FYI: Steam charging foreign transaction fees

[Cdubneeddeal]

Last week I purchased Left For Dead via Steam. Today, I checked my account balance and noticed the Steam purchase went through London and the next transaction above it was for a foreign transaction fee which was minimal but wasn't disclosed at the time of purchase. I know it sounds petty but in my opinion, all fees should be put up front before one makes the purchase.

 

[Born2bwire]

Originally posted by: Cdubneeddeal
Last week I purchased Left For Dead via Steam. Today, I checked my account balance and noticed the Steam purchase went through London and the next transaction above it was for a foreign transaction fee which was minimal but wasn't disclosed at the time of purchase. I know it sounds petty but in my opinion, all fees should be put up front before one makes the purchase.

I'm in Hong Kong and I did not have any foreign transaction fees with my purchases over here.

EDIT: Wait, did you make the purchase in the US or in another country?

 

[Lonyo]

Can we have a pic of this (blank out any personal details obviously)? And what currencies were used, where did you purchase etc?
I would have thought it would be your bank charging a foreign transaction fee, not Steam. Usually they (banks) just give you the exchange rate of their choosing when you do a transaction in a foreign currency, but I would expect it's on your banks end that they decide to charge the fee?
I've never had a foreign transaction fee (I'm the UK)

 

[I4AT]

These are bank fees, I've only been charged an INTL fee once when I ordered something from Play-Asia (Wachovia). I ended up just eating the fee, and now I know not to use my debit card when ordering from shops overseas. Technically the retailer isn't liable for any charges, but if you're lucky you might be able to get Valve to compensate you if it was their mistake. Check your steam settings to see if there's a regional option and make sure it's set to the right location. If Valve won't help you out call your bank and they may remove the charge "as a courtesy".

 

[Cdubneeddeal]

I should have stated, they are bank fees. During the purchase in no way did they inform me that the transaction would take place overseas, otherwise I would have chosen a different method of payment. They also charged me tax which I think is BS considering my payment went overseas, but oh well. I could honestly care less about the charge it's just the principal behind it.

Text

 

[Born2bwire]

Originally posted by: Cdubneeddeal
I should have stated, they are bank fees. During the purchase in no way did they inform me that the transaction would take place overseas, otherwise I would have chosen a different method of payment. They also charged me tax which I think is BS considering my payment went overseas, but oh well. I could honestly care less about the charge it's just the principal behind it.

Text

I'm still confused, where did you order the software from?

 

[Cdubneeddeal]

Originally posted by: Born2bwire

Originally posted by: Cdubneeddeal
I should have stated, they are bank fees. During the purchase in no way did they inform me that the transaction would take place overseas, otherwise I would have chosen a different method of payment. They also charged me tax which I think is BS considering my payment went overseas, but oh well. I could honestly care less about the charge it's just the principal behind it.

Text

I'm still confused, where did you order the software from?

From Steam, through Steam.

 

[Lonyo]

Originally posted by: Cdubneeddeal

Originally posted by: Born2bwire

Originally posted by: Cdubneeddeal
I should have stated, they are bank fees. During the purchase in no way did they inform me that the transaction would take place overseas, otherwise I would have chosen a different method of payment. They also charged me tax which I think is BS considering my payment went overseas, but oh well. I could honestly care less about the charge it's just the principal behind it.

Text

I'm still confused, where did you order the software from?

From Steam, through Steam.

So you're in the US and your bank charged you a foreign trans. fee for using US based Steam...?

 

[Cdubneeddeal]

Originally posted by: Lonyo

Originally posted by: Cdubneeddeal

Originally posted by: Born2bwire

Originally posted by: Cdubneeddeal
I should have stated, they are bank fees. During the purchase in no way did they inform me that the transaction would take place overseas, otherwise I would have chosen a different method of payment. They also charged me tax which I think is BS considering my payment went overseas, but oh well. I could honestly care less about the charge it's just the principal behind it.

Text

I'm still confused, where did you order the software from?

From Steam, through Steam.

So you're in the US and your bank charged you a foreign trans. fee for using US based Steam...?

That's correct. Odd eh?

 

[Elcs]

Originally posted by: Lonyo
Can we have a pic of this (blank out any personal details obviously)? And what currencies were used, where did you purchase etc?
I would have thought it would be your bank charging a foreign transaction fee, not Steam. Usually they (banks) just give you the exchange rate of their choosing when you do a transaction in a foreign currency, but I would expect it's on your banks end that they decide to charge the fee?
I've never had a foreign transaction fee (I'm the UK)

Lloyds TSB charge me £1 (about $1.50) every time I purchase off Steam now which is rather not nice.

The exchange rate at the moment dulls my enthusiasm about Steam... especially as there are a large number of games unavailable to the UK.

 

[Eeezee]

Originally posted by: Cdubneeddeal

Originally posted by: Lonyo

Originally posted by: Cdubneeddeal

Originally posted by: Born2bwire

Originally posted by: Cdubneeddeal
I should have stated, they are bank fees. During the purchase in no way did they inform me that the transaction would take place overseas, otherwise I would have chosen a different method of payment. They also charged me tax which I think is BS considering my payment went overseas, but oh well. I could honestly care less about the charge it's just the principal behind it.

Text

I'm still confused, where did you order the software from?

From Steam, through Steam.

So you're in the US and your bank charged you a foreign trans. fee for using US based Steam...?

That's correct. Odd eh?

And it's a US bank?

 

[AmberClad]

This sounds like a really odd situation.

I've bought things though Steam before, but using Paypal that either uses any funds I have in the account, or drawing from my bank account otherwise. The charge has always been the exact amount as the price listed on Steam (both in Paypal and on my bank account).

 

[Oakenfold]

1. Call Bank, verify that you were charged this fee by the merchant. I'm assuming the charge is broken out separately for you to know what this charge is.

2. If the fee was charged by the bank ask for a refund and tell them you didn't read your account agreement and won't be such a tard in the future. If the fee was charged by steam call / email them and ask them wth is going on.