known as dynamic currency conversion. When you use an American credit card in the UK, the merchant is supposed to write the charge up in British currency, submit it through his visa account and the currency conversion is done by visa. About 15 years ago, in a scam that started in Ireland and has metastasized throughout the world, many of the credit card processors tout to their clients the ability to do the currency transaction at the point of sale. From the numbers of the credit card, it is determined your card was issued by a US bank, and the terminal suggests to the merchant their customer might preer the certainty of knowing how much the charge is in their currency. In other words, the currency conversion is done there. The merchant tells the customers it is for their convenience. What the merchant doesn't tell the customers is they use a very much inflated rate of exchange and the processor by passes the visa currency conversion system. The charge enters the system in the United States at the rate it was written up for and the merchant gets a kick back from the profit on scamming the customer.
Now in theory, dynamic currency conversion is only allowed if the customers says yes to being scammed. Some merchants try to do it without asking. Some lie to the customer they have no control over it (when the terminal, because of the visa regs asks them before the transacton is completed which currency the customer is requesting, local currency or their currency). I have had all sorts of fights with merchants pulling this wihtout asking.
If the rate is so much worse than it's supposed to be, I would wage a nickel that is what the merchant pulled on you without asking.
Now in theory, dynamic currency conversion is only allowed if the customers says yes to being scammed. Some merchants try to do it without asking. Some lie to the customer they have no control over it (when the terminal, because of the visa regs asks them before the transacton is completed which currency the customer is requesting, local currency or their currency). I have had all sorts of fights with merchants pulling this wihtout asking.
If the rate is so much worse than it's supposed to be, I would wage a nickel that is what the merchant pulled on you without asking.