Using my Check Card Internationally - What the hell are these charges?

aphex

Moderator<br>All Things Apple
Moderator
Jul 19, 2001
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Ok, i've been on the phone with BOA three times now, no one there can give me an answer so i thought i would try here...

When i use my BOA check card over here in England, i get hit with an additional charge every single time, ranging from $0.08 up to $1-$2.

When i first called before i left, i was told there is no charge for using my card over here (unlike the 2% Amex charges), unless i withdraw money from a bank other than Barclays.

These have been the explanations from BOA (all of which i have disproven)

#1. The charges are from Visa International, not BOA. I was told they have a 2% fixed charge when i use my card abroad. That would be fine (although i was told before i left i would be charged 0%), but the percentage has been as high as 10% on some the charges, ive yet to find one that is 2%. Sometimes its even 1%.

#2. The charges are corrections in the exchange rate. I.E. - When i purchase the item, it goes through at one rate, then at midnight it corrects based on the current exchange rate. Understandable, but i know for a fact that the dollar has not fallen EVERY DAY since i've been here. There should be a mix of credits and debits, there isnt, its always money being taken out of my account.

WTF is going on?
 

FoBoT

No Lifer
Apr 30, 2001
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fobot.com
why use a check card? i think using a real credit card is better when overseas. i used to use my real credit cards only when in europe

don't have a clue about the chages, good luck
 

Eli

Super Moderator | Elite Member
Oct 9, 1999
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I dunno, but when I used my debit card for a purchase in Australia(online), I was charged extra for "currency conversion". It was like 46 cents on a 20$ purchase or something.
 

dullard

Elite Member
May 21, 2001
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As far as I know, ALL places charge for currency conversion. That is on top of the 2% fixed charge that Amex charges. So when BOA mentioned 0% fixed charge, they probably weren't including the currency conversion charges. That is a fairly minor charge though - shouldn't be 10%.

Many places can and do charge extra for using a debit card (one more reason they suck balls compared to credit cards). Is it possible that some of these were the merchants themselves charging extra to use it?
 

alkemyst

No Lifer
Feb 13, 2001
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check cards are not international usually. Citibank's are pretty worldwide.

You realize with your check card you don't have most of the protections CC's give as well.
 

dullard

Elite Member
May 21, 2001
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Originally posted by: alkemyst
You realize with your check card you don't have most of the protections CC's give as well.
That is true especially for international purchases. Since all debit card legal fine print that I've read say you lose all protections on international purchases (with a CC you are legally required to have protections no matter what, but the debit card is voluntarily similar to a CC for US purchases only).