trouble with Agoda auto-currency-conversion
Jan 11, 2017, 2:42 am
#31
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Denmark
Programs: TK Elite
Posts: 11,837
I still believe the issue to be that an unfavourable currency exchange rate was used when converting to AED rather than the conversion was done wrongly, on the wrong date etc. This is the core of the DCC scam - when converting to the currency of the card issuer the customer wil end up paying more as the exchange rate is worse than the rate applied by the card issuer. You will easily lose 3,5% - 5% on the conversation.
This is spot on.
The point is to increase the revenue to the vendors (or their banks). I'm quite confident that the vendors somehow make a profit when applying DCC - otherwise DCC would never work/be used by the vendors.
The point is to increase the revenue to the vendors (or their banks). I'm quite confident that the vendors somehow make a profit when applying DCC - otherwise DCC would never work/be used by the vendors.
Jan 11, 2017, 2:56 am
#32
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: MAN DXB ✈️
Programs: Skywards Gold
Posts: 6,831
The point is they didnt do a conversion or they locked it in when I booked in Sept.
They gave an indicative rate ie the 23k (In Sept) then said you'll be charged on the day of payment (Jan).
Amazingly the rate hadn't changed and I was charged 23k
Its just not transparent and not what or how they said they'd charge. I work for a bank - there is no way we'd get away with what they've just done to me.
They gave an indicative rate ie the 23k (In Sept) then said you'll be charged on the day of payment (Jan).
Amazingly the rate hadn't changed and I was charged 23k
Its just not transparent and not what or how they said they'd charge. I work for a bank - there is no way we'd get away with what they've just done to me.
Feb 23, 2019, 2:07 am
#34
Join Date: Feb 2019
Posts: 1
Agoda Currency Rip off
Appears to operate currency scams! In my recent bookings they charged in USD despite me selecting the local currency. They can then make small additional currency gains and the customer losses. I wrote to Agoda customer service about this and despite proving with a screenshot of the transaction in Thai Baht and that they then charged me in USD they would not correct it. It only cost me about 2-3$ more than if I had paid in the local currency but if they do this on millions of transactions that is millions of $USD gains for them and losses for customers.
Unbelievable that complaints department would not correct it when I provided proof. They insisted my credit card was in USD even though it is a UK card and I am a UK resident. Appalled a company this size can operate what appears to be a scam. Also their feedback line has appeared to be in reverse so the lowest feedback score it translates to the highest! Makes VW look like an honest company!
Unbelievable that complaints department would not correct it when I provided proof. They insisted my credit card was in USD even though it is a UK card and I am a UK resident. Appalled a company this size can operate what appears to be a scam. Also their feedback line has appeared to be in reverse so the lowest feedback score it translates to the highest! Makes VW look like an honest company!
Jun 4, 2019, 2:12 pm
#35
Join Date: Jun 2019
Posts: 3
Agoda exchange rate scam
Please be aware that Agoda is currently charging a more than 10% !! premium on the KRW/EUR exchange rate.
I questioned their customer service several times but they only sent standard answers and don’t want to go into detail.
Anyone else who did experience this crazy percentage ?
As this is an outrageous percentage and I strongly recommend to be very careful with your currency when you are going to book thru Agoda
I questioned their customer service several times but they only sent standard answers and don’t want to go into detail.
Anyone else who did experience this crazy percentage ?
As this is an outrageous percentage and I strongly recommend to be very careful with your currency when you are going to book thru Agoda
Jun 4, 2019, 7:00 pm
#36
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Truth or Consequences, NM
Programs: HH Diamond, Marriott Titanium, Hertz President's Circle, UA Silver, Mobile Passport Unobtanium
Posts: 6,192
I just did a dummy booking on Agoda.com to test your theory.
Hotel booked in KRW was priced at 125,413
In USD was 106.00
In EUR was 95.00
So Agoda is estimating a KRW/EUR rate of approx 1320. The mid-market KRW/EUR rate is 1328 or so.
Looks to me like the Agoda rate is right where it should be. I fail to see the "scam".
(You do realize that Agoda adds any taxes and/or service charges after you select the hotel, right? So if there's a 10% service charge, it's added at checkout - which may account for why there may appear to be a differential from the price you initially saw quoted and what is actually charged.)
