Best card for foreign exchange?
Jan 28, 2007 | 2:23 pm
#1006
Suspended
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Alabama / Georgia
Programs: DL, HHonors, AA, US, Aloha Pass, BA, CO, HawaiianMiles, Chairman, Centurion, AXP, MR, MHC Gold
Posts: 3,467
Jan 29, 2007 | 2:28 pm
#1007
Join Date: Apr 2000
Location: Palm Beach/ New England
Programs: AA EXP 3MM, DL GM, Marriott Platinum
Posts: 4,459
Capital One: still no surcharge as of January 2007.
Both the Platinum Capital One card, and my older, standard-format Capital One card showed no surcharge in the UK (for transactions in GBP, billable to the cardholder in USD)
Both the Platinum Capital One card, and my older, standard-format Capital One card showed no surcharge in the UK (for transactions in GBP, billable to the cardholder in USD)
Jan 29, 2007 | 4:11 pm
#1008
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: kalamazoo, mi
Programs: aadvantage
Posts: 126
sorry I started this potboiler,but to clarify further..
1. I did not try to imply that I had done something that anyone had not done.
2. purchases were made IN USA online from Antillies based vendors.
3. Services were billed IN US DOLLARS from Antillies vendors.
4. From what I had read in some posts it sounded like that ANY foreign purchases made in EITHER US or foreign funds incurred ASSORTED FEES (not just dollar exchange fees) wether the cardholder was in US OR the foreign country.
5.Some of you were very helpful in clarifying this subject, others appeared to be put out with my post or just rude. I am new at this , but if I am out of line I will stop posting.
Thanks
1. I did not try to imply that I had done something that anyone had not done.
2. purchases were made IN USA online from Antillies based vendors.
3. Services were billed IN US DOLLARS from Antillies vendors.
4. From what I had read in some posts it sounded like that ANY foreign purchases made in EITHER US or foreign funds incurred ASSORTED FEES (not just dollar exchange fees) wether the cardholder was in US OR the foreign country.
5.Some of you were very helpful in clarifying this subject, others appeared to be put out with my post or just rude. I am new at this , but if I am out of line I will stop posting.
Thanks
Jan 29, 2007 | 5:28 pm
#1009
In memoriam
Join Date: Jan 2006
Posts: 4,020
Don't get discouraged. We learn by sharing. ^
Jan 29, 2007 | 6:20 pm
#1010
Suspended
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Alabama / Georgia
Programs: DL, HHonors, AA, US, Aloha Pass, BA, CO, HawaiianMiles, Chairman, Centurion, AXP, MR, MHC Gold
Posts: 3,467
Don't worry about it. The best thing you did was use an old thread on a similar topic without starting a new one. A lot of people start a new thread without reading or searching and that really is something to get flamed about.
You did see the post I made that said some vendors are not using Antilles based processing even though they are in the Antilles. Many websites are US based processing and most .com, .net, .org and others are US based regardless of where the company actually is located or doing business.
You did see the post I made that said some vendors are not using Antilles based processing even though they are in the Antilles. Many websites are US based processing and most .com, .net, .org and others are US based regardless of where the company actually is located or doing business.
Jan 29, 2007 | 7:58 pm
#1011
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: kalamazoo, mi
Programs: aadvantage
Posts: 126
ok, thanx for the encouragment. The people in the antilles are a german couple who rent out apartments, we also pay for windsurfing owned by a local and a car rental owned by(probably) a dutch company as they have a dutch manager, but all locals work the rental business. we will charge out some meals and such when we are there this Feb and see if we get any"surprise charges" They do bill out in US dollars using the "standard "rate of 1.75 guilders to 1 US dollar, the actual rate floats and you can get a better exchange using guilders exchanged at the bank and paying cash.
Jan 29, 2007 | 11:40 pm
#1012
Join Date: May 1998
Location: Naples FL, Munich DE
Programs: UA MM, AA 2MM, Marriott LT Titanium, Hilton Gold
Posts: 6,816
All of the charge slips (produced on thermal paper or something similar) were on a local bank (different banks), so I infer that these were processed through the Antilles-based systems.
