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Travel Forum Index » Canada Travel Forum » Watch out for Credit Card fees when travelling to...
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Message |
| Rtavi... |
Posted: Sun Jul 27, 2008 11:03 am |
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Guest
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We just got back from a 2 month trip to East Coast and Canada.-- Beautiful
and loved it despite $1.59/Liter for diesel!
I have always been told to use a credit card when out of the US since you
get the benefit of paying in Canada Dollars which are running at about $.95
US then the credit card company converts your charge to $US. As far as this
goes, it is true and I saved about $25 when the transactions were posted.
What I was not aware of was that CITI card charges a "Foreign Transaction
Fee" on every purchase. This totaled up to a charge of over $100 US. It's
my fault for not reading all the fine print but this didn't happen 7 years
ago when I was using an ATT card in Canada. I just wanted to let you guys
to be aware of this. I should have done what I did with some of my cash on
hand which was to go to a Royal Bank of Canada and have them change $100 US
to Canadian for a $3 fee so that I would have pocket money.(btw Canadian
money is pretty) that would have been cheaper .
Anyway we had a great trip and I wanted to save you guys some cash. Don't
be a dummy like me! |
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| Dennis... |
Posted: Sun Jul 27, 2008 11:35 am |
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Guest
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Yep, and it didn't cost CITI one penny more to do the Canadian transactions.
"Rtavi" <rtavi at (no spam) eudoramail.com> wrote in message
news:AradndX-vYelBhHVnZ2dnUVZ_t3inZ2d at (no spam) comcast.com...
Quote: We just got back from a 2 month trip to East Coast and Canada.--
Beautiful and loved it despite $1.59/Liter for diesel!
I have always been told to use a credit card when out of the US since you
get the benefit of paying in Canada Dollars which are running at about
$.95 US then the credit card company converts your charge to $US. As far
as this goes, it is true and I saved about $25 when the transactions were
posted. What I was not aware of was that CITI card charges a "Foreign
Transaction Fee" on every purchase. This totaled up to a charge of over
$100 US. It's my fault for not reading all the fine print but this didn't
happen 7 years ago when I was using an ATT card in Canada. I just wanted
to let you guys to be aware of this. I should have done what I did with
some of my cash on hand which was to go to a Royal Bank of Canada and have
them change $100 US to Canadian for a $3 fee so that I would have pocket
money.(btw Canadian money is pretty) that would have been cheaper .
Anyway we had a great trip and I wanted to save you guys some cash. Don't
be a dummy like me!
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| Tom J... |
Posted: Sun Jul 27, 2008 11:46 am |
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Guest
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Rtavi wrote:
Quote: transactions were posted. What I was not aware of was that CITI card
charges a "Foreign Transaction Fee" on every purchase. This totaled
up to a charge of over $100 US. It's my fault for not reading all
the fine print but this didn't happen 7 years ago when I was using
an
ATT card in Canada. I just wanted to let you guys to be aware of
this. I should have done what I did with some of my cash on hand
which was to go to a Royal Bank of Canada and have them change $100
US to Canadian for a $3 fee so that I would have pocket money
I don't think you can get a credit card from anyone anymore that
doesn't charge a fee for Foreign exchange.
Also, the next time you visit Canada, ask if there is a fee before
exchanging cash. I have never paid a fee to exchange cash in Canada.
I have walked out the door of a few banks and gone down the street to
another bank.
Tom J |
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| Bill B... |
Posted: Sun Jul 27, 2008 12:43 pm |
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Guest
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I convert to Canadian currency at my local bank, there has not been a fee.
They will only convert *paper*, no coin.
"Rtavi" <rtavi at (no spam) eudoramail.com> wrote in message
news:AradndX-vYelBhHVnZ2dnUVZ_t3inZ2d at (no spam) comcast.com...
Quote: We just got back from a 2 month trip to East Coast and Canada.--
Beautiful and loved it despite $1.59/Liter for diesel!
I have always been told to use a credit card when out of the US since you
get the benefit of paying in Canada Dollars which are running at about
$.95 US then the credit card company converts your charge to $US. As far
as this goes, it is true and I saved about $25 when the transactions were
posted. What I was not aware of was that CITI card charges a "Foreign
Transaction Fee" on every purchase. This totaled up to a charge of over
$100 US. It's my fault for not reading all the fine print but this didn't
happen 7 years ago when I was using an ATT card in Canada. I just wanted
to let you guys to be aware of this. I should have done what I did with
some of my cash on hand which was to go to a Royal Bank of Canada and have
them change $100 US to Canadian for a $3 fee so that I would have pocket
money.(btw Canadian money is pretty) that would have been cheaper .
