Actually, I checked my Debit card statement, because my Citibank CC charges 3% for overseas transactions. So we used our BofA debit card.
Anyway, almost every place we used our Debit/Credit card charged us extra. For example, dinner one night at San Giacomo in Lake Como was $75. Then, about two-three charges later there is a charge from that same place for $2.33 (or something like that). Same with hotles, $90 for a hotel. Then three days later there is another charge from that same hotel for around $3. Same with gas startions, everywhere! I understand that *some* places charge an extra 2-3% for using plastic, but this is practically every place we used our debit card. The charges def. add up.
I guess my question is this- how can they charge me extra w/out letting me know? And how do you get around all the charges?
A lot of CC charge 3%, so scratch them. Our bank card only charges a 1% transaction fee, so we thought we were good. But now we've gotten all these random fees- seems like the only solution, aside from being "fee'ed" to death, would be to carry mass sums for cash, which IMO is not safe. But back to my orgional question, what are these fees?????

The fees have always been there--they are just breaking them out now.

That's exactly what happened to me when I used my BofA debit card in the Baltics in May. The extra "fees" ranged from $.68 to $2.33. Very frustratings. If they are just breaking out the costs, they should at least inform their customers. I haven't had the chance but will call them today.

Monica

Gretchen is correct. The fees that you see are from your credit card. They have always been there but now they have to break them into a different line item so you can see the charge. Its not included into your original charge anymore.

I guess I'm surprised that you have never received one of those long and detailed messages from BofA that said they were going to start showing the fees, along with a page or two of assorted impossible to decipher gobbledegook. I seem to have gotten several of those in the mail, particularly accompanying the last couple of statements.

But I guess this does answer the question from those who thought that the extra charges that apply to credit cards wouldn't apply to a debit card

I am on the the phone right now with my bank and Brian tells me the charges are conversion rate fees; however, since I'm a Premier Banker with BofA, they should have not charged me those fees and is right now deleting them for me. They totaled almost $15.

Monica

Okay, I am also a Premier Member- they will be getting a car.

Um, right- a CALL, not a car!! I'm on hold right now... wish me luck! It's taking forever for the Visa people to pick up the phone.

Monica- how did you have any luck? I am currently on hold waiting to speak with a manager.
I called BofA the night before I left (they have that on record) and was told they charged a 1% transaction fee, period, on all transactions.
Now I am told it is a 1% transaction fee on ATMs and a 3% fee on all other charges and it cannot be reversed. I am not happy because this is not what I was told before I left. (I am also an Advantage member)
If I ha know this was the case, I would have used my Citibank CC. They charge 3%, but I get 1% cash back, so really is would have been 2%. Grrrrrr. I would have used my Citibank CC. If I have to speak with the Pres. of BofA I will; I don't have to work today....
Lauren

Good luck...we are fighting this battle too. We even called our card, Chase, before we left and were told there would not be any fees. Wouldn't have used the card otherwise. Have gotten 1/2 of the charges back from the first statement but still trying to get almost $50 back.

Finally forced to write a letter because that's their policy. Will keep you posted!

The fees can be avoided. I stopped using BofA for cash except at member banks to avoid their $5 fee, and I stopped using my standard credit card because of their 2 or 3% fee add-on. I believe that these are fees that were imposed in the last couple of years which did not exist in previous years. My solution was to join my local credit union. It charges no fees for either credit card transactions or cash withdrawals.

I have read over the many postings on this board regarding this subject as we are leaving next week for Switzerland and England. I have also called each of my banks which I have ATM and also CC's at, and it is very frustrating. The banks give out different info than the 1-800 number. As an example, just yesterday, BofA local branch quoted $5 PLUS 3% for ATM withdrawal transaction. The 800 number for BofA quote only $5. Very confusing.

My other ATM cards seem to be quoting a $3-$5 per transaction, and for CC's it seems 3% is, unfortunately, the norm.

Wow, kopp, you are getting robbed! USAA has a MC that charges only 1%. You can apply right over the phone. I got mine after I heard about MBNA's new fees through the grapevine (I never got an official notice of fee changes!).

You need to shop around for a new bank. Most credit unions will charge no fee or a low fee. I believe that USAA also has a bank that anyone can use with a minimal fee ATM.

wow, this is confusing,what happens if you go back to travelers checks.If your a member at AAA there are no fees,but does anyone know if there are any fees when you cash them at a bank? I realize you have to find a good exchange rate, but other than that?

I hope there are no bankers reading this!

Look let's face it - the plastic cards are so convenient. And it must cost the banks something to run the things. I don't begrudge paying fair fees for the convenience. The alternative is carrying wads of cash (I value my life) or travellers checks. My bank charges $5 for withdrawals. The trick is to keep these to a minimum. I used VISA as well. For my 4 week trip my total bank fees were about $50. Big deal. This is a small price to pay for hassle free financing.

Just my 10 cents worth - no I wasn't sponsored by my bank to write this!

I knew that was a charge from your card company, not the establishment. It probably was just itemized by date and maybe establishment.