Hotel booked in KRW was priced at 125,413
In USD was 106.00
In EUR was 95.00
So Agoda is estimating a KRW/EUR rate of approx 1320. The mid-market KRW/EUR rate is 1328 or so.
Looks to me like the Agoda rate is right where it should be. I fail to see the "scam".
(You do realize that Agoda adds any taxes and/or service charges after you select the hotel, right? So if there's a 10% service charge, it's added at checkout - which may account for why there may appear to be a differential from the price you initially saw quoted and what is actually charged.)
Jun 5, 2019, 1:36 pm
#37
Join Date: Jun 2019
Posts: 3
I just did a dummy booking on Agoda.com to test your theory.
Hotel booked in KRW was priced at 125,413
In USD was 106.00
In EUR was 95.00
So Agoda is estimating a KRW/EUR rate of approx 1320. The mid-market KRW/EUR rate is 1328 or so.
Looks to me like the Agoda rate is right where it should be. I fail to see the "scam".
(You do realize that Agoda adds any taxes and/or service charges after you select the hotel, right? So if there's a 10% service charge, it's added at checkout - which may account for why there may appear to be a differential from the price you initially saw quoted and what is actually charged.)
Hotel booked in KRW was priced at 125,413
In USD was 106.00
In EUR was 95.00
So Agoda is estimating a KRW/EUR rate of approx 1320. The mid-market KRW/EUR rate is 1328 or so.
Looks to me like the Agoda rate is right where it should be. I fail to see the "scam".
(You do realize that Agoda adds any taxes and/or service charges after you select the hotel, right? So if there's a 10% service charge, it's added at checkout - which may account for why there may appear to be a differential from the price you initially saw quoted and what is actually charged.)
Jun 6, 2019, 1:30 am
#38
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Truth or Consequences, NM
Programs: HH Diamond, Marriott Titanium, Hertz President's Circle, UA Silver, Mobile Passport Unobtanium
Posts: 6,192
Once that happens, the bank/credit card company determines the exchange rate conversion to euros, not Agoda. I suspect your bank and/or credit card company charges a foreign transaction fee too, which would account for a certain percentage of what you perceive to be an "Agoda scam".
Jun 6, 2019, 3:41 pm
#39
Join Date: Jun 2019
Posts: 3
I'm relatively certain that Agoda submitted a charge of KRW 616150 to your bank/credit card company.
Once that happens, the bank/credit card company determines the exchange rate conversion to euros, not Agoda. I suspect your bank and/or credit card company charges a foreign transaction fee too, which would account for a certain percentage of what you perceive to be an "Agoda scam".
Once that happens, the bank/credit card company determines the exchange rate conversion to euros, not Agoda. I suspect your bank and/or credit card company charges a foreign transaction fee too, which would account for a certain percentage of what you perceive to be an "Agoda scam".
Agoda uses different partners and state; “ Agoda’s rates come from our most updated, independent partners. As Agoda works with different partners, we are unable to share a specific source.” So it is Agoda (or their selected partner) who sets the very unfavourable exchange rate. Agoda refunded a part of the difference after my complaint.
Jun 6, 2019, 5:23 pm
#41
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Truth or Consequences, NM
Programs: HH Diamond, Marriott Titanium, Hertz President's Circle, UA Silver, Mobile Passport Unobtanium
Posts: 6,192
I checked again with both Agoda & my bank and you are not correct they charged me in EUR.
Agoda uses different partners and state; “ Agoda’s rates come from our most updated, independent partners. As Agoda works with different partners, we are unable to share a specific source.” So it is Agoda (or their selected partner) who sets the very unfavourable exchange rate. Agoda refunded a part of the difference after my complaint.
Jun 8, 2019, 10:08 am
#42
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Denmark
Programs: TK Elite
Posts: 11,837
Let me repeat - if you want to pay in the currency of the hotel, you need to change the currency of the webpage to show prices in the local currency (upper right corner). As default rates will be displayed in your currency (and then your cc will also be charged in the same currency after Agoda using very unfavourable exchange rate) but you are able change that yourself. So Agoda converting the amount at unfavourable rates can be avoided.