Difference in Amex charges
 

I had these charges on an Amex card in Italy, one hour apart on Sept. 5:

€64 converted as $93.64;
€67.01 converted as $99.42.

So the difference of €3 came to almost $6. I realize that the difference could have been that they posted on different days, which doesn't show on the statement. But the thought came to mind that the extra 1 cent was treated as 1 euro when they did the conversion.

€3 converting to almost $6 is not the way to look at it analytically.

Do the respective calculations (93.64/64 and 99.42/67.01) to see whether the difference in rates looks like something that could have happened in the currency markets over any recent period of a few days to two or three weeks. If the difference is within the range that rate has fluctuated, then figure that accounts for what you are seeing on your statement; if not, ask Amex for an explanation.

Ive had Citi & Chase also freeze my accts.

All you need to do is call Collect on a pay phone and they will unfreeze it

I've had it happen with Chase, though can't say I called in advance to tell them I would be "outside the country." (They seem to regard Puerto Rico as other than the United States.) Yes to having more than a single source of potential cash/credit when away from home, since being cutoff suddenly without warning is not all that rare.

I always call ahead of time and let them know and I haven't had any trouble yet

I know people here have said that if you have a Cirrus or Plus-network ATM card that's not a debit card (i.e., no Visa or Mastercard logo), you won't pay the 1% currency conversion fee that Visa and Mastercard charge when you use your ATM card in a foreign country.

I have such a card. I've called my credit union, and they swear that I will get charged 1%. First they say say that Visa charges the 1%. When I tell them that it's not a debit card and there's no Visa logo, they're totally confused. One person told me the 1% goes to the foreign bank; one said it goes to Visa, and then backtracked, saying to forget she said Visa - but still didn't know whom the 1% goes to. I even called a Visa/Plus network regional sales rep. He referred me to Visa customer support, who referred me to Discover Card. ?!

So I don't know whom to believe. Have things changed since Visa acquired Plus? I guess I'll find out when I go to China.


Interestingly, I stopped by BoA to ask what currency conversion fee I'd pay getting cash from a China Construction Bank ATM. The lady called three different BoA employees and got three different answers. I left without opening an account. :P

I have an ATM card that is on PLUS and not a debit card, and wasn't surcharged 1% in China last month, nor have I been surcharged in other countries. It's not B of A, though, so not sure you can really compare. Ive used in all over the place.

Weclome to FlyerTalk :)

Thanks for the response, Tom.

Did you verify your statement charge against the exchange rate for that day? Or did you simply not see any additional line item charge on your statement?

There's never an extra line on mine for any other charges. The exchange is made at bank rate, best I can tell after checking rates for the day. I generally check a day or two before arrival and print out a sheet with the rates so I can predict how much money to get out. I moved to this bank 2-3 years ago strictly because of all the international travel (my last bank went to a policy of $1.50 a transaction plus 2%, and I walked right in and closed my account).

For example, on arrival in Beijing I got 500RMB, at a rate of .1462 that day according to the Oanda site, and that works out to $73.10. My bank exchanged at $73.12 which is close enough for me. The difference is 2 cents.

During my stay I made a second 500RMB withdrawal on August 12, and the rate on Oanda that day was .1460, which works out to $73.00. My bank exchanged at $73.03. The difference is 3 cents, and that could be accounted for just in rounding up and not carrying out the decimal point a couple more places.

Wow, I hope I get 0% conversion fee also. I have a Plus, Co-op, and Star-network ATM card, with no Visa or Mastercard logo.

I knew there was a reason I refused the debit card that the credit union was pushing on me. ;) Actually, what I did was open just a saving account, and not a checking account, because I didn't want a debit card. They sent the ATM card. A few weeks later I opened a checking account, which is now linked to the card also. But as far as I know, it's still a straight ATM card, with no Visa or Mastercard-ness about it. This strategy would probably work at a lot of credit unions.

On my last long business+leisure trip, I talked to Chase at least three times to deal with this "security enhancement": right before my flight (for an online hotel booking), 4-5 days in my trip for another hotel, and about three weeks later while I was in a very long long line (first week of summer sale in Japan). Everytime I told them about my schedule but it didn't work :mad:

I hope there is a better way rather than just pray for luck since it can be embarrassed and costly (collect probably won't work for US cell phone abroad?)

Although I see PLUS and CIRRUS all over the place when I'm outside the U.S., I can't say the same about STAR. Have you used that outside the U.S. before?

I believe that balazer is referring to a single card with Plus, Co-Op, and Star logos.

When I used BofA at CCB (in China) I found the rates to be favorable but did not keep a super close eye on it.

Beware: for about 24-36 hrs CCB machines stopped taking ALL BofA cards (ran into a few people with BofA and all same issue.)

Yes, that's what I meant. I haven't used it outside the US yet.