Issues involving foreign exchange conversion rates
#91
Join Date: May 1998
Posts: 6,790
I am truly surprised that Marriott allows them to get away with this.
#92
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: SZX/HKG/BWI
Programs: UA 1K 1.1MM, CX Diam 1.0MM, Bonvoy LT Titanium, Hertz PC, MGM Pearl
Posts: 2,637
Same was asked upon checkout at Marriott SkyCity Hong Kong Airport.
The lady at the counter asked what my preference was for the final charge: a currency conversion direct to USD or no conversion Hong Kong Dollars. I asked to be charged in HK Dollars and she checked as such. On the bill given back to me, a typed 'X' was present on the HKD.
This isn't a surprise to me though, buying Duty-Free in International Airports for example, I'm always prompted by the cashier to either pay local currency or do the direct conversion. Just be careful.
The lady at the counter asked what my preference was for the final charge: a currency conversion direct to USD or no conversion Hong Kong Dollars. I asked to be charged in HK Dollars and she checked as such. On the bill given back to me, a typed 'X' was present on the HKD.
This isn't a surprise to me though, buying Duty-Free in International Airports for example, I'm always prompted by the cashier to either pay local currency or do the direct conversion. Just be careful.
#93
Join Date: May 1998
Posts: 6,790
Same was asked upon checkout at Marriott SkyCity Hong Kong Airport.
The lady at the counter asked what my preference was for the final charge: a currency conversion direct to USD or no conversion Hong Kong Dollars. I asked to be charged in HK Dollars and she checked as such. On the bill given back to me, a typed 'X' was present on the HKD.
The lady at the counter asked what my preference was for the final charge: a currency conversion direct to USD or no conversion Hong Kong Dollars. I asked to be charged in HK Dollars and she checked as such. On the bill given back to me, a typed 'X' was present on the HKD.
As you say, "Just be careful."
#94
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Maryland
Programs: United, Turkish
Posts: 640
This is such a good thread I thought I would add my 2 cents. They tried this scam on me at a Cologne Hotel. the new "wrinkle" was that I had booked the hotel through Booking.com and had agreed that they could charge my credit card card on booking. Card is capital 1 so I pay no Foreign exchange fees. When they presented the receipt in the morning it had DCC with the usual rip off rate. I got all the standard lies . "The bank makes us do it", "it's not us it's the bank" "It's the standard exchange rate" etc etc etc. I do have some advantages. I speak German and I've taught law and technology in Germany and the USA. My German lawyer lives only a few miles away. After listening to Hotelier crap for 10 minutes I suggested calling the criminal police and making it a police matter. They quickly refunded the charge and I paid cash. I have had 10 emails exchanged with Booking.com asking why they do not prohibit their contract partners from making these totally unauthorized transactions. They have yet to give a satisfactory answer.
I urge everyone to fight this scam/fraud with every tool at your disposal. You will help every traveler
I urge everyone to fight this scam/fraud with every tool at your disposal. You will help every traveler
#95
Join Date: Jul 2007
Posts: 1,762
This is such a good thread I thought I would add my 2 cents. They tried this scam on me at a Cologne Hotel. the new "wrinkle" was that I had booked the hotel through Booking.com and had agreed that they could charge my credit card card on booking. Card is capital 1 so I pay no Foreign exchange fees. When they presented the receipt in the morning it had DCC with the usual rip off rate. I got all the standard lies . "The bank makes us do it", "it's not us it's the bank" "It's the standard exchange rate" etc etc etc. I do have some advantages. I speak German and I've taught law and technology in Germany and the USA. My German lawyer lives only a few miles away. After listening to Hotelier crap for 10 minutes I suggested calling the criminal police and making it a police matter. They quickly refunded the charge and I paid cash. I have had 10 emails exchanged with Booking.com asking why they do not prohibit their contract partners from making these totally unauthorized transactions. They have yet to give a satisfactory answer.
