Vicki
Unregistered User
(6/23/05 10:34 am)

Credit card charges

---

I have heard that a number of places in Ireland are now playing that game of converting the Euros to dollars at their exchange rate when the card is an American card. This doesn't give us the favorable rate that the credit card company charges. Has anyone had this problem and, if so, how did you handle it.

Vicki

Michele Erdvig
Administrator
Posts: 3205
(6/23/05 4:03 pm)

Re: Credit card charges

---

Vicki,

It is called dynamic currency conversion and it happens all the time. Before handing anyone your CC instruct them to charge in euros (or pounds sterling in Northern Ireland). If they say the machine will only put it through in dollars, they are wrong.

Tell them that according to your CC agreement you have the choice of currencies and insist on being charged in euros. Sometimes clerks are mis-informed so you can always ask to speak with the manager. If they still insist on dollars tell them you will report them to the CC company, the tourist board and to the Irish government.

They may still try and trick you so look at your receipts carefully before signing. If you see dollars make them void it and do it in euros. They will say it is to your benefit but it is really to their benefit as they will make money off the deal. If there is wording on the receipt that you sign saying that you agree to being charged in dollars, cross it out and initial it. Keep your original bill (which will be in euro). You can always dispute it later with your CC company. As a last resort use cash.

If you decide to dispute or report any merchant I would get the manager's name, date, name of establishment, address & phone number. Also, make note of what happened so you will be accurate with your description of the dispute.

If enough people start standing up for their rights maybe the merchants doing dynamic currency conversion will get the message. Then again -- since it concerns a lot of money -- maybe not. But at least you are an informed consumer.

Michele

BTW, I have info about this on my "Tips & Tricks" & "Money" pages, as well as in my book.

Vicki
Unregistered User
(6/23/05 5:18 pm)

Credit card charges

---

Michele,

Thank you very much for repeating this very useful information here. I remembered reading something like this, but couldn’t remember where. So now I know it was either in your book or on this terrific website. I believe I must be going into information overload. Just get me on that plane!

Vicki