Comments on: Beware of Credit Card Foreign Transaction Fee Fever

By: Kristy

Kristy — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 20:42:31 +0000

I recently traveled outside the country and experience these foreign transaction fees. It sucks to have to pay them, but you kind of make up for the difference because you get the best exchange rate when you use a credit card. If you convert US into local cash, you get the losing end of the stick.

By: adeline biggs

adeline biggs — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 15:12:56 +0000

I travel to ARUBA twice yearly, in May and September. Upon receiving my VISA credit card bill for May, I noticed a “foreign transaction fee”. I paid my restaurant in US dollars as stated on my receipt and was still charged the fee. I complained to VISA Citicards and after much discussion, they gave me a 50% credit, however after receiving my September bill and seeing the same fee, I just did not persue it. I would assume that somewhere along the line, someone will file a class action suit and perhaps monies will be returned. Just not a fair charge, and I donot like to carry cash in Aruba.

By: Joe Maloukis

Joe Maloukis — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 18:16:56 +0000

I have a MasterCard issued from my local credity union (UHCU) for my small business. Starting in July 2009, my MasterCard charges included a $4.50 “International Transaction Fee” for a payment being made to my hosting company in the UK. I have been making this monthly payment for over four years with no “International Transaction Fee”. The payment is made in US dollars. No conversion is taking place. When I called customer service (FIA Card Services) I was basically told that somewhere in the Terms of Agreement fine print is a clause that states that MasterCard can charge me any fee at any time for any reason without my approval, and that’s there’s nothing I can do about it. Well, I did file a complaint with the FTC and sent a to-the-point email to MasterCard. This is legalized robbery.

By: Carol

Carol — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 14:00:34 +0000

I was charged a 3% fee by Bank of America on tickets purchased, in dollars, through the British Airways US website. I could not get the Bank of America rep. I spoke with to concede that 1% was imposed by Visa/Mastercard, the other 2% was the bank. She claimed all banks charge 3%. She did advise me, however, that I only would have paid 1% if I had used my Amex. Good advice, if late in coming. I think that BA has some responsibility here as well and ought to alert purchasers to the possibility of a fee (yes, I know, that’s unlikely, as it would deter Americans from flying BA, but I wrote them a letter, anyway). I am astounded and outraged, like others here.