Anyway we had a great trip and I wanted to save you guys some cash. Don't
be a dummy like me!
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| Alex... |
Posted: Sun Jul 27, 2008 1:59 pm |
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Guest
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On Sun, 27 Jul 2008 11:03:02 -0500, "Rtavi" <rtavi at (no spam) eudoramail.com>
wrote:
Quote: We just got back from a 2 month trip to East Coast and Canada.-- Beautiful
and loved it despite $1.59/Liter for diesel!
I have always been told to use a credit card when out of the US since you
get the benefit of paying in Canada Dollars which are running at about $.95
US then the credit card company converts your charge to $US. As far as this
goes, it is true and I saved about $25 when the transactions were posted.
What I was not aware of was that CITI card charges a "Foreign Transaction
Fee" on every purchase. This totaled up to a charge of over $100 US. It's
my fault for not reading all the fine print but this didn't happen 7 years
ago when I was using an ATT card in Canada. I just wanted to let you guys
to be aware of this. I should have done what I did with some of my cash on
hand which was to go to a Royal Bank of Canada and have them change $100 US
to Canadian for a $3 fee so that I would have pocket money.(btw Canadian
money is pretty) that would have been cheaper .
Anyway we had a great trip and I wanted to save you guys some cash. Don't
be a dummy like me!
The following site has a discussion and table listing the fees charged
by many US-issued debit and credit cards:
http://flyerguide.com/wiki/index.php/Credit/Debit/ATM_Cards_and_Foreign_Exchange
Alex |
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| CalifBill... |
Posted: Sun Jul 27, 2008 2:22 pm |
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Guest
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"Bill B" <ibhere at (no spam) comcast.net> wrote in message
news:eP6dnZEZDossLhHVnZ2dnUVZ_rjinZ2d at (no spam) comcast.com...
Quote: I convert to Canadian currency at my local bank, there has not been a fee.
They will only convert *paper*, no coin.
"Rtavi" <rtavi at (no spam) eudoramail.com> wrote in message
news:AradndX-vYelBhHVnZ2dnUVZ_t3inZ2d at (no spam) comcast.com...
We just got back from a 2 month trip to East Coast and Canada.--
Beautiful and loved it despite $1.59/Liter for diesel!
I have always been told to use a credit card when out of the US since you
get the benefit of paying in Canada Dollars which are running at about
$.95 US then the credit card company converts your charge to $US. As far
as this goes, it is true and I saved about $25 when the transactions were
posted. What I was not aware of was that CITI card charges a "Foreign
Transaction Fee" on every purchase. This totaled up to a charge of over
$100 US. It's my fault for not reading all the fine print but this
didn't happen 7 years ago when I was using an ATT card in Canada. I just
wanted to let you guys to be aware of this. I should have done what I
did with some of my cash on hand which was to go to a Royal Bank of
Canada and have them change $100 US to Canadian for a $3 fee so that I
would have pocket money.(btw Canadian money is pretty) that would have
been cheaper .
Anyway we had a great trip and I wanted to save you guys some cash.
Don't be a dummy like me!
The fee is built in. There are buy and sell rates. The 3% foreign exchange
fee has always been excessive to me. |
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| MI... |
Posted: Sun Jul 27, 2008 2:30 pm |
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Guest
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On 7/27/08 9:35 AM, in article uOmdnSLbC_tBPhHVnZ2dnUVZ_sbinZ2d at (no spam) comcast.com,
"Dennis" <none at (no spam) sprynet.com> wrote:
Quote: Yep, and it didn't cost CITI one penny more to do the Canadian transactions.
"Rtavi" <rtavi at (no spam) eudoramail.com> wrote in message
news:AradndX-vYelBhHVnZ2dnUVZ_t3inZ2d at (no spam) comcast.com...
We just got back from a 2 month trip to East Coast and Canada.--
Beautiful and loved it despite $1.59/Liter for diesel!