I urge everyone to fight this scam/fraud with every tool at your disposal. You will help every traveler
I urge everyone to fight this scam/fraud with every tool at your disposal. You will help every traveler
I think I related here in this thread although I don't want to go back through it that I had this scam attempted on me about 3 times thiks past summer in Ireland. In each case, they relented as soon as I brought it up. The only time they didn't relent was at Burger King in Dublin with the usual lies. I finally did what I said above and when I got home, I submitted a dispute. I wanted to really dig the knife into them, have the charge returned to them (it was a Schwab investors reward card, no foreign transaction fee in any event).....the difference on a charge of 7 was about 45 US (I submitted the dispute by fax which I don't pay for rather than snail mail which would have cost me the diffeence anyway; after all it's the principale of the matter). Boy was I disappointed when I heard back from FIA that in the interest of good customer relations, they were refunding the 45 and not charging the transaction back. Damn; I really wanted to teach those thieves a lesson.
#96
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: All over
Programs: Most
Posts: 10,839
Just had this happen at Renaissance Beijing Capital City. Took 25 minutes to sort it out. The personnel in the Club lounge insisted that the charge would be in local currency even when the dollar amount was clearly show, although much smaller font and the word that there is no commission etc.
They also said that every body else always pays this. I did check and this "no commission" transaction would have cost me exactly 4% compared to the spot rate. Asked to speak with the manger on duty. He was aware of this issue and run it through another POS at the front desk.
Let me repeat. This is nothing more than a SCAM. The hotel will get a kickback from the bank when they are using these inflated rates.
They also said that every body else always pays this. I did check and this "no commission" transaction would have cost me exactly 4% compared to the spot rate. Asked to speak with the manger on duty. He was aware of this issue and run it through another POS at the front desk.
Let me repeat. This is nothing more than a SCAM. The hotel will get a kickback from the bank when they are using these inflated rates.
Last edited by holtju2; Nov 1, 2011 at 5:25 pm
#97
Join Date: Nov 2010
Programs: WN peon (was A+), IHG Plat Hilton HHonors Gold DL SkyPesos PM (still a peon) US Chmn, Hawaiian Haole
Posts: 1,166
Great thread!
Thanks to the OP & all the replies!
#98
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Maryland
Programs: United, Turkish
Posts: 640
FWIW if you are a bank of America customer you don't pay any fee and get the best exchange rate at Deutsche Bank ATMs
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#99
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: Shanghai
Posts: 41,824
You should have dropped me a line because my office is in the Cap Ren (I would have put you in touch with one of the more competent staff members); I also probably could have fetched you a better rate. Yeah, all the Marriotts in BJ do DCC, and I haven't been able to affect any change yet, in spite of knowing all the managers. Very annoying. Bank of Communications is the true culprit, but that doesn't get Marriott off the hook.
Did you happen to notice the procedure for the DCC opt out? We have an enormous thread about DCC in the China forum, but we have yet to crack JiaoHang's POS machines.
Did you happen to notice the procedure for the DCC opt out? We have an enormous thread about DCC in the China forum, but we have yet to crack JiaoHang's POS machines.
#101
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: DCA / WAS
Programs: DL 2+ million/PM, YX, Marriott Plt, *wood gold, HHonors, CO Plt, UA, AA EXP, WN, AGR
Posts: 9,388
Perhaps the mods can create a sticky thread of Marriott properties that engaged in this kind of behavior. It would be a real service to those of us who travel internationally - either to avoid those hotels or to know how to make them bill us in local currency/avoid DCC.
My contribution: Marriott (FS) in Milan. Details in a report I just posted in the Marriott Milan thread.
My contribution: Marriott (FS) in Milan. Details in a report I just posted in the Marriott Milan thread.
#102
Suspended
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Thailand
Programs: Marriott - P; HH - G; Hyatt - P; Avis - LT First
Posts: 5,023
and if this thread is started, add Beijing City Wall (along with every damn restaurant in the city!)
Perhaps the mods can create a sticky thread of Marriott properties that engaged in this kind of behavior. It would be a real service to those of us who travel internationally - either to avoid those hotels or to know how to make them bill us in local currency/avoid DCC.
#105
Suspended
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Thailand
Programs: Marriott - P; HH - G; Hyatt - P; Avis - LT First
Posts: 5,023