DCC: Dynamic Currency Conversion (2017-2025)
Aug 10, 2023 | 11:42 am
#1051
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: Los Feliz-Los Angeles (BUR/LAX) Arun Baheti
Programs: UA MM/Gold; HH something depending; Marriott Gold; other opportunistic statuses
Posts: 1,942
Beyond that, the predominance of USD denominated cards in the US makes it less lucrative for a small business to enable DCC on a standalone terminal. For instance, at a souvenir shop in NYC, what percentage of transactions will still be from USD cards versus a souvenir shop at a major cruise port city in Europe seeing cards denominated in local currency, especially for places not using the euro? You also mentioned not seeing DCC on Toast, Square, and equivalent terminals, which are ubiquitous in the US at small and independent merchants.
Finally, customer service attitudes, the indifference of many retail employees, customer facing terminals in retail settings, and self checkout options all favor the customer's ability to avoid DCC. When my sister-in-law saw DCC in a couple of retail environments with her AUD card, it appeared that the cashier didn't have any control over the currency selection. I say this because I asked her to wait for me to take a photo, and the cashier seemed to be waiting for input on the customer's part. One of the few cases where the customer wouldn't have access to the terminal would be in a restaurant, but customer service (and the prospect of a bad tip) would avoid DCC there. It's not like elsewhere in the world where from our own experiences staff seem to be trained to direct or force DCC upon customers. We've seen multiple posts here of people asking employees to opt out of DCC proactively, and the employees feigning surprise by replying, "Let's see what happens. Oh, it looks like it charged in your home currency. I can't do anything to fix it."
Finally, customer service attitudes, the indifference of many retail employees, customer facing terminals in retail settings, and self checkout options all favor the customer's ability to avoid DCC. When my sister-in-law saw DCC in a couple of retail environments with her AUD card, it appeared that the cashier didn't have any control over the currency selection. I say this because I asked her to wait for me to take a photo, and the cashier seemed to be waiting for input on the customer's part. One of the few cases where the customer wouldn't have access to the terminal would be in a restaurant, but customer service (and the prospect of a bad tip) would avoid DCC there. It's not like elsewhere in the world where from our own experiences staff seem to be trained to direct or force DCC upon customers. We've seen multiple posts here of people asking employees to opt out of DCC proactively, and the employees feigning surprise by replying, "Let's see what happens. Oh, it looks like it charged in your home currency. I can't do anything to fix it."
As a very frequent cross border traveler, my experiences with DCC in the US have almost exclusively been at large, national retail chains. The TJX chains immediately come to mind as my most recent experience but it happens at others as well. These are all situations where it's easy to decline as the option shows up on the customer facing digital signature pad.
Aug 10, 2023 | 11:55 am
#1052
Join Date: Apr 2014
Location: San Jose, CA
Posts: 111
Yep, been there, seen that. For a while I could battle that with a PIN-preferring credit card by replying "I won't enter my PIN until you find a way to fix it", but since proliferation of DCC post PIN entry I had to be doubly vigilant and just hold on to the terminal until the transaction was completed.
Aug 10, 2023 | 12:24 pm
#1053
Join Date: Jan 2014
Posts: 507
Years ago, back when TD Bank's regular credit card (and debit, for that matter) was FTF, I used it in Canada at a restaurant. The server at a restaurant must have chosen USD by default, as I had not been given a choice or informed at all. I noticed it when we left the restaurant and I did a chargeback. I got the difference between DCC and regular rate back after a few weeks, so not sure if they did an actual chargeback or just refunded me the difference.
FWIW, looks like Walmart does not do DCC, as I had used my Polish card there. So, so far only Walgreens. I will test out a few more big chains in the next few weeks.
FWIW, looks like Walmart does not do DCC, as I had used my Polish card there. So, so far only Walgreens. I will test out a few more big chains in the next few weeks.
Aug 10, 2023 | 12:31 pm
#1054
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: SJC
Programs: AA, AS, Marriott
Posts: 6,957
Yep, been there, seen that. For a while I could battle that with a PIN-preferring credit card by replying "I won't enter my PIN until you find a way to fix it", but since proliferation of DCC post PIN entry I had to be doubly vigilant and just hold on to the terminal until the transaction was completed.
