What cheeses me off

[MARTINE]

How are they going to wiggle out of this one? There is no reference to a foreign currency amount anywhere on my booking or ANZ statement. So they have to refund total booking amount + mythical currency conversion.

By the way AUD has dropped 1 baht in the past month so either my full money back or a profit, right?

If it was me and looking at how much time and aggravation is involved by now, I would ask the great philosopher - Kenny Rogers…..
You got to know when to hold em, know when to fold em, know when to walk away, know when to run….
Meaning the house (bank) always wins
We are all different.
I wish you well in getting it back but its probably going to cost more than you earn hourly in time …
Just an observation as I too am increasingly intolerant of these coughulative irritations — but accept its a fact of travelling life.

 

[JohnK]

Why? If it’s a CC with 3% int tx fee, it’ll be 3% regardless of 1 Baht or 1m Baht.

Your original complaint (which I agree is a PITA) is merchants showing price in AUD but actually processing via a foreign currency and your CC provider does what they say they’ll do - charge 3%.

If you know in advance or they just show USD (or whatever), we’d use an appropriate fee free card…

So isn't DCC the same thing?

Buy in SIN in foreign currency, reasonable exchange, 3% currency conversion

Buy in SIN choose DCC to AUD, slugged with poor exchange and 3% Visa/Mastercard fee, then Credit card company says it's a transaction overseas so slugs another 3% currency conversion.

Is that how it works? Can someone please explain the purpose of DCC because I can only see this ever benefiting credit card company. Is there a benefit for the card holder that I missed?

 

[MARTINE]

So isn't DCC the same thing?

Buy in SIN in foreign currency, reasonable exchange, 3% currency conversion

Buy in SIN choose DCC to AUD, slugged with poor exchange and 3% Visa/Mastercard fee, then Credit card company says it's a transaction overseas so slugs another 3% currency conversion.

Is that how it works? Can someone please explain the purpose of DCC because I can only see this ever benefiting credit card company. Is there a benefit for the card holder that I missed?

I think your last para answered your Question

CC companies aim to make a profit (their benefit) by the merchant being paid at the time when you take home the goods and don't have to pay for them until the due date (your benefit).

If you choose to buy in a foreign currency (AUD) when you are in SIN - a conversion needs to happen so merchant not stiffed at the time (usually not a good one for the punter) and then the CC billing back in AUD happens separately.
I am only referring to when you press pay in AUD dollars when given the choice in person OS.

Its just another travel ‘thing’, like security check-in…
I click foreign currency and get years of pleasure and memories when I see/use my item at home.
If I can have this conversation at all - I dont feel I can quibble.

 

[Flyfrequently]

AMEX refunds the fee, at least in the UK.

Lucky you @Flashback they didn't for our cancelled flights in 2021 - about 150 AUD

 

[SYD]

So isn't DCC the same thing?

No

Buy in SIN in foreign currency, reasonable exchange, 3% currency conversion

Most CCs and DCs will use the VISA, MC or AMEX rate which will be the spot rate plus a small fee < 0.5%. Industry standard seems to be to then whack on 3% international transaction fee. But several don’t.

Buy in SIN choose DCC to AUD, slugged with poor exchange and 3% Visa/Mastercard fee, then Credit card company says it's a transaction overseas so slugs another 3% currency conversion.

The CC/DC are still only getting their 3%. The POS terminal (and merchant) are slapping on the additional X% or more for the “convenience” of paying in local currency.

Is that how it works? Can someone please explain the purpose of DCC because I can only see this ever benefiting credit card company. Is there a benefit for the card holder that I missed?

Zero benefit for card holder. Just the merchants you’re using your card.

 

[MARTINE]

Zero benefit for card holder. Just the merchants you’re using your card.

.. and you get your goods now

 

[JohnK]

Its just another travel ‘thing’, like security check-in…
I click foreign currency and get years of pleasure and memories when I see/use my item at home.
If I can have this conversation at all - I dont feel I can quibble.

No, it's just another travel thing if you're sabai sabai and don't care what's going on around you.

DCC serves no purpose other than to make richer all the leaches involved in purchasing goods. It's deceitful. It's dishonest. It's immoral. It's robbery.

AFCA, ACCC or even Australian Government should make it illegal for any Australian financial institution to offer DCC on any of the cards under control of Australian Financial Institutions.

How did the world get this way? Even worse is how do people justify as if it's normal? Quite sad really.

 

[MARTINE]

No, it's just another travel thing if you're sabai sabai and don't care what's going on around you.

DCC serves no purpose other than to make richer all the leaches involved in purchasing goods. It's deceitful. It's dishonest. It's immoral. It's robbery.

AFCA, ACCC or even Australian Government should make it illegal for any Australian financial institution to offer DCC on any of the cards under control of Australian Financial Institutions.

How did the world get this way? Even worse is how do people justify as if it's normal? Quite sad really.

