What to do when European hotel insists on charging in US dollars
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Chicago
Posts: 2,682
What to do when European hotel insists on charging in US dollars
Checked out of the Clarion at Dublin Airport this morning. Was staying on points but had 5.24 Euro in incidentals. Handed over my Hyatt Visa with no foreign transaction fees. Got back a charge slip showing I was being charged $7.91 US dollars at an exchange rate of 1.49.
Asked them to redo it and charge it in Euros. He said that he didn't know how and that this was the way it had to be done. I really didn't want to spend 30 minutes with them arguing about it and then having to wait for them to figure out how to charge my card in euros. Had to get to the airport to catch flight home.
So I just signed it. Got back the receipt and of course it says that I have agreed to be charged in dollars at exchange rate 3.5% above interbank rate. Granted in my case it was only about 25 cents. But its the principle that bothers me. I was more or less forced to sign the thing. Even when I asked to have it done in Euros, I was told it couldn't be done.
I'm inclined to dispute the charge over the stupid 25 cents. It shouldn't matter but I didn't pay cash because I had purposely spent all foreign currency before coming home.
Asked them to redo it and charge it in Euros. He said that he didn't know how and that this was the way it had to be done. I really didn't want to spend 30 minutes with them arguing about it and then having to wait for them to figure out how to charge my card in euros. Had to get to the airport to catch flight home.
So I just signed it. Got back the receipt and of course it says that I have agreed to be charged in dollars at exchange rate 3.5% above interbank rate. Granted in my case it was only about 25 cents. But its the principle that bothers me. I was more or less forced to sign the thing. Even when I asked to have it done in Euros, I was told it couldn't be done.
I'm inclined to dispute the charge over the stupid 25 cents. It shouldn't matter but I didn't pay cash because I had purposely spent all foreign currency before coming home.
#2
Join Date: Feb 2011
Posts: 1,353
I've learned to always state it as I hand over the card; perhaps the issue was cancelling and redoing the charge.
On a recent trip, both in the Dubai airport and in India if I said nothing the charge was always in dollars, with the blurb saying that I had a choice (I think I had to initial that?). Those were incidental amounts, so I didn't care much, but when making larger purchases, and at the hotel, I made sure to clearly state "Charge in Rupees, please" as I handed it over. Never had a problem with that.
On a recent trip, both in the Dubai airport and in India if I said nothing the charge was always in dollars, with the blurb saying that I had a choice (I think I had to initial that?). Those were incidental amounts, so I didn't care much, but when making larger purchases, and at the hotel, I made sure to clearly state "Charge in Rupees, please" as I handed it over. Never had a problem with that.
#3
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: トロント
Programs: IHG Gold
Posts: 4,820
#4
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Pennsylvania
Posts: 8,142
Bobette
#5
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: Seat 1A
Programs: Non-status paid F/J (best value for $$$)
Posts: 4,124
Pay with American Express as they are a closed system and the currency conversion is done by them when issuing your monthly bill.
Don't use Visa or Mastercard as more and more credit card processors are introducing what is called Dynamic Currency Conversion or "DCC" where the currency conversion is done at the Point of Sale (if the store clerk does not know how to override the system to not do the conversion) at less favorable exchange rates.
Don't use Visa or Mastercard as more and more credit card processors are introducing what is called Dynamic Currency Conversion or "DCC" where the currency conversion is done at the Point of Sale (if the store clerk does not know how to override the system to not do the conversion) at less favorable exchange rates.
#6
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Back to Florida...... bye London
Programs: Hilton, AA,, Delta
Posts: 5,149
Pay with American Express as they are a closed system and the currency conversion is done by them when issuing your monthly bill.
Don't use Visa or Mastercard as more and more credit card processors are introducing what is called Dynamic Currency Conversion or "DCC" where the currency conversion is done at the Point of Sale (if the store clerk does not know how to override the system to not do the conversion) at less favorable exchange rates.
Don't use Visa or Mastercard as more and more credit card processors are introducing what is called Dynamic Currency Conversion or "DCC" where the currency conversion is done at the Point of Sale (if the store clerk does not know how to override the system to not do the conversion) at less favorable exchange rates.
#8
Suspended
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Calgary, Alberta
Programs: Hyatt Diamond, Fairmont Platinum, Aeroplan Diamond, HHonors Gold, SPG Gold
Posts: 18,686
I've learned to always state it as I hand over the card; perhaps the issue was cancelling and redoing the charge.
On a recent trip, both in the Dubai airport and in India if I said nothing the charge was always in dollars, with the blurb saying that I had a choice (I think I had to initial that?). Those were incidental amounts, so I didn't care much, but when making larger purchases, and at the hotel, I made sure to clearly state "Charge in Rupees, please" as I handed it over. Never had a problem with that.
