I have the same feeling that all terminals in PRC have the opt-out feature, and they all have their different ways to disguise it. Some does it the "cancel button" way, some does it in a different yet much harder to crack way. Regarding detachable vs non-detachable pads, I've seen terminals with detachable PIN pads that don't display DCC options on the PIN pad, sadly. It was a 交行 machine. The PIN pad works with UnionPay cards for the PIN input, but remains dark for foreign cards that only require a signature. The DCC stuff happens on the terminal facing the cashier...

Regarding Global Payment in HK, aren't machines at high-end stores all use Global Payment machines? At least the one I encountered at a Italian restaurant in Harbour City and all the other I've seen at Hermes, LV and so forth are the same ones which print out same kind of DCC slips. At all of the places I mentioned above, I can get a confirmation slip if I insist, and the waiter at the Italian restaurant told me what they use is Global Payment... That's my logic in saying what I encountered at high-end stores is Global Payment.

And that's why I'm a little skeptical about the "Global Payment is totally un-compliant" thing.

I encountered this situation in 2012. Looks like it is still the same. I was not very happen when Danish people here in the forum explain why they do that, but after touring AU and NZ, I just don't care about CC surcharges anymore... But yes, in Denmark I didn't see the signage about the surcharge.

zyxlsy: how recent was this (Global Payments)?

And are they all thermal slips? The ones at coyote and greyhound are carbon.

One thing that makes me cringe is when the merchant swipes/dips your card and then feverishly pounds on the ENTER button until a receipt is generated. Often times, they'll be accepting DCC for you when that happens.

At London, DCC offered at hotel, but because the num pad was given to my wife she quickly pressed 2 to opt out.

And at Bar Boulud I think there was DCC but the waitress acknowledged my wish to be charged in pounds and may have opted us out.

How often in the UK do you have to prime the conversation with "charge in pound sterling"? I got hit at the Heathrow Airport Marriott. I'll be back for round 2 in May, and this time I will be prepared.

From what I read, Marriot Hotels in the UK are notorious for sticking in the check in slip which they shove in front of you a sentence accepting dcc as part of the mumble jumble few read and even if the bill is presented in sterling, the charge is submitted to the credit card network as a dcc charge and in some cases when you try to fight it, they produce the slip you signed and sorry you've been dcc'd.

Wasn't staying in a Marriott fortunately - too rich for my blood

Harrods is compliant now http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/u-k-i...l#post25613748

I still say charge pounds please before every time I hand a card over

That's what happened to me in Frankfurt. The opt-out was at check-in in some 6pt font embedded in the rate slip. All I got from the cashier was, "Sign here..." I believe - although it was 2.5 years ago - that I got the folio slipped under my door the next night and checked out by calling. I didn't see until I was already in the next city that I had been hit when there was a discrepancy between the charge and the Visa rate. The manager graciously offered to credit the DCC amount or give an ample amount of Marriott Rewards points. The value of the points vs. DCC was 1/2 cent per point acquisition cost, so I took that as the easier of the two options.

I'll report back in May on UK Marriotts. I'm definitely doing the one night at the airport, but I'm deciding if I want to Grosvenor House or another option.

My general experience in the UK (I'm a UK resident) is that smaller retailers do not know how to operate their terminals.

Even simple requests like printing a duplicate receipt, or even an initial receipt for contactless transactions, are apparently "impossible" according to some merchants. Most just press 'Enter' to anything that appears on their screen, including DCC. Fortunately chip and PIN has alleviated problems in some places, as some machines present the option directly to the customer. Although some machines continue to offer the option only on the merchant screen.

I don't bother trying to use my Euro card in the UK now. It is much easier to electronically transfer the money to my main UK account - at least I'm guaranteed the wholesale rate*.

* = There is a co-operative for international civil servants, who offer almost interbank rates without any fees, before anyone asks where I get this rate from.

During my most recent trip (2011), the only place where I got hit with DCC was at the LHR Marriott. It's been reported here that DCC isn't as problematic as it is in other places.

Hi percysmith.

The slips I've encountered have all been carbon slips on the machines which I believe are Global Payment machines. The Italian Restaurant at Harbour City thing was in 2014 during Xmas, and the machine looks very identical the ones I've encountered at Hermes and LV and so forth, with pearl-like buttons and a detachable wireless pinpad, printing out carbon copies.

On those machines, I can always get a currency confirmation slip if I insist. It is printed on the same kind of carbon slip, and it needs no actions from you, not like the "signature and DCC slip".

The restaurant printed the same kind of currency confirmation for me and they told me what they use is Global Payment.

If you've seen the DCC slips which I believe you have, they contain both local currency HKD and home currency. However the confirmation slips only contains HKD amount and have no mentioning of DCC.

It is like:

1) DCC slip, circle HKD and sign
2) Asking for a currency confirmation
3) Cashier inputs currency selection (so it is not forgotten, very important part that they don't simply just forget about it)
4) A second slip showing only HKD amount

Also at Tsui Hwa, I've seen machines printing out only the slips with HKD amount. It's like DCC is disabled by default on those machines. They print out carbon copies as well.

Has anyone disputed a transaction for DCC when they had selected locale currency. Did you dispute with your credit card and what was the outcome?

I have encountered also the need to print out two sets of carbon, one with check box and second one HKD only. This was when I advised the merchant HKD charge, is when the second carbon was printed. This was at a restaurant called 'Teawood'.

When else would you dispute it? If you willingly chose DCC, there is nothing to dispute.

So if you choose the locale currency and they use your currency it can't be disputed? I'm confused by your answer.