Dynamic Currency Conversion (DCC)
#61
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: SJC
Programs: AA, AS, Marriott
Posts: 6,027
I've typically found that fast food locations do not offer DCC. (Not universal, but it's rare.)
#63
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Miami, FL
Programs: UA 1MM, AA Plat Pro, Marriott LT Titanium, Hyatt Glob, IHG ♢ Amb, Hilton ♢, Hertz Pres
Posts: 6,008
Add the Hyatt Regency and the Sheraton on the Park (both in Sydney) to the list of companies who attempt this scam at checkout. Disgusting practice imo.
Also add Bangkok Le Meridien to the list! In fact, for the Le Meridien it was a prepaid reservation and they took it upon themselves to utilize DCC for me - without approval! It was a 4.4% up-charge using DCC. Ugh. I am now working to get that changed. I truly hate this scam.
Also add Bangkok Le Meridien to the list! In fact, for the Le Meridien it was a prepaid reservation and they took it upon themselves to utilize DCC for me - without approval! It was a 4.4% up-charge using DCC. Ugh. I am now working to get that changed. I truly hate this scam.
Last edited by TravelinSperry; Feb 25, 2017 at 2:47 am
#64
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: SJC
Programs: AA, AS, Marriott
Posts: 6,027
Fellow FlyerTalk member klashn and I ate at a Foster's Hollywood in Madrid, and paid via card. The BBVA terminal was brought to the table, and a DCC prompt was presented. The DCC offer was 3.75% and $42.66 on the terminal on a €38.70 bill.
I told the waitress in Spanish to push the button for euros. We were initially a bit confused at the DCC prompt, so I pressed cancel, which cancelled the whole transactions. Oops. Then we realized that the terminal had a touchscreen. The next time around we pressed the EUR button on the touchscreen and then the subsequent screen was a confirmation. Upon continuing a DCC free receipt printed:
I would say the BBVA terminals are generally compliant, but it might present problems if you're not proactive about your currency choice and/or have a language barrier. Perhaps it would be wise to memorize the phrase as you hand over your card, "Si hay una opcin, pulse el botn por euros, por favor." For instance, klashn got hit with DCC in Barcelona 3 years ago at a souvenir shop, but the transaction occurred without any words or preference of currency choice.
I think as long as there is no language barrier and the terminals are similar to BBVA, there shouldn't be a problem to opt out of DCC successfully in Spain.
I told the waitress in Spanish to push the button for euros. We were initially a bit confused at the DCC prompt, so I pressed cancel, which cancelled the whole transactions. Oops. Then we realized that the terminal had a touchscreen. The next time around we pressed the EUR button on the touchscreen and then the subsequent screen was a confirmation. Upon continuing a DCC free receipt printed:
I would say the BBVA terminals are generally compliant, but it might present problems if you're not proactive about your currency choice and/or have a language barrier. Perhaps it would be wise to memorize the phrase as you hand over your card, "Si hay una opcin, pulse el botn por euros, por favor." For instance, klashn got hit with DCC in Barcelona 3 years ago at a souvenir shop, but the transaction occurred without any words or preference of currency choice.
I think as long as there is no language barrier and the terminals are similar to BBVA, there shouldn't be a problem to opt out of DCC successfully in Spain.
#65
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Cambridge, UK
Posts: 261
Fellow FlyerTalk member klashn and I ate at a Foster's Hollywood in Madrid, and paid via card. The BBVA terminal was brought to the table, and a DCC prompt was presented. The DCC offer was 3.75% and $42.66 on the terminal on a 38.70 bill.
I told the waitress in Spanish to push the button for euros. We were initially a bit confused at the DCC prompt, so I pressed cancel, which cancelled the whole transactions. Oops. Then we realized that the terminal had a touchscreen. The next time around we pressed the EUR button on the touchscreen and then the subsequent screen was a confirmation.
I told the waitress in Spanish to push the button for euros. We were initially a bit confused at the DCC prompt, so I pressed cancel, which cancelled the whole transactions. Oops. Then we realized that the terminal had a touchscreen. The next time around we pressed the EUR button on the touchscreen and then the subsequent screen was a confirmation.
Recently, I have found Spain to be fully compliant. DCC is still widespread (even on contactless), but at least staff are now more familiar with it. My advice would be to always retain control of the reader until the transaction is fully complete and you have the receipt, since DCC can be offered even after the transaction looks to be completed.
