St George Amplify Credit Card and Foreign Transaction Fees on AUD Transactions

IdBuyThat4aDollar on 27/01/2019 - 16:23

I picked up a St George Amplify Credit Card as part of this deal and recently noticed that I have been charged foreign conversion fees on transactions that were carried out in AUD.

I later found via this post that you can be charged foreign conversion fee when a transaction is made in Australian dollars or any other currency with a Merchant located outside Australia;

As an example, the transactions I have noticed this on are from Nike and Zapals, both were paid in AUD but likely they are located overseas.

I've gone through many credit cards and pretty much 99% of my purchased are made via credit card for the last 10 years+, but this is the first time I have noticed a credit card charging a foreign conversion fee for transactions in AUD. Are people aware of this? Are there any other credit cards that do this? Before this card I mainly used Amex Platinum Edge, and ANZ Visa signature and I am positive they didn't have foreign conversion fees on transactions that are in AUD.

By the way I have a BankWest credit card for internationl purchases since there's no foreign conversion fee on that, but I always thought it was safe to use your card of choice if the purchase was in AUD.

Financial Credit Card

Related Stores

St.George Bank
St.George Bank

Comments

  • bnebgnhunter on 27/01/2019 - 16:26

    Sorry to say but it’s clear as day on their website in big bold font

    3% of overseas purchase prices in AUD

    • IdBuyThat4aDollar on 27/01/2019 - 16:29

      Yeah I admit I didn't read this into detail when signing up, so my mistake - I rushed into the 80,000 qantas points from the ozbargain post. But I wasn't aware this was common practice or something to look out for. You live and learn though.

      Can you tell me where exactly it shows this? I'll know for next time I sign up to another credit card, but curious if the other cards I own have this too.

      EDIT: all good found it here under key fees

      • bnebgnhunter on 27/01/2019 - 17:15

        Yep
        Beat me to it as I was away from my phone
        On the main page when you sign up

      • Easton on 29/01/2019 - 10:00

        I'd suggest you call them and try to question the fee and say that you didn't know that the fee applied to AUD transactions processed overseas. My guess is that they'll probably refund it if it's the first time you've asked for such a refund. Worked for me with my Westpac card (parent company of St George). I got about $45 back for airfares that I bought in AUD, but was processed overseas.

  • Baysew on 27/01/2019 - 18:04

    There is a wiki on OzBargain Australian Sites that can incur a fee for transactions

    …change to the T&Cs on Mastercard and VISA effective 20th March 2014

    Cards to use to avoid fee Cards with No Overseas Transaction Fees

    • IdBuyThat4aDollar on 27/01/2019 - 18:47

      Thanks. I am aware of cards that do not charge foreign transaction fees, however never realised AUD transactions could fall under a foreign conversion fee. I guess prior to this card I mainly used Amex, and I'm pretty sure they only apply conversion fees to non AUD transactions.

      • burningrage on 27/01/2019 - 20:10

        They renamed Foreign Conversion Fee into International Transaction Fee and has put a disclaimer that it may not be clear whether the vendor will use local billing process to process payment and it is the responsibility of the purchaser to ascertain that.

  • burningrage on 27/01/2019 - 20:09

    This has unfortunately been going on for a while and has been discussed for a while.

    Essentially, if your vendor is based in overseas (eg: Gearbest), then GENERALLY doesn't matter even if it is in AUD, you will get charged International Transaction Fee AND as well as Dynamic Currency Conversion for accepting to be charged in AUD.

    On average, you will stand to be worse off up to 10% (about 9% at least) EX-GST compared to if you buy using cards like 28 Degress, Citibank Debit, or any other card that does not charge International Transaction Fee.

    There are posts about tips to avoid vendors like Sony / Microsoft and that is by buying gift cards.

    Steam has recently gone AUD billing. Can somebody confirm if International Transaction Fee applies to this?

  • Dadidalol on 09/02/2019 - 22:39

    Also applies to ASOS. Have made this mistake a couple of times…yet I never learn facepalm

  • elcheapo on 29/09/2020 - 10:49

    I got charged international transaction fee for an item that I purchased from eBay Australia, from "Local" Ebay AU Seller and item is in Melbourne. Paid via Paypal in AUD, so I dont really understand where's the international part

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