Foreign Transaction Fees

[pwd847]

What's the trigger for them?  Paying for something in another currency?  Or geographically being outside the USA?  Either?

 

I'm traveling to Zilara in Jamaica and thought of this.

[hdporter]

Foreign transaction fees are triggered when a charge is denominated in something other than US $.

 

Sometimes a non-US retail outlet will offer convert the local price and bill in $, to save you the fee.  However, depending on the exchange rate they apply, that can turn out to be the less attractive option.

 

Note, however, that while you're in areas largely frequented by tourists in Jamaica, much pricing will be in US $.

[hegemony]

also, always refuse to pay for anything in U.S. dollars when in a country that uses a different currency in order to avoid DCC which is more insidious than FETFs.

 

 

[pwd847]

 

So the above picture is an Australian making a purchase in the US.  To avoid DCC you would select NO?

[hegemony]

15 minutes ago, pwd847 said:

 

So the above picture is an Australian making a purchase in the US.  To avoid DCC you would select NO?

edited; I read too fast and thought this was an American in Aussie... You want to use a zero FETF card and pay in the local currency so this person should select pay in US dollars.

Edited November 5, 2022 by hegemony

[shifter]

11 hours ago, hdporter said:

Note, however, that while you're in areas largely frequented by tourists in Jamaica, much pricing will be in US $.

FYI you can still get hit with a FTF from USD transactions in foreign countries. Best to use a no FTF card for anything. And it's almost always a better deal to buy in local currency and take the exchange rate from your credit card. 

[pwd847]

Thanks for the responses.  I have a stack of cards to choose from, so I was able to bring about 4 cards w/no FTFs.