On a recent trip, both in the Dubai airport and in India if I said nothing the charge was always in dollars, with the blurb saying that I had a choice (I think I had to initial that?). Those were incidental amounts, so I didn't care much, but when making larger purchases, and at the hotel, I made sure to clearly state "Charge in Rupees, please" as I handed it over. Never had a problem with that.
#9
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: HH Diamond, Marriott Gold, IHG Gold, Hyatt something
Posts: 33,539
#10
Suspended
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Calgary, Alberta
Programs: Hyatt Diamond, Fairmont Platinum, Aeroplan Diamond, HHonors Gold, SPG Gold
Posts: 18,686
AFAIK.. When I get charged a foreign transaction on a purchase.. I get charged foreign transaction fee..
When I get a refund, the cc charges me another foreign transaction fee on my refund.. the full amount doesn't get charged back to the card..
So two transaction fees.. my Visa and Plat Amex is at 2.5% US transactions..
When I get a refund, the cc charges me another foreign transaction fee on my refund.. the full amount doesn't get charged back to the card..
So two transaction fees.. my Visa and Plat Amex is at 2.5% US transactions..
#11
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: HH Diamond, Marriott Gold, IHG Gold, Hyatt something
Posts: 33,539
AFAIK.. When I get charged a foreign transaction on a purchase.. I get charged foreign transaction fee..
When I get a refund, the cc charges me another foreign transaction fee on my refund.. the full amount doesn't get charged back to the card..
So two transaction fees.. my Visa and Plat Amex is at 2.5% US transactions..
When I get a refund, the cc charges me another foreign transaction fee on my refund.. the full amount doesn't get charged back to the card..
So two transaction fees.. my Visa and Plat Amex is at 2.5% US transactions..
Paying anything above 1% forex seems a bit foolish. I travel outside the US more than 7 months a year, and even these little 2-3% ripoffs add up big time after awhile.
#12
Suspended
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Calgary, Alberta
Programs: Hyatt Diamond, Fairmont Platinum, Aeroplan Diamond, HHonors Gold, SPG Gold
Posts: 18,686
If refunded immediately after the transaction, then the transaction is basically voided, and nothing is charged. I regularly have tickets priced in other currencies refunded (airplane tickets, usually). Other than actual currency fluctuations, I get back what I paid.
Paying anything above 1% forex seems a bit foolish. I travel outside the US more than 7 months a year, and even these little 2-3% ripoffs add up big time after awhile.
Paying anything above 1% forex seems a bit foolish. I travel outside the US more than 7 months a year, and even these little 2-3% ripoffs add up big time after awhile.
Just that OP was thinking of obtaining a refund.. and relented to the fact that his cc was charged in US dollars.. so indicates that the original transaction would stand..
I 100% agree that anything above 1% forex is foolish.. but being Canadian and stuck with no competition.. I've been trying to find an alternative for us Canadians that would lessen the forex fee.. so CIBC aerogold Infinite, and Amex Aeroplat both have these foreign exchange fees.. maybe you can direct me to a product as a Canadian I can capitalize on minimal forex fees?
Posted several threads in the Amex forum to no avail
#14
Join Date: Feb 1999
Location: Denver CO
Posts: 3,682
Anytime and every time a merchant (hotel, restaurant, whoever) pulls a DCC on me and tries to charge my cc in dollars, I refuse to sign and ask for another charge in local currency. Sometimes the business accepts this and promptly re-does the transaction in local currency. Since I haven't signed for the one in dollars, it's nice if they reverse that one but in the end, I won't be responsible.
Other places are ill equipped for the decline/reversal/rerun in local currency. This can really screw them up as they don't know what to do and fumble with their machine. I stand firm-I'll sign in local currency only. I make no offer of cash, even if I have the cash on me. The longer it takes, the more upset they get, the better the lesson to not pull this scam.
Other places are ill equipped for the decline/reversal/rerun in local currency. This can really screw them up as they don't know what to do and fumble with their machine. I stand firm-I'll sign in local currency only. I make no offer of cash, even if I have the cash on me. The longer it takes, the more upset they get, the better the lesson to not pull this scam.
#15
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: STL
Posts: 1,546
AFAIK.. When I get charged a foreign transaction on a purchase.. I get charged foreign transaction fee..
When I get a refund, the cc charges me another foreign transaction fee on my refund.. the full amount doesn't get charged back to the card..
So two transaction fees.. my Visa and Plat Amex is at 2.5% US transactions..
When I get a refund, the cc charges me another foreign transaction fee on my refund.. the full amount doesn't get charged back to the card..
So two transaction fees.. my Visa and Plat Amex is at 2.5% US transactions..
I had a foreign transaction refunded to my Amex, a month had passed between the purchase and the refund, and they refunded the original transaction and the original transaction fee. In fact, because of differences in the exchange rate at the time of purchase and refund, I made a whopping 5 cents on the deal, I better be careful not to spend it all in one place!