How do I ensure transactions are done in local currency using contactless?
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Just back from Spain and the majority of contactless payments made were done in pounds and not euros, at a very poor rate. does anyone know how this can be avoided. (Halifax Clarity Card)
Not pay by contactless and use Chip&PIN instead I suppose? The currency exchange logic is at the POS so I don’t think you can do anything from the card point of view.
Mastercard’s Dynamic Currency Conversion Compliance Guide says:
“However, on a Contactless transaction within the Cardholder Verification Method (CVM) limit, DCC is not applicable, as it is not consistent with the appeal of Contactless as a fast and easy way to pay”
With either chip&pin or contactless the terminal will display a message asking if the transaction should be in EUR or GBP.
Always select EUR or whatever local currency is displayed as GBP May include fees of up to 4%.
Problem is many waiters/shop assistants will simply select GBP (thinking they are doing you a favour). So next time when you pay always remind them to select EUR as you do (“En euros por favor”).
When using contactless always keep hold of the card machine until you are asked the question about currency, so that you can answer it yourself. If you give the machine back, the server will often think they are being helpful by selecting pounds.
If the question doesn’t come up, you will be charged in local currency.
Exactly the same advice as for chip and pin – there is no advantage by using chip and pin.
For what it’s worth I’ve never been offered DCC when paying using Google Pay in many countries including Spain.
Exactly the same advice as for chip and pin – there is no advantage by using chip and pin.
There sort of is – with chip and pin, you get asked the currency while inputting the pin. When using contactless the currency info will show up after you tapped on (never before). It’s easier to miss/forget with contactless than it is with chip&pin.
Exactly the same advice as for chip and pin – there is no advantage by using chip and pin.
There sort of is – with chip and pin, you get asked the currency while inputting the pin. When using contactless the currency info will show up after you tapped on (never before). It’s easier to miss/forget with contactless than it is with chip&pin.
From my experience in Spain using the Halifax card the choice of currency is displayed after payment is authorised (either because you entered your pin or you tapped and identified yourself via faceID or fingerprint).
You are not asked what to pay before authorising the payment which is the issue.
I wonder if that’s specific to Spain or the POSs they’re using? Remembering last few trips (Czech Republic, Iceland, USA, France) I’m pretty sure it was always card in -> currency selection -> PIN. It can’t offer you the currency selection before you insert a card. And in my mind, PIN should follow after the currency and final amount is confirmed. Feels weird if I authorize 50 EUR by my PIN and then the merchant goes and convert it to 150 GBP.
I’ll be more careful in Spain if that’s the case.
Exactly the same advice as for chip and pin – there is no advantage by using chip and pin.
There sort of is – with chip and pin, you get asked the currency while inputting the pin. When using contactless the currency info will show up after you tapped on (never before). It’s easier to miss/forget with contactless than it is with chip&pin.
From my experience in Spain using the Halifax card the choice of currency is displayed after payment is authorised (either because you entered your pin or you tapped and identified yourself via faceID or fingerprint).
You are not asked what to pay before authorising the payment which is the issue.
Yes, so you hang onto the terminal after entering pin and choose currency yourself
if you had a curve card, you could go back in time
if you had a curve card, you could go back in time
That wouldn’t achieve anything in this situation.
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