Dynamic Currency Conversion (DCC)
#436
Join Date: May 2003
Location: Paris
Programs: AA LT Plat (4m+), AF Plat, A3 Gold, Hyatt Globalist, Marriott Plat, IHG Plat/Ambassador
Posts: 2,645
I would agree. I have asked merchants to reverse the transactions when I don't authorize it to be billed in USD. Usually I am asked but a few times the shopkeepers didn't and billed me in USD. When I explain to them that's a 7% hit (sometimes less, sometimes more) they all say they didn't know that-- which I believe. Global Blue and banks don't exactly train people about their trickery....
#437
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Asia-Pacific
Programs: AA PPRO, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 121
Visa appears to have updated the rule language for disputing transactions involving DCC for transactions processed on or after April 14, 2018.
Check out the Visa Product and Service Rules, Chapter 11, section 11.9.3.1 (page 694 of the document)
https://usa.visa.com/dam/VCOM/downlo...les-public.pdf
Most chargebacks involving DCC would probably fall under this language:
"Dynamic Currency Conversion (DCC) occurred and the Cardholder did not agree to DCC and did not make an active choice or was refused the choice of paying in the Merchant's local currency."
However, of interest is the section following: 11.9.3.2, which indicates under Dispute Rights:
"The Dispute applies for the entire Transaction amount."
I reside in Hong Kong part of the year and am constantly having restaurants charge me in USD (I use US-based cards with a 0% fee), even though I have specifically checked the box to be charged in HKD on the receipt. I even have the carbon copy of the receipt where it clearly shows that I have checked the box. I'm so tired of this... based on the official Visa language above, does anyone think the US card issuers would honor a chargeback for the entire amount? I haven't tried this yet, but have had success in the past with disputing a partial amount (the DCC mark-up).
Check out the Visa Product and Service Rules, Chapter 11, section 11.9.3.1 (page 694 of the document)
https://usa.visa.com/dam/VCOM/downlo...les-public.pdf
Most chargebacks involving DCC would probably fall under this language:
"Dynamic Currency Conversion (DCC) occurred and the Cardholder did not agree to DCC and did not make an active choice or was refused the choice of paying in the Merchant's local currency."
However, of interest is the section following: 11.9.3.2, which indicates under Dispute Rights:
"The Dispute applies for the entire Transaction amount."
I reside in Hong Kong part of the year and am constantly having restaurants charge me in USD (I use US-based cards with a 0% fee), even though I have specifically checked the box to be charged in HKD on the receipt. I even have the carbon copy of the receipt where it clearly shows that I have checked the box. I'm so tired of this... based on the official Visa language above, does anyone think the US card issuers would honor a chargeback for the entire amount? I haven't tried this yet, but have had success in the past with disputing a partial amount (the DCC mark-up).
#439
Ambassador, Hong Kong and Macau
Join Date: May 2009
Location: HKG
Programs: Non-top tier Asia Miles member
Posts: 19,671
Visa appears to have updated the rule language for disputing transactions involving DCC for transactions processed on or after April 14, 2018.
Check out the Visa Product and Service Rules, Chapter 11, section 11.9.3.1 (page 694 of the document)
https://usa.visa.com/dam/VCOM/downlo...les-public.pdf
Most chargebacks involving DCC would probably fall under this language:
"Dynamic Currency Conversion (DCC) occurred and the Cardholder did not agree to DCC and did not make an active choice or was refused the choice of paying in the Merchant's local currency."
However, of interest is the section following: 11.9.3.2, which indicates under Dispute Rights:
"The Dispute applies for the entire Transaction amount."
I reside in Hong Kong part of the year and am constantly having restaurants charge me in USD (I use US-based cards with a 0% fee), even though I have specifically checked the box to be charged in HKD on the receipt. I even have the carbon copy of the receipt where it clearly shows that I have checked the box. I'm so tired of this... based on the official Visa language above, does anyone think the US card issuers would honor a chargeback for the entire amount? I haven't tried this yet, but have had success in the past with disputing a partial amount (the DCC mark-up).
