Travelex proudly proclaims use of DCC at its ATMs

DCC is certainly something to be aware of, know what it is, know how to avoid it. But Travelex also has exclusive contracts at many airports and many other financial companies also use DCC that you will run into at airports, train stations and other ATMs. In each case that I have encountered it at an ATM, I have also had the choice to avoid DCC by choosing to do the transaction in local currency. So in the end, something to be aware of, but easily avoidable.

This says it all:
"With our superior ATM technology and experience, we are the expert in driving revenue from ATMs by deriving maximum return on each transaction."

I stay clear of Travelex ATMs and bureaus at all airports, even if I have to spend more time hunting down a regular ATM. I've noticed in many airports, Travelex gets the most visible and attractive space while other ATMs are hidden from view and much harder to locate. It's like all impulse purchase candies and celebrity magazines placed strategically at the checkout counters. Travelex counts on tired and weary passengers to use them without realizing they are rip-off artists. Thanks for the reminder (although you're preaching to the choir with me). Having said that, just because something is "DCC enabled" doesn't mean it can't be refused by the customer, assuming they understand what DCC is and why it's not in their interest to accept it.

I know Travelex' "partners" (e.g. airports) use them because the commissions they get are too tempting to say "no" to.

Just one more reason to bring a few hundred euro with you when you arrive in Europe, either obtained from a bank (not an airport exchange counter) or deliberately brought back from your last trip.

I used a Travelex at Heathrow last year as an experiment, got the proper exchange rate and no DC was offered..But if a machine offers DCC it is required to state so and give you the choice avoid it.

This is a good reason why I prefer to travel with €50-100 rather than relying on airport ATM's when arriving at destination. Regardless of whether the machine uses DCC, Travelex rates are typically not as good as using a bank ATM.

In our experiment, the cost in USD for 20 GBP was the same rate as we were charged later that day at (IIRC, trying to recall this in a hospital bed after bilateral hip revisions) a Nat West ATM in Lambeth,
using 2 different cards.

I can say from personal experience that the private ATMs that are all you now get in railway stations in Berlin will spit your card out if you refuse DCC.

There has been advertising of this kind by operators of ATMs for years.

Interestingly, DCC has been promoted, rather than just allowed or a blind eye being turned by consumer 'protection' laws in many countries that forbade Visa/Mastercard to operate a foreign exchange duopoly.

It isn't however just independents that run DCC on their ATMs; many banks do as well.

Also it isn't a 'European' issue in that ATMs in the USA do DCC as well. Also some American companies particularly hotel chains are amongst the worst offenders in doing DCC without offering the customer a choice.

This is slightly off topic, but I just got back from 2 1/2 weeks in France, having made about 35 credit card transactions and 8 ATM withdrawals, and never was confronted with the DCC choice. I'm not sure why, but I'm certainly not complaining.

Many of the American travelers I have come across or traveled with (except for RS tours) are completely and totally baffled by (and amused by) the concept of any country using anything other than US dollars. The math of conversion involved is beyond comprehension. So for them DCC is a convenience for which they will gladly pay whatever it takes so they can deal in "real money".

Good point Stan. Those of us here are pretty seasoned travelers and have a goal to educate others on travel issues. But the vast majority of Americans just buy an airline ticket and go and probably just want everything easy and laid out for them. So I don't doubt that DCC is "appreciated" by that type of traveler, although no doubt that they don't realize they are "paying" for that service.

Robert - DCC is more widespread in some countries than others. It is pretty common in Spain for sure but less so in Belgium and the Netherlands (based on my recent travels). But it is quickly spreading.

DCC is spreading faster than you can imagine. Every atm we used in Austria and the Czech Republic offered us that "convenience." To add injury to injury, Travelex, now the only option at the Lyon France airport, also tried to squeeze a little more out of us with DCC.

Travelex is also in train stations. I saw them in Paris at Gare du Nord a couple years ago when I was looking for the Thomas Cooke stand, where it had always been, gone...now repalced by Travelex. True, lay off of Travelex, I've never used them.

I know this is an old thread (the most recent post before mine dates to May 1) and don't know why it appeared now, but I'm glad to see it here. It's a good reminder to be aware of DCC at Travelex ATMs not only in airports but in train stations too. Centraal Station in Amsterdam has a Travelex ATM, which I used last October because I couldn't find any others. I requested a withdrawal in euros and wasn't charged any fees other than my credit union's $1 foreign-ATM fee.

I know this is an old thread (the most recent post before mine dates
to May 1) and don't know why it appeared

Any time someone makes a new post (which didn't happen here) OR edits an existing post (or even clicks on edit and saves, without actually making any changes) the date that happens is used for the most recent post date.

As for arriving in Europe with some euro in hand (from a prior trip or purchased in advance), not all trips start in the eurozone. I do keep euro on hand from the last related trip, but not kroner, etc. Bank affiliated ATMs at airports have never failed me.