UK Reservation Added 5% to Credit Card when made Advance Payment - 2nd Time
Dec 11, 2016, 3:08 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: Los Angeles, CA, USA
Programs: United Global Services, Lifetime Hilton Diamond
Posts: 353
UK Reservation Added 5% to Credit Card when made Advance Payment - 2nd Time
For the 2nd time this year, when I made an Advance Purchase reservation which required full payment, I noticed that I was charged a 5% fee of some type in the conversion process. I only caught it last time in February when I had an original reservation for 9 nights prepaid and added on 1 more night the same day when I had to change my flight by a day. On my credit card, there was a 5% additional charge for one of the reservations- otherwise, I might not have noticed.
Last time, I spoke with the Hilton Honors Diamond desk and they put me in touch with their advance purchase department and saw that instead of being charged in GBP, I was first charged in Euros and then converted to GBP and then to USD. My United credit card has no international conversion fees, so I was able to see the rate charged. Has anyone else had this happen? Is it unique to UK bookings or might it be that since their central reservations are in Eastern Europe, they do not all know that the United Kingdom does not use the Euro?
Last time, I spoke with the Hilton Honors Diamond desk and they put me in touch with their advance purchase department and saw that instead of being charged in GBP, I was first charged in Euros and then converted to GBP and then to USD. My United credit card has no international conversion fees, so I was able to see the rate charged. Has anyone else had this happen? Is it unique to UK bookings or might it be that since their central reservations are in Eastern Europe, they do not all know that the United Kingdom does not use the Euro?
Dec 11, 2016, 3:25 am
#2
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: Singapore and KL
Programs: HH Diamond, BA Gold, Marriott Platinum Premier, IHG Gold, Phyllis Court Junior Member
Posts: 360
It sounds like borderline fraud to me - I'd inform the property in writing that you'll be initiating a chargeback if this fee is not removed, given that you were not advised of it at time of purchase.
Dec 13, 2016, 2:45 am
#4
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: NW London and NW Sydney
Programs: BA Diamond, Hilton Bronze, A3 Diamond, IHG *G
Posts: 6,344
Also make sure that they refund the original DCC'd amount, not some spurious amount that results in you getting less USD back. If not, contact the card issuer.
If you think the Fed will be raising rates tomorrow then I'd wait a bit, as the USD should go up a little. Then when the hotel refunds you it will have to pay out more GBP which will serve it right for trying the DCC scam.
If you think the Fed will be raising rates tomorrow then I'd wait a bit, as the USD should go up a little. Then when the hotel refunds you it will have to pay out more GBP which will serve it right for trying the DCC scam.
Dec 13, 2016, 9:08 am
#5
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: Los Angeles, CA, USA
Programs: United Global Services, Lifetime Hilton Diamond
Posts: 353
Thanks for the advice. I spoke with one of the Front Desk managers at the Doubletree West End who was able to research that I was charged in USD instead of GBP which was the reason for the surcharge for the "dynamic currency" or should I say profit center for the property. With it happening 2 times this year. It makes me wonder if it is policy unless someone catches it.