My bank sent me a notice a couple months ago that stated that the charges would be increased for debit cards to 3% for purchases/charges, but only 1% for ATM withdrawals. This is because if the network that the card uses -- VISA, I guess, and they are passing the charges on. My bank was pretty clear that charges are different for cash withdrawal at an ATM versus using it for purchases.

Sounds like you have a crummy bank, and I think it is illegal for them not to notify you. I imagine they did, but you are forgetting or didn't understand what they sent. I know how that can happen, I think my statement was a little vague for me or used terms I wasn't sure that were defined, so I called them and made sure I understood them. Luckily, I don't have a debit card, only an ATM card, so they don't apply to me anyway (and they verified they don't apply to ATM-only cards), but they told me it was due to the VISA network on the debit cards. I have no use for debit cards myself, which is why I refuse to accept one from my bank, although I know some people like them.

I know I'm living in a dream world, but if EVERY single credit card holder would call his bank after returning from Europe and moan and complain about every single charge, the banks WOULD HAVE to reconsider those charges.

Some years ago, when a few of the credit card issuers dreamed up the "currency conversion fee", it was recommended here that everyone ascertain whether or not their credit cards were subject to same and notify them that they would not be using those particular cards during their overseas travels. This sort of worked. Many withdrew the fees, either due to protests, or that they were sued (multitudes of class actions) for not properly disclosing same.

Since then, it would seem that they've all banded together to assess all of us extra fees for transactions of no extra cost whatseover to them.

Not only are there "currency transaction fees", some, for example CITI, have significantly higher "finance charge rates" for "foreign transactions" (similar to those for cash advances versus purchases). Then, there are notices with regard to how the "rate" is determined.

For sure, you do receive a "notice", separate from your monthly statement, looking just like any number of other useless and unnecessary services for which they hope you'll think worth enrolling, in the very tiniest print/font imaginable...with totally unintelligible verbage. NO WAY you can possibly receive a valid or understandable explanation when you phone them either.

For now, most debit cards are not involved (CITI, Wells Fargo...the exceptions).

And, most credit union accounts (credit and debit) are "safe" so far...

I, personally, think you can either accept this nonsense, or do your best to avoid these ridiculous "assessments", if you think it's really worth the time and effort.

If they can get away with 3%, what's to keep them from going up and up to 10% and beyond?

Urban legend has it that travelers checks will be eliminated in "favor" of those prepaid spending cards with a positive litany of excessive and ridiculous fees and charges for everything (reloading, transaction fees, balance available inquiries...) imaginable (not to mention restrictions on where they can be used...) with which your deposits actually EXPIRE, or there's a ridiculous fee to collect the unused balance before it "expires".

At the moment, sure to change any time, due to our "relationship" with our bank, we are not charged for ATM withdrawals (up to $5 or more with some banks) and no currency conversion fees are assessed to our debit card transactions. We used to travel with just the ATM card and leave the debit card at home, because, previously, you did not have the same rights of recovery if your debit card fell into the wrong hands, which seems to have changed. Even so, your CASH balance could be wiped out during your travels and could not be resolved, necessarily, during your trip.

Used to be, you could expect the best exchange rate possible with your debit/credit card, but the verbage in those leaflets is positively beyond understanding. Not to mention all those fees and increased finance rates.

One can only wonder what all is going on here. The exchange rates have climbed miserably (along with gas prices) for some years, only to drop somewhat, perhaps so as we'll all be "encouraged".

On the one hand, you might be inclined to travel within USA, given the whoppingly unfavorable exchange rates, but then, the price of gas is ridiculous! And, hotel rates in all the major cities and "tourist destinations" stateside are nearly astonishing!

We used to plan our travels with regard to exchange rates/hotel rates for stateside destinations.

For right now, we're more focused on improving our home (what with interest rates so low, prime less 1%), landscaping our yard, and enjoying staying home, our local area and somewhat beyond. There is much to enjoy (restaurants, historical sights, scenery...) nearby!

You know, not only are all these electronic transactions of nearly no cost (as opposed to formerly paper handled by people), they are speedy and supremely accurate (so without errors requiring costly personal handling).

And, it could not be more interesting that, no matter where your go, the hugest and most beautiful buildings (other than the churches and cathedrals) are the BANKS and INSURANCE companies.

I'm not trying to promote conspiracy theories or anything like that. But a friend who used to work in the CC industry told me that people in that industry pretty much have weekly meetings to figure out who to screw the customer (though they prefer to call the meetings something like "increasing revenue streams&quot.

He said the typical format of the meeting goes something like this: "Hey, let''s charge them for this and bury the policy in the mountain of paperwork we send with their bills."

In my opinion, the CC industry is among the sleaziest going. Thanks for the alert on another one of their ways to "increase revenue streams."

worldinabag, I have to disagree. When it comes to CC companies; they are making a lot of money off of interest rates and fees. A lot!!! If fact, I am probably not a CC company's favorite customer- I always pay my bill in full, never late. They keep upping my limit in hopes that I'll slip up and have to finance so they can many some money off of me. Same with banks, we all know that if every bank member went to liquidate their assets, banks and insurance agencies would go under. I am doing them a favor by keeping the money I do in my accounts. And I'm still ticked off about my $100++ charges.
I just want to find out what we, as travelers, can do to avoid these rediculous fees.