I was looking at my card statements recently and I see overseas transaction fees when I purchase from Chinese stores on eBay. This used to never happen, so I'm not too sure if it is a new 'feature' my bank added, or it is a general thing for eBay purchases these days?
Bank: HSBC
Card: Credit Card
Purchase: Using HSBC card through PayPal
Denomination: $AUD
From: ebay.com.au domain (Australian portal)
Wonder if anyone noticed this on their cards as well?
so you paid by paypal funded by hsbc cc and opt for CC conversion but ebay listing is $AUD not foreign currrency ?
So I paid by PayPal funded by HSBC CC, there is no opt for CC conversion because it is already in $AUD, not a foreign currency.
I’m aware that HSBC does have foreign currency exchange fees, and that’s when I would use my 28D CC instead.
In this case though, we are dealing completely with $AUD
What matters is where the seller is charging, not the currency the price is shown in. In future use 28D when in doubt.
Agreed. IF there is conversion option I always use my 28D CC instead but it was already in $AUD.
May have to just use the 28D for all overseas purchases now just in case ….
I have HSBC too. In general, they're annoying.
Back to your topic, sometimes, when buying from ebay/wherever; paypal will offer to make the currency exchange for you - this is a bad idea! they give a terrible rate. Let your bank do the exchange - … unless you have an account where they charge a fee for such pleasure- like HSBC.
Try a different CC that doesn't do foreign exchange transaction fees. I have a bankwest mastercard for these purposes.
Also, some companies incur a fee (by your bank, if your bank charges a few) even if they give you a price in AUD - such as Google play; meanwhile Microsoft does not.
Yeah that’s the thing, I was more surprised that it was already $AUD, and yet they charged me with overseas transaction fee. This was definitely not an issue 2 months ago for sure, but now they are popping up on about 50% of my eBay purchases to the amount of < $1 each.
who even uses HSBC anymore…..
When you’re a poor boy who’s only access to a fee free rewards credit card is from HSBC, you just need to cop it.
Me, HSBC gave me best class leading Home loan I could not refuse, good free CC with points. I think they are generally improving significantly. Apple Pay and Google Pay now etc.
Yeah I have never had an issue with this until this year. It was a St George CC. Bought from eBay Australian, charged/paid AUD and got charged an international fee. This was through PayPal too. It seems the seller was using the HK version of PayPal so got the fee. It's certainly disappointing buying from eBay aus and paint international fee.
I recently had that charge on my Woolworths CC which I never had before. I thought it might have been someone skimming my card. I rang them and they said the overseas transaction charge was valid. I paid in AUD and it was on ebay.com.au too. No warnings on ebay checkout or paypal stating there maybe overseas transaction fees.
There were other items I also purchased from overseas vendors in the same transaction but only one was charged the overseas transaction fee.
same happened to me, something not right, ANZ Platinum card, i never used get charged intl trans fee for paypal payments in local currency. I'll investigate this..
i paid with paypal and funds were from anz card
AUD currency transaction
overseas seller
I've heard of this, and believe there was a post around this time last year on the same if no similar issue. See https://www.choice.com.au/shopping/online-shopping/buying-on…
Same with NAB.
Doesn't matter if the seller currency is selected at AUD, if they're located outside of Australia, you're getting slugged with intl fee..
So, you don't use PayPal for eBay purchases?