Yes, when there is a fixed exchange rate and "classic" DCC hits you, it's just as much as a scam as with a flexible rate.

However, when it's like in the Maldives or Lebanon, where they can run "native" USD transactions, it's no scam but actually beneficial to all USD account holders.

Slightly different topic: My Swiss Credit card company (Corner) informed me about changed (increased) rates: Now when you get DCC'ed, you get slapped just as well a 1.2% surcharge (before it was 0% extra for DCC and 0.9% for non-DCC so DCC was slightly less bad - still bad, just a tiny bit less) as with any regular transaction.

Yes, it seems that the credit card companies want to milk the cow till it drops dead. One decade ago, I thought credit cards will make my travel life easier.. now, I think more and more different..

Sometime around 2004 or so, they took a wrong turn..

Rats, Sixt just hit me with DCC... I didn't check the contract! :mad::mad::mad:

The rental car industry are scum, so this is no surprise. They really don't care how much you hate them and they know their competition is all just as bad.

With car co (as with hotel deposit holding), why not AE?

Took a look at the rental contract, there was a mention of DCC there, but it was not highlighted by the agent (the contract had various circles he made while explaining me the terms). I wrote to Sixt this morning venting my disappointment with how I was hit with DCC and how I could avoid it in the future. They came back immediately with a apology and a 20€ credit ^:cool:

Because my CSP comes with a zero deductible CDW.

Yeah, rental cars are a difficult scenario. I too like to use my CSP because it provides primary all country coverage (even the difficult countries for CDW), so I'd prefer it over my AmEx.

So is there a clear way on how to avoid DCC with them?

Amex would be primary outside the USA for CDW.

Amex excludes the following countries from rental car coverage: Australia, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, and New Zealand. CSP rental car coverage is valid in all countries.

Chase' coverage in primary in the United States, while Amex coverage in the US is secondary.

In addition, depending on the card type and options selected, the Amex coverage is limited to between $75,000- $100,000 for damage or theft. CSP has no such dollar limit. Chase excludes from coverage "expensive, exotic, antique automobiles; certain vans; trucks; motorcycles, mopeds and motorbikes; limousines; and recreational vehicles."* I've been assured by a Chase representative that most models of Audi, BMW and Mercedes Benz are covered.

* From the "Letter of Coverage" provided me by Chase at my request.

I thought the premium car rental protection was primary? (This comes with a fee for each rental, of course, whereas CSP includes it as a benefit at no additional cost.)

I don't know. I was comparing the included benefits, not the ones which cost extra.

Why would I want to pay an extra fee per rental for something that is included in the annual fee of another card which I carry?

You wouldn't if you had both cards. However, before CSP became primary, AmEx's car rental protection was usually a better buy and something I did overseas. Now I just use CSP, but it still exposes me to DCC in non-USD denominated locations. Admittedly, the only location where I've rented recently where this is the case has been Australia with Hertz, and fellow FT member and I klashn saw no attempt at DCC.

I have Costo AE and the blue cash every day AE. Both slug a 3% foreign currency transaction fee. So the choice is pay AF to AE, get slugged 3% fee, or DCC with Visa/Master card. Or just withdraw cash and pay in cash, but for bigger transactions you can insist on no DCC.

Rock and a hard place. If the DCCed Visa comes with CDW waiver then that may very well be the decider.