Jan 30, 2007 | 1:54 pm
#1013
Suspended
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Alabama / Georgia
Programs: DL, HHonors, AA, US, Aloha Pass, BA, CO, HawaiianMiles, Chairman, Centurion, AXP, MR, MHC Gold
Posts: 3,467
ok, thanx for the encouragment. The people in the antilles are a german couple who rent out apartments, we also pay for windsurfing owned by a local and a car rental owned by(probably) a dutch company as they have a dutch manager, but all locals work the rental business. we will charge out some meals and such when we are there this Feb and see if we get any"surprise charges" They do bill out in US dollars using the "standard "rate of 1.75 guilders to 1 US dollar, the actual rate floats and you can get a better exchange using guilders exchanged at the bank and paying cash.
Feb 2, 2007 | 5:35 pm
#1014
Join Date: Mar 2000
Posts: 5,658
Just the opposite: great thread. Most likely even more important in the future.
Don't worry about it. The best thing you did was use an old thread on a similar topic without starting a new one. A lot of people start a new thread without reading or searching and that really is something to get flamed about.
You did see the post I made that said some vendors are not using Antilles based processing even though they are in the Antilles. Many websites are US based processing and most .com, .net, .org and others are US based regardless of where the company actually is located or doing business.
You did see the post I made that said some vendors are not using Antilles based processing even though they are in the Antilles. Many websites are US based processing and most .com, .net, .org and others are US based regardless of where the company actually is located or doing business.
Feb 6, 2007 | 6:35 pm
#1015
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: SF Bay Area
Posts: 57
Just got a letter in the mail on my corporate AmEx stating the foreign exchange conversion fee was going up from 2% to 2.5% effective April 10, 2007. It looks like its limited only to corporate (and purchasing) cards - personal cards look exempt from the increase for now.
Feb 6, 2007 | 10:18 pm
#1016
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: Washington
Programs: AA Exec Plat, UA 1K
Posts: 512
Cap One
I'm sure this has been mentioned earlier in the posts ... I think Capital One is one of the few card companies that doesn't charge any extra % for For Ex transactions. Visa/MC charge 1% which is reflected in the exchange rate but that's about it.
I remember that MBNA (now Bank of America) were fairly high in their fees.
I remember that MBNA (now Bank of America) were fairly high in their fees.
Feb 8, 2007 | 7:05 am
#1017
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: NYC
Posts: 8,687
I'm sure this has been mentioned earlier in the posts ... I think Capital One is one of the few card companies that doesn't charge any extra % for For Ex transactions. Visa/MC charge 1% which is reflected in the exchange rate but that's about it.
I remember that MBNA (now Bank of America) were fairly high in their fees.
I remember that MBNA (now Bank of America) were fairly high in their fees.
http://flyertalk.com/wiki/index.php/...reign_Exchange
Feb 8, 2007 | 9:49 am
#1018
Join Date: May 2006
Programs: UA 1P, NW Gold
Posts: 96
Just used Capital One's Visa and No Hassle miles MC cards in January for purchases in India and Germany. My statement showing no extra fees.
Feb 8, 2007 | 1:29 pm
#1019
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Florida
Posts: 30,343
Some cards issued by Credit Unions and small banks have 1% built in the exchange rate but no separate charges.
The biggest surprise to me remains to be the Schwab Visa managed by MBNA - it is now 1% built in the rate but still no fee. (was like Cap One before till Nov or Dec last year). Though there is NO written notice for this change but a call to the card finding out the change. I use this card strictly for foreign purchases - from online purchases of train/airline tickets to the actual spendings out of country.
The similar MBNA cards from Fidelity has gone the 3% route long time ago.
Feb 8, 2007 | 1:49 pm
#1020
Join Date: Mar 2000
Posts: 5,658
When CrapOne tells you something, investigate for yourself before you take it on face value.