New charges on cards when overseas - any else had this?
Discussion
..Has anyone else suddenly been getting 3% added to their credit card bill when used to buy things overseas ( I dont mean when used to take out cash ).
I travel a lot overseas and suddenly for all my bills in December the bank has added 3% - used to be 0% - I am now in a bit of a dispute with my bank about unilaterally changing the conditions of my contract...and am asking for a refund. It seems they bill the merchant AND the customer!!
What cards can you use overseas without your bank adding 3% for "visa costs" ( which is wierd as my card is a Mastercard ) ? - I have never had these charges before in over 25 years of using credit cards
I travel a lot overseas and suddenly for all my bills in December the bank has added 3% - used to be 0% - I am now in a bit of a dispute with my bank about unilaterally changing the conditions of my contract...and am asking for a refund. It seems they bill the merchant AND the customer!!
What cards can you use overseas without your bank adding 3% for "visa costs" ( which is wierd as my card is a Mastercard ) ? - I have never had these charges before in over 25 years of using credit cards
mas99 said:
I think that the best cards for foreign use are Nationwide and Post Office. But given the way they all seem to be changing their rules and charges at the drop of a hat you probably need to check the latest state of play.
.........and read the terms you signed up for. There will be a clause which allows them to amend the terms of business, subject to you being able to cancel the card and pay back everything you owe them if you don't like it.Soovy said:
mas99 said:
I think that the best cards for foreign use are Nationwide and Post Office. But given the way they all seem to be changing their rules and charges at the drop of a hat you probably need to check the latest state of play.
.........and read the terms you signed up for. There will be a clause which allows them to amend the terms of business, subject to you being able to cancel the card and pay back everything you owe them if you don't like it.( but obviously decided not to tell their existing customers about this new card , or send any clear communications about the charges - so they could rake in some additional cash until the customers find out ..... devious f
kers or what ?)lets say this particular bank is run rather Shabbyly
Edited by alfaman on Saturday 10th January 13:20
alfaman said:
Soovy said:
mas99 said:
I think that the best cards for foreign use are Nationwide and Post Office. But given the way they all seem to be changing their rules and charges at the drop of a hat you probably need to check the latest state of play.
.........and read the terms you signed up for. There will be a clause which allows them to amend the terms of business, subject to you being able to cancel the card and pay back everything you owe them if you don't like it.( but obviously decided not to tell their existing customers about this new card , or send any clear communications about the charges - so they could rake in some additional cash until the customers find out ..... devious f
kers or what ?)lets say this particular bank is run rather Shabbyly
Edited by alfaman on Saturday 10th January 13:20
You've been done up like a kipper.
Not just card charges. Wife just back from M&S currency desk cashing back some unused Trinidad and Tobago $. Now M&S make a big thing on their website about 0% commission and how easy, if you have excess they will purchase back. So you will apreciate my shock at being hit with a 16.6% negative spread on todays rate. In other words we got back 16.5% less than their selling rate. Nowhere on their website is this buyback spread mentioned.Now I realise they have to make something from the service but that is at point of sale when they sell at Traveler Rate which is lower than Exchange Rate. I now understand this is across the board on all their transactions and currencies allthough the negative spread varies between currencies. Far from happy and will not use M&S again.
indi pearl said:
Not just card charges. Wife just back from M&S currency desk cashing back some unused Trinidad and Tobago $. Now M&S make a big thing on their website about 0% commission and how easy, if you have excess they will purchase back. So you will apreciate my shock at being hit with a 16.6% negative spread on todays rate. In other words we got back 16.5% less than their selling rate. Nowhere on their website is this buyback spread mentioned.Now I realise they have to make something from the service but that is at point of sale when they sell at Traveler Rate which is lower than Exchange Rate. I now understand this is across the board on all their transactions and currencies allthough the negative spread varies between currencies. Far from happy and will not use M&S again.
I use the Post Office for forex - it used to have reasonable rates and no commission ( not sure about now though)...It IS worth challenging banks over shoddy service - when Abbey's banking system went down last year once for a couple of hours - meaning I couldnt pay for work done on my car OR get any cash out to pay - leaving me stranded ....I invoiced them for £150 for the inconvenience and hassle.
They paid up immediately. I should have invoiced them for £250
Edited by alfaman on Saturday 10th January 13:55
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