Global Blue Refund discrepancy
 

Global Blue is a VAT/ Sales tax refunding company (I think a private company, but might be somehow funded by the EU as a QGO). When retail purchases of goods for export are made, a form is produced by the retailer, and this is then stamped by customs officers at the departure airport, when leaving the EU. Those stamped forms are then given to a separate clerk at a Global Blue office (also pre-security at the airport). A credit slip (like a credit card billing slip) is produced and indicates the refund amount.

All of this has worked for me before, and also worked well on my most recent trip to Berlin, Germany. The Global Blue people presumably profit on the difference between the full 20%+ VAT that is paid and refunded to them and the approximately 12-14% that is in turn refunded by Global Blue to the customer. I accept that markup as their cost of doing business. But something else happened this trip...

The Global Blue slip indicated a refund amount of 137 Euros. But my AMEX account (which took about a week to process the credit) is indicating an amount of $138 (should be over $150 at 1.1/1.0 USD rate to the Euro). I thought it might be DCC, but the slip clearly states the refund amount in Euros. And AMEX has no clue why it came through in a lower amount and in dollars. I've opened a case with AMEX, but credits are not handled like regular disputed charge transactions, rendering any resolution more complex.

Does anyone know what is going on with Global Blue? Are they secretly re-processing credits and taking out more $$$ ?

I really don't believe the refund was processed in EUR, but in USD. In summary, Global Blue gets to decide what bogus exchange rate to use for the card refund. I think the card refund is still better than the instant cash and commission there, but not by much. It is stated in the fine print, but they don't disclose the rate.

Essentially, from 21% vat original, you will get only 10 to 12% back.

The whole situation feels like a sham, but I know most people feel something is better than nothing.

My refunds are still procesing, but here are some examples.

Premier Tax Free (likely same as Planet Tax Free)
IVA 116.28 EUR
Expected 85.50 EUR
Posted card credit 86.19 USD

Planet Tax Free
IVA 24.16 EUR
Expected 16.50 EUR
Posted card credit 16.63 USD

Global Blue
IVA 23.70 EUR
Expected 16.84 EUR
Posted card credit 17.43 USD

Global Blue
IVA 10.16 EUR
Expected 6.14 EUR
Posted card credit 6.25 USD

Read here: https://cs.globalblue.com/s/article/...language=en_US

I travel quite a bit to Germany. I try to avoid these services as much as I can when I shop there and instead ask the merchant for a direct tax refund after exporting the goods. Many stores in Germany are willing to do that.

Has anyone had an experience with Global Blue refund to credit card where your number has since changed? My card was stolen since I filed the refund claim to my credit card. Will Chase figure out the new card number (same account) where the refund should go? This is why I prefer getting refund onsite, but of course, they hope you forget about it and say they will send it to your credit card. This is the second one Ive been waiting on that has not returned. One is now over one year for $1,000.

You should not wait more than a month from submission. If you have kept copies, you should ask Global Blue for a status update. It may be possible to update the card number if it is being processed maybe via the app or something similar.

Worse case is getting a check mailed, again using some bogus exchange rate.

Cash Refund
 

I just had the exact same thing happen. Very dishonest! ​​​​​​I wondered why so many people were asking for cash refunds at the airport. They run you through the ringer to get it. They customs officers make you show every single item that you purchased, so you would have to haul all of that stuff to the window to make it happen. Then you get screwed by the bank on depositing the cash when returning home anyway. I am just going to take a breath and enjoy what we bought. We still got some money back, but I just paid some bonuses for the Global Blue folks! Enjoy a few hundred pints on me, fellas!
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Pre-pandemic I was able to take out a VAT refund in Euro cash, after all from the refund processor e.g. Global Blue has been leeched (e.g. https://www.hongkongcard.com/forum/show/6982?page=1 #17)

Just been back from Spain where applying for a cash refund, I was informed by Global Blue AGP that I am not eligible for EUR cash refund "as a foreigner", and must choose a foreign currency to receive VAT refunds on. Having chosen USD, I was given USD 10 for my EUR 11.78 (my total refund was EUR 12.20) - only in Global Blue's universe can you get USDs that are worth more than EURs. Morgan Stanley Ireland must be doing their (magical fantasyland) currency conversion:

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