Google Play Music subscription - always attracts foreign transaction fee for me; anyone else?

2be8 on 11/11/2016 - 15:34

I've been subscribed to Google Play music for the last five months (ending today) and I've noticed that every time I am charged, I'm charged the subscription about ($17.99 in my case) and a $0.53 foreign transaction fee by Westpac (my credit card provider). I called Google and the explanation was that the transactions are being performed from Ireland. (Note: no idea if the guys was talking nonsense or not).

Anyway, I was wondering if anyone else has had this experience.
For me the transactions show up as 'GOOGLE *Music g.gl/payhel GB'

Going to raise it with consumer affairs because it means that the advertised price doesn't accurately represent the true cost (even though it is not them applying the foreign transaction fees, it is pretty standard); I was just wondering if anyone else was having the problem.

Cheers.

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Comments

  • scotty on 11/11/2016 - 15:42
    +2

    Website displayed in AUD does not mean the gateway process the payment in Australian dollar. There are many threads on this here. However I have been paying my Google Music subscription with my AmEx and have not seen foreign transaction fee.

  • ozhunter on 11/11/2016 - 16:09

    Going to raise it with consumer affairs because it means that the advertised price doesn't accurately represent the true cost (even though it is not them applying the foreign transaction fees, it is pretty standard

    Lol, if I pay with my citibank debit card, I don't get any transaction fees. Does that not meant it is accurately represented?

    When you buy Content (defined as data files, applications, written text, mobile device software, music, audio files or other sounds, photographs, videos or other images) on Google Play you will buy it either:

    (a) directly from Google Ireland Limited (a “Direct Sale”);

    https://play.google.com/about/play-terms.html

  • Master Bates on 11/11/2016 - 16:30
    +1

    Simple solution, change your credit card provider to one of the Travel Cards listed here and never have to worry about these type of charges again.

  • racerm911 on 11/11/2016 - 17:00

    or… use Google Play Cards!

    • Forfiet on 11/11/2016 - 17:06
      +1

      or use Telstra credit if you use their network!

      • [Deactivated] on 11/11/2016 - 17:57
        +1

        or if you've stocked up on prepaid starter kits :)

  • jimbobaus on 11/11/2016 - 19:56

    Google play used as example in this article

    https://www.choice.com.au/shopping/online-shopping/buying-on…

  • [Deactivated] on 14/11/2016 - 05:33

    Paying by credit card might be the difference in some cases like yours.

  • 2be8 on 15/11/2016 - 11:44

    So clearly changing which credit card I use is a good way to go. Thanks for the suggestions on that front (and I've now got a 28 degrees card).

    Also thanks for the pointer to the choice article @jimobaus.

  • mrshorty on 19/12/2016 - 09:22

    I recently encountered this and might be because my bank (St George) changed the definition of foreign transaction.

    A "Foreign Transaction" is any Purchase or Cash Advance made using the Card:
    •in a currency other than Australian dollars; or
    •in Australian dollars or any other currency with a Merchant located outside Australia; or
    •in Australian dollars or any other currency that is processed by an entity located outside Australia.

    So I get charged the 3% fee even if the transaction is in AUD if the merchant is overseas which is ridiculous

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