Its not justifying as normal.
Its accepting what is - once you leave home and travel. Its not criminal behavior.
Sometimes -for me - the juice (few dollars which is unlikely) is not worth the squeeze (my time which is finite/other things I am not doing that I prefer).
We all make our choices - this is mine and I respect yours

 

[drron]

Lucky you @Flashback they didn't for our cancelled flights in 2021 - about 150 AUD

Though they and CBA have done it for the times our cards have been illegally used.

 

[Flashback]

Lucky you @Flashback they didn't for our cancelled flights in 2021 - about 150 AUD

Are you sure that loss wasn't due to ForEx movement during the transaction dates? I've had that happen too and in the one case it did Qatar made me whole after a bit of back and forth with my card provider (MBNA).

No, it's just another travel thing if you're sabai sabai and don't care what's going on around you.

DCC serves no purpose other than to make richer all the leaches involved in purchasing goods. It's deceitful. It's dishonest. It's immoral. It's robbery.

AFCA, ACCC or even Australian Government should make it illegal for any Australian financial institution to offer DCC on any of the cards under control of Australian Financial Institutions.

How did the world get this way? Even worse is how do people justify as if it's normal? Quite sad really.

One nice thing about AMEX is they block DCC. Unfortunately only some of their US issued cards have no ForEx fees though.

 

[Flyfrequently]

Are you sure that loss wasn't due to ForEx movement during the transaction dates? I've had that happen too and in the one case it did Qatar made me whole after a bit of back and forth with my card provider (MBNA).

One nice thing about AMEX is they block DCC. Unfortunately only some of their US issued cards have no ForEx fees though.

You could be right there @Flashback - am getting old and forgetful

 

[Lynda2475]

I booked a couple of rooms in Japan via AllAccor two weekends ago, used Amex because although I knew there would be a small fee, Id also have insurance coverage. But for whatever reason it actually took the hotels well 9 days to charge my card and in that time the AUD worsened and it cost me about $50 extra! Not happy.

 

[Cynicor]

Why? If it’s a CC with 3% int tx fee, it’ll be 3% regardless of 1 Baht or 1m Baht.

Your original complaint (which I agree is a PITA) is merchants showing price in AUD but actually processing via a foreign currency and your CC provider does what they say they’ll do - charge 3%.

If you know in advance or they just show USD (or whatever), we’d use an appropriate fee free card…

This isn’t quite true. It’s about where the merchant is based. Sydney aquarium is a common culprit in the past. Why would you expect a foreign currency charge there, from an AUD transaction. But actually anz used to add the fee (and maybe still do). It’s just a complete trap for anyone using ANZ with foreign merchants.

 

[SYD]

This isn’t quite true. It’s about where the merchant is based. Sydney aquarium is a common culprit in the past. Why would you expect a foreign currency charge there, from an AUD transaction. But actually anz used to add the fee (and maybe still do). It’s just a complete trap for anyone using ANZ with foreign merchants.

Latitude 28° MC triggers it throughout Europe and around the world.

 

[Cynicor]

Latitude 28° MC triggers it throughout Europe and around the world.

I think you’re talking about DCC whereas JohnK and I are talking about a foreign conversion fee (on AUD transactions). Which is legal but an absolute rort

 

[SYD]

I think you’re talking about DCC whereas JohnK and I are talking about a foreign conversion fee (on AUD transactions). Which is legal but an absolute rort

Yes, but I thought you were saying Sydney Aquarium does DCC on AUD with Oz cards! That would be a real rort!

I’ve had several things bought online in AUD, only to find a 3% surcharge (on my NAB Visa). If I’d known, I’d use 28° or a fee free debit card.

 

[Cynicor]

Yes, but I thought you were saying Sydney Aquarium does DCC on AUD with Oz cards! That would be a real rort!

I’ve had several things bought online in AUD, only to find a 3% surcharge (on my NAB Visa). If I’d known, I’d use 28° or a fee free debit card.

Kind of. I’m saying that ANZ will charge you an extra 3% if you go there, with your Aussie ANZ CC and pay them in Aussie dollars, because the merchant facility is apparently based overseas

 

[JohnK]

I read somewhere that BNE flight paths were mentioned here.

10:40pm just had this huge noise above our apartment block. If you were sleeping you'll now be awake. I dont think it was QF015, more than likely QR899? But sounded like heading south so possibly QF015. And now CI054 above possibly heading North. Have a few more flights coming up to interrupt sleep.

This is getting beyond ridiculous. They said they were going to alter some flight paths to lighten the load. Possibly 80 flights a day will go over Toowong. They didn't say that all flights will now go over Toowong. Friday morning from about 7:00am until 10:00pm that night, pretty much non stop. The night before woken 2-3 times through the night. An absolute joke that airlines always get their way.

All flights to take off and land over water is the simplest solution for all.

 

[Quickstatus]

All flights to take off and land over water is the simplest solution for all.

Have you provided feedback? here is your chance:
They are asking for community feedback for overwater operations. Feedback for other operations have closed

 

[drron]

Older woman today who took ages at the supermarket checkout this morning. told the young fellow serving her how to pack each bag and then proceeded to unpack then repack each one. If you want to do that B W go to the self checkout.