International exchange rates/online purchases

[anonymous-user]

Hi guys, was wondering if anyone could clarify something for me.

I've just bought hotel accommodation in NY using my Santander debit card.

The cost of the room is $1036.77, which converts using any google currency converter as approx £655.

Santander have managed to convert the cost, using "their" rate, at £795... obviously I'm not happy, but can't see anything on their website about which rate they use - and I CBA to sit on a phone for 2 hours just to be palmed off by some stupid bint who most likely will not be the greatest at speaking English...

Has anyone had experience of this? Is it right? It seems VERY unfair...

TIA.

[mcflurry]

AFAIK they will load the rate by a couple of %, being charged £795 would indicate that the hotel bill isn't USD 1037, but closer to USD 1200.
Has the hotel added taxes or breakfasts for example?

[skeeterm5]

It is usual behaviour for US hotels to quote all of their prices/costs excluding the taxes, I suspect this is the difference.

S

[anonymous-user]

Upon investigation, that looks like it may be what's happened. Thanks guys. Bloody stupid pricing methods!