I have always been told to use a credit card when out of the US since you
get the benefit of paying in Canada Dollars which are running at about
$.95 US then the credit card company converts your charge to $US. As far
as this goes, it is true and I saved about $25 when the transactions were
posted. What I was not aware of was that CITI card charges a "Foreign
Transaction Fee" on every purchase. This totaled up to a charge of over
$100 US. It's my fault for not reading all the fine print but this didn't
happen 7 years ago when I was using an ATT card in Canada. I just wanted
to let you guys to be aware of this. I should have done what I did with
some of my cash on hand which was to go to a Royal Bank of Canada and have
them change $100 US to Canadian for a $3 fee so that I would have pocket
money.(btw Canadian money is pretty) that would have been cheaper .
Anyway we had a great trip and I wanted to save you guys some cash. Don't
be a dummy like me!
When I was in Boston, Bank of America soaked me plenty (I think it was
$4.50), but my own bank, Bank of Montreal only charged me $1.50.
--
Martha T2 Canada
1500mg. Metformin, 4mg. Avandia |
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| Hatunen... |
Posted: Sun Jul 27, 2008 5:55 pm |
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Guest
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On Sun, 27 Jul 2008 12:46:05 -0400, "Tom J"
<tomnews at (no spam) earthlink.net> wrote:
Quote: Rtavi wrote:
transactions were posted. What I was not aware of was that CITI card
charges a "Foreign Transaction Fee" on every purchase. This totaled
up to a charge of over $100 US. It's my fault for not reading all
the fine print but this didn't happen 7 years ago when I was using
an
ATT card in Canada. I just wanted to let you guys to be aware of
this. I should have done what I did with some of my cash on hand
which was to go to a Royal Bank of Canada and have them change $100
US to Canadian for a $3 fee so that I would have pocket money
I don't think you can get a credit card from anyone anymore that
doesn't charge a fee for Foreign exchange.
Also, the next time you visit Canada, ask if there is a fee before
exchanging cash. I have never paid a fee to exchange cash in Canada.
I have walked out the door of a few banks and gone down the street to
another bank.
Do be prepated with the current "real" exchange rate from a
source like Oanda. Many exchange desks and companies don't charge
a fee, but they get you with a bad exchange rate.
--
************* DAVE HATUNEN (hatunen at (no spam) cox.net) *************
* Tucson Arizona, out where the cacti grow *
* My typos & mispellings are intentional copyright traps * |
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| Hatunen... |
Posted: Sun Jul 27, 2008 5:58 pm |
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Guest
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On Sun, 27 Jul 2008 18:59:24 GMT, Alex
<ajwotherspoon at (no spam) NO_SPAM.shaw.ca> wrote:
Quote: On Sun, 27 Jul 2008 11:03:02 -0500, "Rtavi" <rtavi at (no spam) eudoramail.com
wrote:
We just got back from a 2 month trip to East Coast and Canada.-- Beautiful
and loved it despite $1.59/Liter for diesel!
I have always been told to use a credit card when out of the US since you
get the benefit of paying in Canada Dollars which are running at about $.95
US then the credit card company converts your charge to $US. As far as this
goes, it is true and I saved about $25 when the transactions were posted.
What I was not aware of was that CITI card charges a "Foreign Transaction
Fee" on every purchase. This totaled up to a charge of over $100 US. It's
my fault for not reading all the fine print but this didn't happen 7 years
ago when I was using an ATT card in Canada. I just wanted to let you guys
to be aware of this. I should have done what I did with some of my cash on
hand which was to go to a Royal Bank of Canada and have them change $100 US
to Canadian for a $3 fee so that I would have pocket money.(btw Canadian
money is pretty) that would have been cheaper .
Anyway we had a great trip and I wanted to save you guys some cash. Don't
be a dummy like me!
The following site has a discussion and table listing the fees charged
by many US-issued debit and credit cards:
http://flyerguide.com/wiki/index.php/Credit/Debit/ATM_Cards_and_Foreign_Exchange
Bookmarked!
Thanx...
--
************* DAVE HATUNEN (hatunen at (no spam) cox.net) *************
* Tucson Arizona, out where the cacti grow *
* My typos & mispellings are intentional copyright traps * |
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| Robert Bonomi... |
Posted: Sun Jul 27, 2008 7:22 pm |
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Guest
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In article <rImdnQNxydjOOxHVnZ2dnUVZ_gednZ2d at (no spam) earthlink.com>,
Tom J <tomnews at (no spam) earthlink.net> wrote:
Quote:
Also, the next time you visit Canada, ask if there is a fee before
exchanging cash. I have never paid a fee to exchange cash in Canada.
