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Post Info TOPIC: Using your credit card in Ireland
Chuck


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Using your credit card in Ireland
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Thought I would share a little tip I found out when using your credit card in Ireland.

You will find many places that will ask you if you want to charge the purchase in US$ or Euro's.  If you instruct them to use US$ you will find in the fine print of your charge that an additional 3% fee is tagged on to the purchase. 

I have a Capital One Credit card and they are one of the few that charge no fee for purchases made in Euros.  If you have a card like mine you want them to charge it in Euro's, not US$. 

If the credit card company you use charges a fee (which is usually 3%) then it doesn't matter.

There were several instances where they did not even ask me (even though they are required to) and put the charge in US$.  One of these was Dan Dooley.

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Itallian Chauffeur


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What you are referring to is a rampant --and illegal -- SCAM, called DCC (Dynamic Currency Conversion).  When you are charged, there is a 'Tag Line' above the signature line that states that you REQUESTED that the charge be madein US dollars.

FYI -- For credit card issuers who DO charge a 'Foreign Transaction Fee', it makes NO difference to them, whether the charge is in Dollars, or in Euros -- the Fee remains in effect. 

Visa and MasterCard (the companies that ACTUALLY perform the conversion) charge EVERYONE 1% and Amex charges 2%.  The card issuer (Chase, MBNA, Citi, etc.) tack on the extra 1-3%.  Capital One is also charged the 1% by MC or Visa -- they just opt to absorb it (and not charge any other), on SOME of their cards.

Ireland is INFAMOUS for DCC -- but, so is Italy and a few other countries.  I have even heard of this being pulled in Canada.

Bob

-- Edited by Itallian Chauffeur at 22:51, 2007-07-18

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Bob

Help Us to Help You.  The more you tell us about your plans (dates, interests, budget), the better we can tailor our advice to suit!
Michele Erdvig


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Chuck,

Thanks. Unfortunately we are well aware of DCC. But there are new people that may not have yet heard of it. It was invented in Ireland by Fexco. I have info about it in my book, on my Money and Tips & Tricks pages. The more informed we can be as travelers, the better. Any time we can save money in Ireland I try to pass it along.

Michele



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