Thanks for the links -- the information is helpful.

As I suggested the way to get a change is to post negative reviews of hotels & restaurants that do this scam on tripadvisor.com, venere.com and fodors if they are listed. Also report them to Visa and the local better business bureau with the relevant quotes. If enough noise is made it will have an effect.

I know that DCC and credit card charges in foreign currency are not the same thing, I was commenting on someone's post about charges in Canada on credit cards (Patrick's I think).

As for Paris, I was just there in July and never encountered anyone trying this, nor did it ever occur in southern France where I was before that.

Thanks, Christina. I hope it doesn't leap the Channel in the next month.

Craigellachie, I don't get your ramblings about agreeing on the exchange rate before signing. I think we've all agreed that the best way to settle any credit card bill is in the LOCAL currency. There is no exchange rate coming into view in that case. If the bill is 123 pounds, you pay 123 pounds. What does exchange rate have to do with anything?

But I love your advice about leaving without paying after making sure it is clear that you have tried to pay in full in local currency!

I don't think walking out is a particularly good idea - especially in smaller Highland towns where everyone's last name is Mackay or something.

Just post your objection on the slip and sign it.

Craigellachie

I've understand that to be true at least in England- heard it from a UK policeman (my dear BIL) if you offer to pay in valid currency or credit card and they reject your offer then you're not liable for the charge.

xyz123, please tell us where this happened ?

I'm not sure why this issue of legality of leaving after offering to pay in local "currency" or by credit card and the business refusing is so shocking. I haven't heard of any problems with businesses refusing to do so. I thought the problems all issue regarding credit card purchases. Is someone saying that when the dynamic currency conversion scam comes up with a credit card and they refuse to switch it to local currency and THEN you offer to pay them in CASH in local currency, they are still refusing? I find that hard to believe. Why would they refuse to take cash? But if they did so, I sure can't imagine how you could be in trouble if you did leave without paying.

They should be overjoyed to take currency, because that way they don't have to pay the credit card issuer any discount points. In most cases, this will more than offset the loss of the DCC rip-off.

Several of the woolen mill tourist sports near the Castle in Edmonton pulled this garbage on me...and in each case after a hassle they had to credit the original transaction and properly do the transaction.

I shall be writing to them and to the Scottish Tourist Board regarding this near criminal activity and to emphasize again the use of dcc is not the criminal acitivy but putting into the terminal I had agreed to it without asking seems to me to be fraud.

I have never thought much of boycotts, but this kind of activity should be jumped on.

If we can positively identify Global companies that are doing this, I would boycott their US operations as well.

That could add up to enough money that they might shape up.

Keith

This thing has certainly gotten around. I did the same dance at the front desk of a hotel in Sinaia, Romania in October.

Such incredulous looks and arguments as to how it was in my best interests before finally convincing them to re-ring the slip in lei.

ttt

Patrick - I don't think most people carry enough cash to pay large bills such as hotels. The staff pretends they can't ring these transactions any other way. You also need to allow enough time when paying a bill to get a manager if this happens. If you are in a hurry to catch a flight or train then you really don't have time to argue about a bill. I had the problem at H10 resorts in Spain and had to make the choice of staying and arguing about the bill (dcc rate of 1.29 and my cc rate of 1.25) or missing my train. If I had known in advance, I would have allowed more checkout time.