Harringay, Haringey - So Good they Spelt it Twice!
Problems with booking websites
I wonder if anyone has had this experience with Booking.com and did you get any satisfaction? I booked a hotel in Dublin through them and perhaps unwisely opted to pay when I arrived in sterling. I questioned this being much higher than a) first estimated by Booking.com and b) much higher than the average exchange rate. they said it would be my bank which decided this but I have twice been reassured by my bank that as nothing was converted by them (I opted to pay a euro charge in sterling) it is the hotel's bank at issue. The hotel is apparently disputing this as every few days I get an email from Booking.com asking for yet another piece of information, copy of bank statement etc etc I have already sent them. It's as if they are playing for time. How can this hotel and Booking.com not know that if nothing has been converted it is the Irish bank and fees charged which is problematic, not mine? I reckon to be out of pocket by about £50.
Glad to get any views.
Replies to This Discussion
-
Permalink Reply by John McMullan on
-
Use revolut.
-
-
Yes. There's also WeSwap but that's just for FX rates. A few years ago I had some time off and decided it's time to write a new banking app for the way people really bank these days but I never really got into it enough. The revolut guys have absolutely nailed it.
-
Permalink Reply by matt on
-
What's the top 3 things you like about revolut, compared to the high st. banks? Was the business started here, Europe or the US. Are you expected to pay in your salary?
-
Permalink Reply by Charlotte A on
-
I'm not sure that this is booking.com's issue to resolve, I thought if you opted to pay in Sterling overseas then the Vendor could use whatever FX rate they chose. It doesn't have to be the bank rate. How was the Sterling amount you paid arrived at?
-
-
That's exactly what the bank has suggested I could find out, Charlotte, but so far just stonewalled. If companies do business with these hotels I'd have thought (and they haven't contradicted this) it's incumbent on them to check out and monitor what's happening in their name and the booking was done through them, Booking.com. If the hotel is shown to be profiteering unreasonably from any old FX rate that's something they should justify so I am not £50 out of pocket, in my view.
-
-
"Dynamic currency conversion" = getting people to pay in their home currency as it makes them feel more secure, but actually ripping them off on the exchange rate and/or fees.
e.g. see this piece in the Guardian - or do a google search & find loads more.
Cash machines try the same trick as well ... always say no!
-
-
Thanks - this seems very similar to what's happened to me but why is this ripping off allowed to continue and odd that Booking.com appears to know nothing about it. Likewise the hotel saying it's my bank at fault.
-
Permalink Reply by James R Grinter on
-
Very disingenuous of them: it's their bank (actually, their card processor) who decided how much to charge you, as you opted to pay in sterling. Your card provider just settled the exact sterling amount charged to your card.
I am sure the hotel will have gained financially from the transaction too, of course, otherwise they wouldn't bother to do it.
This article - https://www.merchantmaverick.com/the-complete-guide-to-credit-card-... - (one of many similar) gives a run down of who does what
-
-
Thanks to the last few respondents. Nick, I didn't get all this info/warning when I booked and don't quite get the equation you make '...my hotel in Miami in pounds instead of the dollars they clearly asked for then I have to realise that I'm giving the hotel permission to use their own rate'. I don't think opting for this (as one person has said, believing it to be safer) gives that organisation carte blanche to rip us off. And if this 'dynamic currency conversion' is such a recognised phenomenon why hasn't my bank or booking.com mentioned it and why have they got involved in my dispute if it's just all my fault? Seems to me this whole scam needs looking into and people need to be warned to pay in the country's currency.
-
-
Which? are campaigning on this. Their advice is ALWAYS pay in the local currency. NEVER opt to pay in sterling - it's a perfectly legal rip off. Organisations can charge whatever fees they like.
© 2024 Created by Hugh.
Powered by
