Christina

I was just checking out some credit card terms today and came across an article that claimed MBNA did NOT have a foreign transaction charge. Now I remembered there being all kinds of publicity about this in the media when they first instituted this last May, and when I called to verify, they even told me that they were going to levy a 2 pct foreign transaction fee on my Visa card they administered, in addition to the Visa one pct. As it turns out, that was erroneous, as I had a AAA Visa that MBNA administers and they were exempted, but I know many other MBNA cards had that fee increased.

So I check the MBNA website for card terms, figuring that article was out-of-date, and I cannot find in any of the card terms a statement that they add on two pct for foreign transactions. I only checked three of their cards (World Perks or something, a few of the basic ones), but none had that in the terms. They did say they had a 3 pct fee for buying foreign currency or travelers checks from a non-bank, but that was it (I know you pay if you buy TCs in euros at AAA, things like that).

I thought it would really be stretching it for them to claim buying foreign currency meant any purchase charge in a foreign country. So, I called up MBNA and asked them about foreign transactions, and the clerk swore they added on no extra fee -- she said Visa or Mastercard may have one, but MBNA does not. I said, no, I wasn't talking about the Visa/MC fee. I said what about the big change you made last May, it was in all the press and I know people that had that fee added on. Of course, the custer service agent didn't know anything about that (they never do).

So, does anyone have the scoop on this thing? Did MBNA really rescind that foreign transaction free due to customer backlash or something? Or is the agent cluelss (she also checked with someone) AND is their website misinforming customers who read the terms and apply for one of their credit cards? Given the lawsuits on those points, I would find it incredible if MBNA is omitting that as part of the official terms online.

Or is something else going on here I haven't thought of. I just wondered if anyone with an MBNA card (nonAAA) had used it recently and knew if there was a foreign transaction charge beyond the basic one pct.

sandi_travelnut

Just curious if you've called them?

daisy58

I have used my MBNA card in London, Paris, Belgium, Mexico extensively in the last few years, all without incident and without fees. One thing I always do with them, is I call them and tell them what dates I will be gone and countries I will be in so they approve the charges. This works so well that on one trip I had a retail deferred payment from a catalog order that tried to come out while I was in Paris, MBNA declined the charge, since they knew I was not in the US! Easy to straighten out though when I got back. Just a note, with your MBNA card you also have full fraud protection all over the world.
I had booked some Paris internet activities through a site in Paris, one of which was apparently not available for the dates I was going.
When my card was charged anyway, I had no problem getting the charge removed.

sandi_travelnut

sorry, I read it again and saw that you had.

Maddy

I used an Amtrak mileage earning card issued by MBNA on a trip in May and the last charge posted just after the effective date of those changes. The foreign conversion fee was charged and it appeared as a separate line item on my statement.

I called and was able to have it reversed because the transaction actually occurred the day of (or day before?) the effective date, but that was a customer service accommodation on that one charge.

I really doubt they've rescinded the fee, I know I didn't receive any notice to that effect for my card, but I guess it's possible that the bad publicity may have halted the rollout to other cards such as your AAA card.

Statia

I didn't end up using my account, but when I called MBNA before taking my card to Ialy a couple of weeks ago, I was told that the fee was 1%. That is still lower than many others, but Capitol One charges nothing.

Sher

I just received this interesting article this morning.
Hope it helps.
www.frommers.com/articles/3231.html

greg

I have one MBNA card and I stopped using it overseas after April since I got a notice that they started adding 2% on top of 1% that MC charges for the total of 3%.

I am of an opinion that customer suppors are clueless.

I also have another MBNA card that is supposed to be exempted from the additional 2%. I have not actually use it since April, however.

aggiegirl

I had received notice from MBNA months ago that they would be instituting this transaction charge, so now I only use my USAA card.

111op

I used my card in Italy in September and I don't recall any surcharges. I was fairly careful reconciling my budget for that trip.

Christina

yes, I did call them, Sandi, and they said they didn't have one, but it was all over the press when that happened last May.

I saw that article in Frommers, Sher, but don't consider that a valid source of fact. Actually, that's what confused me -- also that guy said some thing in there that were bad advice.

I knew they had increased that fee, but wondered why it isn't currently online in the facts. I guess we'll have to wait longer for someone who's used it very recently and got the notice or knows they used to have the surcharge for comparison.

bob_brown

My understanding is that the AAA card managed by MBNA does not incur the 2% extra. We do pay a 1% Visa fee, which is standard on almost all credit cards I am told.

Other MBNA cards are now subject to the fee according to my interpretation of a generic insert in a statement I got last summer.

My most recent experience using my AAA Visa card was in Canada in September.
No added 2%, but the 1% charge was listed separately with each transaction.

I got a Capitol One card as a hedge.

bob_brown

Make that Capital One.

111op

But didn't people say that there're different MBNA cards, and some have the surcharge and some don't?

If the surcharges took place last summer, I've pretty sure that I've not been hit by them -- I've taken trips in Oct. last year, Jan., Feb., May, July and September this year.

Though I didn't go over my budget that carefully for all the trips save the Sept. trip, I'm quite sure that MBNA didn't hit me with an extra charge.

111op

Oh, I've an "MBNA Cashback" logo on my card.

ira

Hi C,

I used my Motley Fool MBNA and my Boat US MBNA card in France in Sept.

They did not add any fees.

It depends on which card you have.

amp322

I think Ira's onto something - it depends which kind of MBNA card you have, since they issue like 1,000 different kinds! I remember seeing an article in the Wall Street Journal about that. When I called customer service a few months ago, I was told that there WAS a 2% fee, but the person I talked to at MBNA was also an IDIOT & gave me other wrong info, as well. Now I'm just as curious as ya'll as to what the fee actually is... hmm..

Sher

Hi Christina.
I usually use my Capital One card.
I wondered when I read that if it was up to date.
I have an MBNA card. But I haven't used it in Europe for two or three years. The last time I did try, we were in France. Although I called to report that I would be using it, they blocked every purchase I tried to make with it.
The customer service was very sorry when I returned home and could not understand why they were blocked. But what good did that do me.
Now, extra fee or not, I am concerned about taking it with me again.

xyz123

MBNA imposed the near criminal additional 2% fee on some cards but not all...it is an individual matter which cards have it. I have the AAA card, no 2%. I have the NHL card, no 2%. I have the mlb card, no 2%. All the cards charge the 1% visa or mc fee and pass it along.

That's the good news. The bad news, of course, is MBNA has been sold to Bank of America which imposes this near criminal 2% additional fee for doing nothing on all of its cards so one would suspect it's just a matter of time before all their cards are subject to this near criminal fee.

jsmith

Banks issue many "branded" cards. They have contracted with the brandee and terms may differ from card to card. MBNA is one of the bigger issuers, First USA (now part of Chase) is another.

The way to know what you will be charged on your credit or debit card is to call the 800 number and ask for a Cardmember Agreement. When I requested one for my British Air First USA card Chase, who owns First USA, responded they were "delighted to provide the enclosed Agreement".