#66
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: SJC
Programs: AA, AS, Marriott
Posts: 6,027
I've made the same mistake with touchscreen terminals in Spain too. It isn't clear that the machine is touchscreen, until it comes to DCC. Since the on-screen options are green and red, you assume it is telling you to press those buttons. I bet pressing the green button would accept DCC.
Recently, I have found Spain to be fully compliant. DCC is still widespread (even on contactless), but at least staff are now more familiar with it. My advice would be to always retain control of the reader until the transaction is fully complete and you have the receipt, since DCC can be offered even after the transaction looks to be completed.
Recently, I have found Spain to be fully compliant. DCC is still widespread (even on contactless), but at least staff are now more familiar with it. My advice would be to always retain control of the reader until the transaction is fully complete and you have the receipt, since DCC can be offered even after the transaction looks to be completed.
I do think that Spain sees enough non-euro cards to know what to do, and I didn't feel like they were trying to opt us in to DCC at either of the two locations. We weren't in a tourist area, so perhaps they don't see many non-euro cards. Thanks for the information on contactless payments. I thought that generally contactless payments with a signature waiver prohibit DCC? I used contactless extensively (via Android Pay) in Italy, and I never once saw DCC.
#67
Moderator: Lufthansa Miles & More, India based airlines, India, External Miles & Points Resources
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: MUC
Programs: LH SEN
Posts: 48,001
I was hit with DCC in Dublin last week:
Super pissed, obviously no one asked me or 'offered a choice of currency'
Code:
RENTAL CHARGES DAYS 2 @ 12.87 25.74 SUBTOTAL 25.74 A DISCOUNT 20.00% -5.15 SUBTOTAL 20.59 A LOCATION SURCHARGE 22.91 A CREDIT CARD FEE 5.00 VAT 5.87 TOTAL CHARGES 54.37 EUR EXCH RATE (Incl Conversion Charge) 1.103 CARD TRANSACTION AMOUNT 59.97 USD I have been offered a choice of currency and chosen to pay my rental charges in the currency of my card.
#68
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: SJC
Programs: AA, AS, Marriott
Posts: 6,027
#69
Moderator: Travel Safety/Security, Travel Tools, California, Los Angeles; FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: LAX
Programs: oneword Emerald
Posts: 20,474
I was hit with DCC in Dublin last week:
Super pissed, obviously no one asked me or 'offered a choice of currency'
Code:
RENTAL CHARGES DAYS 2 @ 12.87 25.74 SUBTOTAL 25.74 A DISCOUNT 20.00% -5.15 SUBTOTAL 20.59 A LOCATION SURCHARGE 22.91 A CREDIT CARD FEE 5.00 VAT 5.87 TOTAL CHARGES 54.37 EUR EXCH RATE (Incl Conversion Charge) 1.103 CARD TRANSACTION AMOUNT 59.97 USD I have been offered a choice of currency and chosen to pay my rental charges in the currency of my card.
#71
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: SJC
Programs: AA, AS, Marriott
Posts: 6,027
At least Chase offers a relatively easy way to dispute DCC online. I've not had an issue with Hertz overseas in the past, but in full disclosure the last European Hertz rental I had was nearly 7 years ago. (The last international rental was over a year ago in Australia, and there was no DCC.)
#72
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Florida
Posts: 29,731
Dispute it.
See upthread my experience with a DCC in Dubai by a restaurant using the CSR. I filled out dispute online. Indian call center called me and informed me the process to charge back.
The 45 days or 60 days time frame that the merchant can rebill has not passed yet but chances are, this restaurant may not rebill. If they dont, the credit becomes permanent.
I believe in previous year's thread someone said Hilton? Beijing DCCed him for a hotel bill that was over $1K. Hotel never answered the dispute and the total amount was off his account permanently.
Got to fight this scam so the merchants would less prone to attempt.
See upthread my experience with a DCC in Dubai by a restaurant using the CSR. I filled out dispute online. Indian call center called me and informed me the process to charge back.
The 45 days or 60 days time frame that the merchant can rebill has not passed yet but chances are, this restaurant may not rebill. If they dont, the credit becomes permanent.
I believe in previous year's thread someone said Hilton? Beijing DCCed him for a hotel bill that was over $1K. Hotel never answered the dispute and the total amount was off his account permanently.
Got to fight this scam so the merchants would less prone to attempt.
#75
Ambassador, Hong Kong and Macau
Join Date: May 2009
Location: HKG
Programs: Non-top tier Asia Miles member
Posts: 19,671