Extra CC fee in Denmark
 

Presently in Copenhagen, I was surprised to find many restaurants and shops have an extra charge of 3.75% on sales, when using a "foreign" credit card. The decision on what is foreign or not, is the country code in the phone # on the back. Using major restaurants, hotels and buying railway tickets, no extra charge. For that special present to yourself or someone special, or just stepping into the restaurant in front of you, this extra charge might be an ugly surprise.
Never seen this anywhere else in the world. Correct me please, if wrong

Is it noted on the menu and/or prominently posted on a wall?

If not, I would tell them that, unless they waive the fee, I am not paying them ANYTHING and that they should call the police if they have any problem with that. ;)

I didn't see that, but I noticed that a lot of places in CPH doesn't take credit cards, only debit cards with pin code, sometimes only Danish ones.

Quite annoyed when visiting before xmas 2008:td::td:

What do they consider a foreign credit card?

I can use one issued in the USA, UK or IE.

Then I would wonder if one of my cards would refund that fee as well. I guess it depends on how it is printed on the ticket.

Do they just make the total include the fee or does it print out as a seperate item?

Ditto.

I think my US credit cards only worked once or twice when I've been in Denmark and that's in terms of paying for a hotel stay. I vaguely recall going to a restaurant and using my debit card, only to have them bring a mobile terminal over for me to punch in my PIN number.

Sounds like a good case for a chargeback when you get home. Save your receipt and any other documentation and let your bank know the charge is a billing error.

If enough foreigners do this it will send the message.

By the way, wouldn't EU law prevent this discrimination against non-Danes?

The Danes have their own local debit card: the "Dankort", which totally dominates the market and is highly loved by the locals because the government-regulated fees are low, but disliked by anyone else, since it makes the acceptance of VISA/MC so low and expensive. How this can be compatible with the SEPA (Single European Payment Area) rules is something I have never understood.

My workaround is to use cash withdrawn with a Swedish debit card that has no ATM fee.

Separate item, in danish "Gebyr" = Fee, unspecified.

This is a controversial issue. If you pay in Denmark e.g. with your AmEx I understand that it may be possible that AmEx takes up to 10% of the purchase price (up to 5% in transaction fees from the retailer, up to 4% in foreign exchange fees from you and the rest in annual fees). NICE BUSINESS, AMEX!

If you use a Dankort or similar, the fee to cover the costs is something like 0,35% (if the card would have no annual fee). No wonder AmEx is able to offer you some MR points with their card.

I admit the best thing would be to have some kind of EU/Worldwide debit cards with low transaction fees. But while waiting for one, I fully understand that retailers want to charge the difference in fees from the consumer.

But if they don't, then I will use my point-earning card for sure! :D
(The one without the currency exchange fees)

Which point earning card has no fee may I ask?

Yes of course you may. But my card will not help you because the card is issued by a local bank. (It is a Visa.)

See this link for such cards issued in the US.

I bank in the EU, UK & US. If you have a local bank that issues a point earning visa with no exchange fees, I am curious. The extra cc fee in Denmark, I don't think I can avoid with any of my cards. I also have not found any cards that are free of the forex fee and earn miles as well.

Unfortunately I have to eliminate one of my cards from the traveling card group. I am shocked in Wells Fargo for eliminating it. More reason to dump and take my money elsewhere.

No, You are 100% correct, but we're not talking about yearly card fees, this is a fee on all charges, 3.75% and exchange rates coming on top of that

:mad:

Besides the exchange/forex fee, have You seen anywhere in the world an extra 3.75% ( or any) charge just because Your Card is issued abroad?