I just booked a Group Z "people mover" van with Dan Dooley (Thanks for all the advice, forum people!).
On the Confirmation, I noticed they had the Credit Card charged as $.
I remember reading on these forums that I should always charge purchases in the currency of the country you are in, to save fees.
Should I have charged the rental car in Euros? I booked it just now, so I might have time to switch it.
How much was it in dollars vs Euro? And is that amount a good value when using the current exchange rate published on Google? And if the rate is bad, can you cancel without penalty? Finally, is there an option when you book to choose what currency is used? The only web site for them I can reach from the US is a US based site which makes sense to be billed in dollars.
The warnings of not being billed in dollars are for credit and debit card transaction while in that country and has to do with Dynamic Currency Conversion which allows the merchant or ATM operator to choose whatever exchange rate they want that works in their favor instead of the non-negotiable network rate.
Yes, I had the option to book in Euros on their website ; thought it would be easier to get a real idea of the cost if I chose $'s, so I did.
The first exchange rate on a Google search came up as $1.00 = €.89
Well, I guess that Dynamic Currency Conversion doesn't apply online?
Although, when I purchase something online from a European company, I am billed in, and pay in Euros.
Why do you think it would be "easier" in Dollars? It doesn't matter what your google search of current exchange rates tells you. It DOES matter what the dollar amount was that the merchant charged you. Take THAT amount and figure out the exchange THEY gave you. Compare it to the real exchange rate by looking at www.xe.com
If the price of a product is marked in Euros - then PAY in Euros. If it's marked in US Dollars then pay in US Dollars.
Tim,
Yeah, I do follow that advice normally; price in Euros, pay in Euros.
But in this situation, the website offered the option of booking the rental in $, €, or £.
There is a "No cancelation fee" policy, so I can go back to the website and change the currency payment option, I guess, or call them. Don't know if I'll save fees, though.
last year I booked a car with Dan Dooley and I don't remember (which isn't saying it wasn't offered) being given a choice of being billed in Euros or Dollars. However, I think I did view the price in $$ online so I would have a better idea of the cost. I think you will be billed in Euros and the price you pay in US dollars will depend on the rate the day it hits your credit card. We had to cancel our trip and when I cancelled the car the amount refunded on my credit card did not exactly match the amount I paid. Again, I was refunded the same amount of Euros I had paid but the rate of exchange had changed so I lost out a bit. Now if your credit card charges an exchange fee I would be looking for a new card before your trip because those fees can add up quickly.
Thanks, kse!
I guess I should have checked the CC exchange fee policy first, but I wanted to book a van before there are none to be had. I'll check my CCs before we leave; thanks for that reminder.
