📖 READER VIEW (Read-Only, Public Access)
The user believes their credit card bank applied an unfavorable exchange rate for a European purchase, leading to a feeling of being overcharged compared to current market rates.
The purchase was made on October 26, 2023, around 3:30 PM Central European Time (CET). I'm in the US, so that would have been around 9:30 AM Eastern Time.
The purchase was made in Euros (€), and my credit card statement is in US Dollars ($).
The purchase was for €55.75 in Euros. My credit card statement shows a charge of $65.20 in US Dollars. When I convert €55.75 using the market rate I found for that day, it comes out to around $61.50, so there's a difference of about $3.70.
Yes, I have. I checked Google's historical exchange rate for the date I made the purchase, and it was significantly better than what my bank charged. I also looked at XE.com, and the rates were very similar to Google's. That's what made me suspicious.
I'm not entirely sure. I'd have to dig out my credit card agreement, which is probably buried somewhere. I remember seeing something about foreign transaction fees, but I don't recall any specific details about how they calculate the exchange rate or if there's a markup. I'll have to look for it.
Credit card companies often use their own internal exchange rates, which may include a markup or spread above the wholesale market rate to account for their costs and profit.
The market exchange rate you are comparing against might be from a different day or time than when your bank processed the transaction, leading to a perceived discrepancy.
In addition to the exchange rate, your credit card may have charged a separate foreign transaction fee, which can add to the total cost and make the effective rate seem worse.
If you were offered the option to pay in your home currency at the point of sale, the merchant's system may have applied a less favorable exchange rate than your bank would have.
🤖 AI Analysis
"The user is questioning the exchange rate applied by their bank and has already identified a discrepancy. Contacting the bank directly is the most direct way to get an explanation for the specific rate used and any associated fees, which is the core of the user's problem."
🤖 AI Analysis
"The user is unsure about the details in their credit card agreement regarding foreign transaction fees and exchange rate markups. Reviewing this document is crucial for understanding the bank's policies and how they are supposed to calculate the exchange rate, which directly addresses the user's suspicion."
🤖 AI Analysis
"The user suspects an unfavorable exchange rate. Inquiring about foreign transaction fees and their percentage is a logical next step, as these fees can contribute to the overall cost and might be part of the reason for the higher charge. This is closely related to understanding the bank's pricing."
🤖 AI Analysis
"The user has already identified a discrepancy. Examining the statement for explicit foreign transaction fees is a good way to confirm if such a fee was applied and to what extent, which can help in understanding the total cost of the transaction."
🤖 AI Analysis
"The user has already used historical rate data from Google and XE.com to identify the discrepancy. This solution reinforces the user's own investigation and is a valid method for verifying exchange rates, though they have already performed this step."
🤖 AI Analysis
"The user has provided the purchase date and time. Verifying the exact processing date with the bank and comparing it to the market rate for that specific date is important, as the processing date can sometimes differ from the purchase date and affect the exchange rate applied."
🤖 AI Analysis
"The user has already confirmed the purchase was in Euros and the statement is in USD. While checking the receipt for the charged currency is a good general practice for identifying Dynamic Currency Conversion (DCC), the user's current problem is specifically about the exchange rate applied by their bank, not necessarily about being charged in their home currency at the point of sale."
🤖 AI Analysis
"This solution offers advice for future transactions. The user's current problem is about a past transaction and understanding why the exchange rate was unfavorable. While good advice for the future, it does not directly help resolve the current issue."
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