Aug 10, 2023 | 12:56 pm
#1055
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: San Diego, CA
Programs: GE, Marriott Platinum
Posts: 15,742
For all of my frustrations at the general lack of availability of chip-and-PIN cards from US issuers - I was frantically trying to pay for gas at a Shell station in Norway last week where the pump kept rejecting my card! - being able to deface a signature slip and taking a photo of that is one option unavailable with a chip-and-PIN card. In the case of DCC post PIN entry, there may be limited recourse if DCC gets accepted.
Aug 10, 2023 | 11:17 pm
#1056
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: IND
Posts: 301
I'll continue to use AMEX as my first choice overseas until Visa/MC put an end to this nonsense
Aug 11, 2023 | 9:36 am
#1057
Join Date: Apr 2014
Location: San Jose, CA
Posts: 111
The most annoying PIN entry setup I've seen was in Jordan (but at least they're very upfront about the currency they basically ask you before they run whether you want to pay X in dinars or Y in $$) when you're prompted for the PIN the amount is nowhere in sight. They basically tell you "we will charge this" and give you the terminal. I think that was at the border when I was paying for the entry visa, can't recall if I saw that anywhere else there.
Aug 11, 2023 | 10:33 am
#1058
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: SJC
Programs: AA, AS, Marriott
Posts: 6,957
The most annoying PIN entry setup I've seen was in Jordan (but at least they're very upfront about the currency — they basically ask you before they run whether you want to pay X in dinars or Y in $$) — when you're prompted for the PIN the amount is nowhere in sight. They basically tell you "we will charge this" and give you the terminal. I think that was at the border when I was paying for the entry visa, can't recall if I saw that anywhere else there.
Aug 23, 2023 | 10:41 am
#1059
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: NYC
Posts: 434
The most annoying PIN entry setup I've seen was in Jordan (but at least they're very upfront about the currency they basically ask you before they run whether you want to pay X in dinars or Y in $$) when you're prompted for the PIN the amount is nowhere in sight. They basically tell you "we will charge this" and give you the terminal. I think that was at the border when I was paying for the entry visa, can't recall if I saw that anywhere else there.
Aug 24, 2023 | 7:04 am
#1060
Join Date: Apr 2014
Location: San Jose, CA
Posts: 111
Interesting, that's approximately the same time I went I was there in May 2017. I was at the Eilat border crossing, were you at the same one?
Aug 31, 2023 | 7:39 pm
#1062
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: SJC
Programs: AA, AS, Marriott
Posts: 6,957
A FlyerTalk member was in Cape Town a couple of days ago. On this day, the Visa rate was 1 ZAR = 0.053999 USD, so it was a 13.15% markup in reality for a savings of $7.60 by declining DCC.
Aug 31, 2023 | 11:58 pm
#1063
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2010
Programs: DL, OZ, AC, AS, AA, BA, Hilton, Hyatt, Marriott, IHG
Posts: 21,004
I feel like an idiot for not asking for the terminal before handing over my credit card. I'm in Paris and I see no evidence that the incidental and room rate is being charged in USD. Obviously, I want to be charged in Euros to get the best possible rate. The receipt shows a pre-authorization of 266.63. I'm assuming no DCC? At check out, I'm guessing just the room rate will be dedicated from the pre-authorization and the rest will be refunded back to my card?
Sep 1, 2023 | 1:01 am
#1064
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: Hawai'i Nei
Programs: Au: HA, UA, Marriott, Hilton; GE
Posts: 7,808
I feel like an idiot for not asking for the terminal before handing over my credit card. I'm in Paris and I see no evidence that the incidental and room rate is being charged in USD. Obviously, I want to be charged in Euros to get the best possible rate. The receipt shows a pre-authorization of €266.63. I'm assuming no DCC? At check out, I'm guessing just the room rate will be dedicated from the pre-authorization and the rest will be refunded back to my card?
But, do double-check your credit card statement: I did the above cautionary measures in Beijing, and Conrad still ended up charging me in dollars rather than RMB. I disputed the $62 difference with Chase, and the Conrad never responded, so Chase voided the $1200 charge!
Last edited by 747FC; Sep 1, 2023 at 2:03 pm Reason: Error fixed
Sep 1, 2023 | 1:29 am
#1065
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: SJC
Programs: AA, AS, Marriott
Posts: 6,957
Make sure you have a receipt from the credit card terminal when settling the final bill. If the DCC verbiage isn't printed and you only see a amount, there isn't DCC.