Woolworths Qantas Visa Card (previously MasterCard) being "Enhanced
Oct 29, 2015, 7:41 pm
#106
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: used to be PER, now it's nowhere/eveywhere
Programs: QFF NB, AA GLD
Posts: 3,467
New Enhancement - change to definition of International Transaction
I finally got around to reading the small print in the notification of changes to Conditions of Use that I received early this month.
The definition of an International Transaction has been changed to:
I don't have access to the old definition, but I think the text I bolded is new
The consequence as I see it, is that you can be double-charged the FX fee
- once by the overseas merchant/financial institution when it offers (and you accept) to convert the amount into AUD for you; and
- again by MacBank when it sees that it was a foreign merchant/financial institution
So I think the message is
- don't accept offers from overseas merchant/financial institutions to convert into AUD for you
- instead just let the transaction go through in the overseas currency, and MacBank will then charge you its FX fee when it converts into AUD
The definition of an International Transaction has been changed to:
International Transaction means any Transaction made using a Card:
a) in a currency other than Australian dollars with a merchant
or financial institution located in Australia, or
b) in Australian dollars or any other currency with a merchant
or financial institution located outside Australia.
a) in a currency other than Australian dollars with a merchant
or financial institution located in Australia, or
b) in Australian dollars or any other currency with a merchant
or financial institution located outside Australia.
The consequence as I see it, is that you can be double-charged the FX fee
- once by the overseas merchant/financial institution when it offers (and you accept) to convert the amount into AUD for you; and
- again by MacBank when it sees that it was a foreign merchant/financial institution
So I think the message is
- don't accept offers from overseas merchant/financial institutions to convert into AUD for you
- instead just let the transaction go through in the overseas currency, and MacBank will then charge you its FX fee when it converts into AUD
Oct 29, 2015, 11:52 pm
#108
Join Date: Feb 2001
Programs: IHG Diamond, HH Diamond, BW Diamond Select, Accor Silver, Marriott Gold
Posts: 4,228
Oct 30, 2015, 7:51 pm
#109
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Wellington
Programs: QFWP (LTSG), NZ (Jade), TG ROP (Forgotten), OZ (Silver), AA (Cardboard), EK (Lowest of the Low)
Posts: 4,669
It has become pretty standard among all CC issuers, I even see it on my AMEX. Yes it does mean that you may think you have been charged in AUD but will still be hit by your card's FX fee.
Oct 31, 2015, 2:14 am
#110
Join Date: Feb 2001
Programs: IHG Diamond, HH Diamond, BW Diamond Select, Accor Silver, Marriott Gold
Posts: 4,228
I've never experienced this and Amex's fees page doesn't list it as a possibility. ("Foreign Transaction Fees" ... "transactions in a currency other than Australian dollars are liable to incur a foreign transaction fee.") Banks use these foreign transaction fees on AUD partly so as to get a cut of the action when customers accept DCC on international transactions, but Amex doesn't allow DCC.
Apr 6, 2016, 7:25 am
#111
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: used to be PER, now it's nowhere/eveywhere
Programs: QFF NB, AA GLD
Posts: 3,467
Latest Enhancements - effective from 11-May-2016
Got an email today detailing the latest "enhancements" which are all to do with no longer getting QFF points for certain types of C/C transactions:
The list of types of transactions that are not eligible to earn points is outlined in section 4.3 of the Woolworths Qantas Rewards Program Terms and Conditions and now include the following:
- payments made to the Australian Tax Office;
- BPAY® payments, i.e. bill payments and other payments made through the BPAY Electronic Payments Scheme; and
- transactions for items that are directly convertible to cash (including, but not limited to, purchase of foreign currency and travellers cheques) or cash equivalent transactions.
Apr 6, 2016, 7:52 am
#112
Join Date: Feb 2001
Programs: IHG Diamond, HH Diamond, BW Diamond Select, Accor Silver, Marriott Gold
Posts: 4,228
I got the email too. BPay is the last thing I use this card for. Without that, it basically has little purpose that the Qantas Amex can't perform for zero annual fee!
Apr 6, 2016, 3:07 pm
#113
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Melbourne
Programs: ►QFWP/LTG►VA WP►HyattExpl.►HiltonGold►ALL Silver
Posts: 21,993
The ATO part is a killer - in recent years I have been able to pay up $2500 to them per month and generate QFF points at 0.42¢ each ...
Feb 20, 2018, 7:08 am
#114
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: used to be PER, now it's nowhere/eveywhere
Programs: QFF NB, AA GLD
Posts: 3,467
The card is being further "enhanced"
Received an email yesterday, giving notice of a change to the T&Cs
Effective 1-April-2018, the earning will be as follows:
I thought hard whether to keep the card when its renewal was due last December
This coming December, I think the decision will be a no-brainer
Effective 1-April-2018, the earning will be as follows:
1 Qantas Point per $1 spent at Woolworths Supermarkets, BIG W, CALTEX WOOLWORTHS co-branded fuel outlets, BWS, Dan Murphy's and Cellarmasters
and 0.5 Qantas Points per $1 spent on all other eligible purchases.
and 0.5 Qantas Points per $1 spent on all other eligible purchases.
This coming December, I think the decision will be a no-brainer