Check out the Visa Product and Service Rules, Chapter 11, section 11.9.3.1 (page 694 of the document)
https://usa.visa.com/dam/VCOM/downlo...les-public.pdf
Most chargebacks involving DCC would probably fall under this language:
"Dynamic Currency Conversion (DCC) occurred and the Cardholder did not agree to DCC and did not make an active choice or was refused the choice of paying in the Merchant's local currency."
However, of interest is the section following: 11.9.3.2, which indicates under Dispute Rights:
"The Dispute applies for the entire Transaction amount."
I reside in Hong Kong part of the year and am constantly having restaurants charge me in USD (I use US-based cards with a 0% fee), even though I have specifically checked the box to be charged in HKD on the receipt. I even have the carbon copy of the receipt where it clearly shows that I have checked the box. I'm so tired of this... based on the official Visa language above, does anyone think the US card issuers would honor a chargeback for the entire amount? I haven't tried this yet, but have had success in the past with disputing a partial amount (the DCC mark-up).
The practice pre-dates the 2018 VP&SR change.
It's just US banks choosing to discharge their responsibilities to their customers by paying the difference out of their pocket rather than go through the whole Reason Code 76 filing. The rule change changes nothing.
#440
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: SJC
Programs: AA, AS, Marriott
Posts: 6,027
I reside in Hong Kong part of the year and am constantly having restaurants charge me in USD (I use US-based cards with a 0% fee), even though I have specifically checked the box to be charged in HKD on the receipt. I even have the carbon copy of the receipt where it clearly shows that I have checked the box.
I always thought it was the whole amount that you were disputing because the Reason Code 76 was to get the merchant to rerun the transaction in local currency.
#441
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: Hawai'i Nei
Programs: Au: UA, Marriott, Hilton; GE
Posts: 7,095
From the information you posted, it sounds like Visa is taking a hard line in the customer's favor, and making it clear to everyone that ignoring customer's DCC choices would be unwise for the merchant.
#443
Suspended
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Kan@da
Programs: Anything with sweet spots
Posts: 1,790
As I have mentioned earlier in this thread, that is exactly what happened to me. Several years ago, I was staying at the Conrad Beijing and paid by CC. My hotel receipt shows the transaction in Renminbi. After I returned home, I got my statement and the charge was DCCd. I called into Chase's dispute line to challenge what was a $60 difference, and they initially disputed the entire transaction pending Conrad's explanation. When Conrad never responded, they voided the entire $1000+ bill.
From the information you posted, it sounds like Visa is taking a hard line in the customer's favor, and making it clear to everyone that ignoring customer's DCC choices would be unwise for the merchant.
From the information you posted, it sounds like Visa is taking a hard line in the customer's favor, and making it clear to everyone that ignoring customer's DCC choices would be unwise for the merchant.
#445
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: ELP
Programs: AAdvantage, Amex MR
Posts: 2,309
Surprising Conrad wouldnt at least respond to a disputed transaction and be willing to just let a grand go by the wayside.
Although if a transaction is disputed to a large merchant like Conrad/Hilton, who would be the one to respond? The manager of the hotel? Someone in Hilton corporate office?
Although if a transaction is disputed to a large merchant like Conrad/Hilton, who would be the one to respond? The manager of the hotel? Someone in Hilton corporate office?
#446
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: San Diego, CA
Programs: GE, Marriott Platinum
Posts: 15,486
It might simply be a matter of chargebacks for the entire amount being much easier to deal with than dealing with what proportion of the charge to claw back, especially when exchange rates get involved. The consequences for non-compliant merchants becoming worse is a nice side effect.
#447
Ambassador, Hong Kong and Macau
Join Date: May 2009
Location: HKG
Programs: Non-top tier Asia Miles member
Posts: 19,671
Surprising Conrad wouldnt at least respond to a disputed transaction and be willing to just let a grand go by the wayside.
