Unfortunately our only chip card is a chip + signature card -- being from an American bank. So we were usually given a slip of paper to sign rather than direct access to the card chip reader. Once or twice we signed directly on the machine.

We had a hotel do the DCC on us on a prepay rate that had been invoiced in the local currency. I clocked what looked like a bad exchange rate on the credit card statement, called the issuer who said there had been no forex transaction, just a direct billing in USD. After calming down, contacted the hotel - they reversed and will charge in local wampum.

Stay vigilant.

One other thing to keep in mind. Make sure your credit or ATM/Debit card does not charge "foreign transactions fees", chip and pin/signature or not.

Bank of America has joined the group, not charging the foreign transactions fees for use of their ATM/Debit card, as has Barclay's new American Airlines MC replacing the old Premier World US Airways card.

Ann is right. >>

music to my ears, Chartley. Shame that i hear it so rarely!

It's not usually remarked upon, Ann, because you're almost always right.

"It's not usually remarked upon, Ann, because you're almost always right."

Except when it comes to Castle Drogo.

?

When did i mention Castle Drogo? not for years, so far as i remember.

When did i mention Castle Drogo? not for years, so far as i remember.

We had a disagreement here some time ago. I suggested someone visit Castle Drogo, and you were not in favour.

The disagreement still hurts.

Like others, I was totally shocked to find DCC on a La Caixa ATM in Mallorca. I was using two different ATM cards to stock up cash for the four members of our traveling party, and I pressed the wrong button the first time and didn't even notice--the ATM IS DESIGNED, as mentioned above, for one's finger to hit $$ first.

The second round I was on the alert--and I warned everyone in our cycling party to look out for this new (to me!) rip-off.

The disagreement still hurts.>>

let it go, Chartley. it's not worth it.

It is absolutely becoming more and more prevalent. I found in Greece last October, there was once instance at an ATM where my husband refused the DDC and we got charged 15 euro anyway. He was so pissed off and, yes, I could have contested it with B of A when we returned, but I've learned that: (i) sometimes my husband screws up and it may have actually been his fault; and (ii) sometimes the time it takes to clear these charges up costs us more in time than it's worth.

I am vigilant about this since it happened to me on Maui years ago before I knew what it was.

Recently I was surprised to see it at Duty Free in arrivals at Sydney airport. I asked the girl to change it to Australian dollars rather than my currency (Can$) and she did so, although she did say "are you sure?"
That is also the first place I have been told there will be an extra charge from the retailer for using a credit card.