nibblette

I know, beating a dead horse.

But just wanted to give another warning about DCC spread. I had seen it rarely in London and always the 2 currencies were prominently displayed on the CC slip. I'm pretty travel savvy but I was careless after my overnight transatlantic flight and a little flustered arriving in the middle of the tube strike.
I had gone to the tourist info desk to get directions to Heathrow Connect since it did not leave from T5. The lady there told me about dot2dot which drops at individual hotels. Deciding the 19GBP price was reasonable given door-to-door service, I paid for it at the TI desk. I had glanced at the CC slip and seen the larger 19 GBP but failed to notice in small print, the $32.02 buried farther down on the slip and the rate of $1.685/GBP used. There was a lot of fine print saying my signature indicated I accepted the rate used and would not challenge it.

The actual d2d booth was only 2 desks away and I don't think they used DCC! I had to sign in there anyway so it was a waste of time paying at TI anyway (and she put the wrong hotel down-I told her the address was wrong but she claimed it was the right hotel but "the computer gives that address instead all the time". The d2d people corrected it). I was very irritated when I looked at the slip when more awake. It was only a difference of $1.50 but I felt that the TI desk of all places shouldn't be taking advantage of tired travelers looking for help.

Lesson: read the ENTIRE CC slip. The only currency listed should be the currency of the country. If you see US$ (or the currency of your CC bank's locale), then DCC is being applied. Watch out for T5 tourist info desk!

cynthia_booker

It only ever happened to me once. The sales lady was so very sweet, making chit-chat. I should have spotted it for a diversion tactic. Talk to the stupid tourist and they will sign anything.
At least I was very happy with what I purchased, even if it did cost a little more than I had thought.

Robert2533

It's not a dead horse when it happens to you. I would contact your credit card company and challenge the charge on your credit card. Under normal circumstances the credit card company will notify the bank of the tourist info, requesting verification. If they do not respond within 30 days, the charge will be reversed. In the words of Arlo Guthrie, if everyone does it they'll think it's a conspiracy, but it may get results.

Feldie

I read somewhere, and now I can't find it, that if presented with a bill w/DCC, and after asking to reverse it (and citing the law that one should have been offered a choice), you should cross off the home currency, write in the pounds, and write something to the effect of 'BRITISH POUNDS REFUSED/NOT OFFERED'. Make sure you tell the vendor that they will be hearing from the CC company because thats a big no-no.

Can anyone find better instructions?

Alec

Speak to the manager/supervisor if the staff refuse your request. If they still decline to reverse the transaction because you weren't offered a choice before putting it through, write 'GBP not offered' (or whatever the local currency) and tell them you will be asking for your card issuer to do a chargeback - which costs retailer big money. You may find they will quickly oblige!

hetismij

We were confronted with DCC in the US. At an Indian restaurant in Olympia our credit card slip came through in Euros. The people there barely spoke English so although we queried it it was impossible to have it altered.

Alec

Contact your card issue and ask them to do a chargeback as it was an unauthorised transaction (you weren't offered a choice over DCC and they refused to reverse it).

PatrickLondon

It could be worth complaining to BAA who run the airport, since it harms their image as well.

nibblette

PatrickLondon,
How would I contact BAA? I think it was pretty awful that TI who is supposed to help, used the opportunity to make money from tourists without providing any real service.

The TI lady could have just as easily directed me to the d2d desk 15 meters away, esp since I had to go there anyway. And since she insisted on putting the wrong hotel down (I told her it was wrong when I saw the address listed) and refused to correct her mistake. D2d made a comment about the TI lady consistently making the same errors.

There is nothing I can do about the charge. I signed it before seeing the small print amount of $32.02 and the even smaller print of the exchange rate used. I only saw the larger print 19 pounds. My fault for not bring more careful. When encountering DCC previously, both currencies were listed together, the actual charge was not buried elsewhere as it was in this case. Very sneaky, I'd say.

janisj

"<i>Very sneaky, I'd say.</i>"

Not necessarily sneaky - more likely just lazy or ill-trained. Every time I buy anything at LHR - whether a bottle of water or a meal or something expensive - I am asked "Do you want this charged in US$?" Of course I always say "No - pound sterling please"

But overhearing others - the majority of (mis-informed) travelers ask for their home currency. Usually when I say I'd prefer £, the sales clerks seem genuinely surprised. But at least they usually ask. The TIC lady may have just assumed you wanted US$ because that is what most request, or was just harried and forgot to ask . . . .

Just because something happens doesn't mean it is a huge conspiracy . . . .

Robert2533

"Just because something happens doesn't mean it is a huge conspiracy . . ." No, it’s not a conspiracy, just another way for someone to make money doing nothing.

The DCC was created by an American looking to make an easy buck. Financially there is absolutely no need for it. An operation like El Corte Inglés in Spain reaps a few euros per transaction, splitting the difference between the official exchange rate and what they offer, usually 3 to 5 cents on the US Dollar (3% to 5%), with the company the owns the DCC operation. It the case of El Corte Inglés their registers are programmed to automatically charge you in your home currency and the clerk can do nothing to change it. That's why we only use case when shopping in their stores.

DCC should be labeled for what it is, a scam operation preying on travelers, and banned outright,

As already noted by Alec, tell the credit card company that it was an unauthorized transaction if you were not offered a choice. Few business will respond to the notice from the credit card company requesting proof of the transaction if it is a small sum, say less than $100. If it happens often enough, and it starts to affect the bottom line, then maybe business will stop using the DCC to torment travelers.

Feldie

I just got off the phone (twice with USAA, once with MC ASSIST) and not one of the four people I spoke with knew about this or could guide me, even after I asked to speak to a representative in their international department. Scary! I wrote an email to USAA since MC said they didn't handle customer accounts. WTF!!!!

Robert2533

For more information on the DCC:

http://www.creditcards.com/credit-ca...ign-Travel.php
Foreign travel, your credit card and currency conversion

seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/travel/2003907603_pucci30.html
The exchange game: Pay attention when it's time to pay

www.travelfinances.com/
Buyer Beware: Dynamic Currency Conversion (DCC)

www.washingtonpost.com
Charge It . . . but Check the Math

And then you have all of the web sites promoting the DCC with: Earn revenue for accepting international customers' payments.

janisj

Robert2533: "<i>No, it’s not a conspiracy, just another way for someone to make money doing nothing. </i>"

Can one expect staff at a TIC to understand all the ins/outs of currency charges. Yes, DCC is a money maker -- but in this case I hardly think the TIC was out to cheat the OP . . . .

janisj

meant to add - especially since it is dot2dot who would get the money. The TIC only gets a teensy commission for selling the ticket.

Robert2533

Yes, they only receive a teensy commission, but they pick up at least 50% of the overcharge on the DCC. If only the French still have a few guillotines to spare.