How to make sure that I won't get INTERNATIONAL TRANSACTION FEE?

• 

  PissLUR on 21/11/2013 - 12:46

  +3

  It depends on the bank. and some sites like Groupon actually offer refund for this charge if you contact them after your purchase.

  I know for a fact that Westpac/CBA dont charge international transaction fee for Nexus 5's purchase while ANZ/HSBC charge.

  to ensure that you will never be charged this fee ever (even for overseas purchases), get a 28 degrees or Bank West Platinum CC or Citibank Plus Debit account.

  • 

    ITveteran on 02/12/2013 - 12:11

    Mind to explain how do we know Westpac/CBA not charging IT fee for this purchase? I got charged when purchased from Amazon.

    • 

      PissLUR on 02/12/2013 - 12:38

      Its not a "real" overseas transaction for Google's Nexus 5 purchase. They charge in AUD$ but their system is overseas. For this kind of transactions, Westpac and CBA dont charge the fee.

      However, the Amazon purchase is a different scenario. Unless you use the crappy Amazon's currency converter to AUD$, you are usually charged in foreign currency and this is why you get charged the international transaction fee by Westpac/CBA.

      • 

        ITveteran on 02/12/2013 - 13:29

        Thanks mate. will buy one with CBA card then.

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  c64 on 21/11/2013 - 16:16

  +1

  i use a citibank plus visa debit card

  • 

    Jared17 on 22/11/2013 - 18:09

    This

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  Foma2 on 21/11/2013 - 16:24

  Thanks. I've got a 28 Degree card but I would like to use the one with reward points.
  So, my understanding is that I have to figure out if a transaction willl be processed from overseas before using a particular credit card.

  • 

    c64 on 21/11/2013 - 16:37

    you need to read the t&cs for your card on the website to see if you are subject to conversion fees

    knowing whether a purchase is international is a bit more tricky. i think it depends on where the transaction is processed.

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  NancyCat on 21/11/2013 - 18:33

  I have been wondering about the same thing too. Bought something recently from a .au website, everything in Aud$, invoice was also in Aud$. Australian contact address, 1800 number … They even have 'do you ship outside Australia' in its FAQ section! Not until I checked credit card statement a week later, I found out I have been charged cross boarder assessment fee plus currency conversion fee plus international transaction fee.
  It’s only a few dollars extra, not much. But as a true OzBarginer, I shop around to get the best price of everything, down to the dollar & cents, I just hate this ‘surprise’ at the end.

  • 

    c64 on 21/11/2013 - 21:07

    if you query your bank they might reverse the fee.

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  akred on 22/11/2013 - 09:15

  Citibank (for non-Plus accounts) look at whether the merchant location is overseas, not the currency.
  eg. WOOLWORTHS SYD CBD AU would not be charged an overseas transaction fee but CATHAY PACIFIC CENTRAL HK would be charged an overseas transaction fee.
  With Citibank, if you are billed in AUD from overseas, you still earn the bonus points on Platinum/Signature/Select.

  To avoid the charge, make sure your merchant's bank account is in Australia.

  • 

    NancyCat on 22/11/2013 - 09:33

    To avoid the charge, make sure your merchant's bank account is in Australia.

    How?

    • 

      Foma2 on 22/11/2013 - 10:18

      The only thing which comes to my mind is to call them and ask.
      But
      1. it can be quite time consuming.
      2. their answers may be not quite accurate, which means you will need to submit a complain, which is even more time consuming.