Although if a transaction is disputed to a large merchant like Conrad/Hilton, who would be the one to respond? The manager of the hotel? Someone in Hilton corporate office?
Although if a transaction is disputed to a large merchant like Conrad/Hilton, who would be the one to respond? The manager of the hotel? Someone in Hilton corporate office?
#448
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: LAS/GRU/DUB
Programs: Amex, JPMR, Nexus
Posts: 365
DCC is obviously a scam but in my particular case it was especially blatant. I used my UK-issued debit card for a purchase in Dublin (Euro) and even though my bank (Citi) lets me link the card to the local currency (GBP/EUR/USD) to avoid the exchange rates and the 2.7% fee, the restaurant in IRL was quick to offer me a choice of 21 EUR or 20 GBP (!!!) as a balance even though the card WAS linked to the EUR account. Imagine anyone uninformed thinking paying in GBP is a better deal.
#449
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: SJC
Programs: AA, AS, Marriott
Posts: 6,027
That's 6% over the current Visa or MC rate!
Mrs. Majuki and I are touring around. I met up with percysmith Tuesday evening in Hong Kong. The only DCC offer I saw was at a Lush cosmetics shop. Mrs. Majuki made her usual stop at Francfranc, which does have DCC, but Google Pay was able to avoid the DCC offer completely. I used AmEx for my hotel stay, so there were no other DCC offers that I saw. At Lush, the cashier seemed pleased when I was quick to choose HKD. "Ah, good.."
We're now in the Maldives, but since all of the hotels use USD as the transaction currency there are no DCC offers either. I wanted to pay by credit card at the National Museum gift shop, but the cashier said that foreign transactions are subject to a $5 surcharge. (Perhaps I misunderstood.) Seeing as I was only purchasing a $4 refrigerator magnet, it made no sense to do a card transaction, but I would have liked to have seen whether or not the card transaction was a native USD transaction or processed in MVR. I went to the new Burger King by the ferry terminal in Mal for lunch, but I only had USD on me. They gladly accepted USD and gave change in MVR. The exchange rate used was the real exchange rate, so I was surprised there was no markup. My only other experience has been places like Niagara Falls or Vancouver where places will accept USD but at unfavorable exchange rates.
Mrs. Majuki and I are touring around. I met up with percysmith Tuesday evening in Hong Kong. The only DCC offer I saw was at a Lush cosmetics shop. Mrs. Majuki made her usual stop at Francfranc, which does have DCC, but Google Pay was able to avoid the DCC offer completely. I used AmEx for my hotel stay, so there were no other DCC offers that I saw. At Lush, the cashier seemed pleased when I was quick to choose HKD. "Ah, good.."
We're now in the Maldives, but since all of the hotels use USD as the transaction currency there are no DCC offers either. I wanted to pay by credit card at the National Museum gift shop, but the cashier said that foreign transactions are subject to a $5 surcharge. (Perhaps I misunderstood.) Seeing as I was only purchasing a $4 refrigerator magnet, it made no sense to do a card transaction, but I would have liked to have seen whether or not the card transaction was a native USD transaction or processed in MVR. I went to the new Burger King by the ferry terminal in Mal for lunch, but I only had USD on me. They gladly accepted USD and gave change in MVR. The exchange rate used was the real exchange rate, so I was surprised there was no markup. My only other experience has been places like Niagara Falls or Vancouver where places will accept USD but at unfavorable exchange rates.
#450
Join Date: May 2003
Location: Paris
Programs: AA LT Plat (4m+), AF Plat, A3 Gold, Hyatt Globalist, Marriott Plat, IHG Plat/Ambassador
Posts: 2,645
6% is obscene but that is DCC for you. Seems very much in line with what I have seen as their exchange rates.
I wish someone could file a class action suit against the biggest offenders-- Global Blue, banks...
I wish someone could file a class action suit against the biggest offenders-- Global Blue, banks...