Qantas Premier Platinum international transaction fee

[nanaof2]

I purchased a Norton product 29/6 and paid with this card.. The cost was in AUD, the charge was in AUD including GST.
On 30/6 the card was charged 3%international transaction fee.

After calling Norton, who confirmed the charge was in AUD, called Qantas Premier Platinum. I was informed that regardless of the charge being in AUD if the supplier is not Australian, even if they have an office here, they have an arrangement with Mastercard that there will be an international transaction fee charged. But, as a goodwill gesture, he will reverse the charge but it's a one off and to make sure to avoid purchasing from companies that are not Australian. What about all the card offers I get bombarded with? Undoubtedly most of them would not be from Australian owned companies like Adidas, Dell etc.
How would I know what company is Australian owned? Is this something new? Or just somebody made a mistake and hence the willingness to refund.

Never heard anything like it. I do expect a fee if I purchase and get charged in foreign currency but not with AUD.

 

[Daver6]

I got stung by this rort when paying for my Hurtigruten cruise deposit on the same card as you. I was told it was because it was processed offshore. I said as a consumer I have no knowledge where something is going to be processed. If its in AUD I expect it to be in AU. They refunded the fee as a one off.

 

[DC3]

Citibank strikes again.

 

[Mattg]

Citibank strikes again.

Is this also the case with all other Citibank-issued cards (apart from those without international transaction fees)?

It does seem rather rotten, especially if the payment is made in AUD and the customer has no way of easily knowing that the transaction will be processed overseas.

 

[nanaof2]

I have now contacted Qantas via messenger letting them know what is happening under their brand. Will advise if and when I get a reply.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

I have now contacted Qantas via messenger letting them know what is happening under their brand. Will advise if and when I get a reply.

I suspect they will be well aware - and profiting - off the situation!

 

[oz_mark]

Is this also the case with all other Citibank-issued cards (apart from those without international transaction fees)?

It does seem rather rotten, especially if the payment is made in AUD and the customer has no way of easily knowing that the transaction will be processed overseas.

It's common across a whole range of cards, not just those from Citibank.

 

[encryptededdy]

Other than no FTF cards, Amex is the only issuer that won't charge Intl' txn fees for AUD charges processed overseas.

 

[Mattg]

Other than no FTF cards, Amex is the only issuer that won't charge Intl' txn fees for AUD charges processed overseas.

It begs the question: why do banks do this? Does it cost them anything?

 

[nanaof2]

Not sure what FTF means but we paid airfares to Qatar on ANZ visa in AUD with no fees charged as well as 28 Degrees for various other purchases with no fees charged.

 

[oz_mark]

It begs the question: why do banks do this? Does it cost them anything?

Visa and Mastercard both charge things with names like cross-border assessment fee, up to about 1% for an international transaction - regardless of currency.

(Assessment fees don't get talked about much - they're the fees the scheme gets for the transaction)

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Not sure what FTF means but we paid airfares to Qatar on ANZ visa in AUD with no fees charged as well as 28 Degrees for various other purchases with no fees charged.

I think it is Free (of) Transaction Fees.

There are two different issues here.

There are companies that have merchant services in Australia, and quote prices and bill in Australian dollars. Those transactions will not incur charges on either your ANZ which has foreign transaction fees. or on your 28 degrees which is fee free.

Then there are merchants based overseas who might quote you prices in Aussie dollars, but the transaction is actually processed off-shore. Sometimes the transaction will be straight out in AUD, other times they will convert to their local currency (at the AUD equivalent).

In this latter category, your ANZ card will have added fees, your 28 degrees will not.

 

[nanaof2]

No, ANZ did not charge me any fees.

 

[encryptededdy]

Most likely https://www.qatarairways.com/en-au/ (the australian qatar site) just uses an Australian payment processor.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

No, ANZ did not charge me any fees.

That's right. as encryptededdy points out, Qatar likely processed the fee in Australia.

 

[aerotravel]

Is this also the case with all other Citibank-issued cards (apart from those without international transaction fees)?

It does seem rather rotten, especially if the payment is made in AUD and the customer has no way of easily knowing that the transaction will be processed overseas.

Have a read through an example from St George under the Key Fees. I have this card and I believe it applies to all the St George credit cards.

Amplify Signature Frequent Flyer Credit Card

Earn Qantas Points on eligible purchases with our Amplify Signature credit card and redeem for flights, flight upgrades, merchandise and more. T&Cs apply.

www.stgeorge.com.au

3% - of the Australian dollar value for transactions with merchants based overseas

It's no longer just based on the currency that was transacted, even if you're charged in AUD by the merchant, you could get hit with that 3% fee.

Banks are getting sneaky to extend opportunities to charge more fees. E.g. you could get hit from international companies like Spotify, or Book Depository charges even though they charge you in AUD.

 

[oz_mark]

ACCC guidance is that the seller should warn the consumer that the transaction will be processed outside Australia. See the guidance document here: Foreign currency conversion services inquiry - final report

As an example, Nike has the following

 

[eastwest101]

So the short answer is you need to hire a forensic accountant to investigate the merchant fee structure before you buy anything in AUD.

And screen shot every payment page of every purchase online and then argue this with the merchant before referring them to the ACCC?

Isnt that what everyone does?

 

[MEL_Traveller]

So the short answer is you need to hire a forensic accountant to investigate the merchant fee structure before you buy anything in AUD.

And screen shot every payment page of every purchase online and then argue this with the merchant before referring them to the ACCC?

Isnt that what everyone does?

The simple solution is a fee free card. The relentless chase for the odd Qantas or Velocity point is ending up costing people more in fees than the points they earn!

The problem with many of these overseas websites is that I guess it must be hard for the ACCC to take action against them?

 

[Daver6]

The problem with many of these overseas websites is that I guess it must be hard for the ACCC to take action against them?

Action should be taken against the credit card provider, not the overseas merchant in this situation. It is the card provider charging the fee to the end customer.