I have walked out the door of a few banks and gone down the street to
another bank.
You've *always* paid a fee for exchanging currency. Whether you knew it
or not.
Some places quote a single exchange rate, plus a transaction fee. (This _is_
preferable if you're exchanging a large amount of currency.)
Others quote different rates depending on which side of the transaction
they're on. (They make their money on the differential in the rates.) |
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| Tom J... |
Posted: Sun Jul 27, 2008 7:34 pm |
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Guest
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Hatunen wrote:
Quote: On Sun, 27 Jul 2008 12:46:05 -0400, "Tom J"
tomnews at (no spam) earthlink.net> wrote:
I don't think you can get a credit card from anyone anymore that
doesn't charge a fee for Foreign exchange.
Also, the next time you visit Canada, ask if there is a fee before
exchanging cash. I have never paid a fee to exchange cash in
Canada.
I have walked out the door of a few banks and gone down the street
to
another bank.
Do be prepated with the current "real" exchange rate from a
source like Oanda. Many exchange desks and companies don't charge
a fee, but they get you with a bad exchange rate.
I do know what the official exchange rate is before I walk into a bank
when in Canada. Haven't been the last 2 years, but in 15 trips with
the RV & over 30 with an 18 wheeler, I never paid a bank a fee above
the standard exchange, even when it was $1.00 US to $1.56 Canadian.
There was a time in the early 90's that the 5th Wheel Truck Stops
would even pay a premium for US cash.
Tom J |
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| Ralph E Lindberg... |
Posted: Mon Jul 28, 2008 7:27 am |
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Guest
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In article <rImdnQNxydjOOxHVnZ2dnUVZ_gednZ2d at (no spam) earthlink.com>,
"Tom J" <tomnews at (no spam) earthlink.net> wrote:
Quote: Rtavi wrote:
transactions were posted. What I was not aware of was that CITI card
charges a "Foreign Transaction Fee" on every purchase. This totaled
up to a charge of over $100 US. It's my fault for not reading all
the fine print but this didn't happen 7 years ago when I was using
an
ATT card in Canada. I just wanted to let you guys to be aware of
this. I should have done what I did with some of my cash on hand
which was to go to a Royal Bank of Canada and have them change $100
US to Canadian for a $3 fee so that I would have pocket money
I don't think you can get a credit card from anyone anymore that
doesn't charge a fee for Foreign exchange.
Capital One
--
--------------------------------------------------------
Personal e-mail is the n7bsn but at amsat.org
This posting address is a spam-trap and seldom read
RV and Camping FAQ can be found at
http://www.ralphandellen.us/rv |
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| Ralph E Lindberg... |
Posted: Mon Jul 28, 2008 7:32 am |
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Guest
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In article <BJydnV5s2_yLVRHVnZ2dnUVZ_uCdnZ2d at (no spam) earthlink.com>,
"CalifBill" <bmckeespam at (no spam) ix.netcom.com> wrote:
Quote: "Bill B" <ibhere at (no spam) comcast.net> wrote in message
news:eP6dnZEZDossLhHVnZ2dnUVZ_rjinZ2d at (no spam) comcast.com...
I convert to Canadian currency at my local bank, there has not been a fee.
They will only convert *paper*, no coin.
"Rtavi" <rtavi at (no spam) eudoramail.com> wrote in message
news:AradndX-vYelBhHVnZ2dnUVZ_t3inZ2d at (no spam) comcast.com...
We just got back from a 2 month trip to East Coast and Canada.--
Beautiful and loved it despite $1.59/Liter for diesel!
I have always been told to use a credit card when out of the US since you
get the benefit of paying in Canada Dollars which are running at about
$.95 US then the credit card company converts your charge to $US. As far
as this goes, it is true and I saved about $25 when the transactions were
posted. What I was not aware of was that CITI card charges a "Foreign
Transaction Fee" on every purchase. This totaled up to a charge of over
$100 US. It's my fault for not reading all the fine print but this
didn't happen 7 years ago when I was using an ATT card in Canada. I just
wanted to let you guys to be aware of this. I should have done what I
did with some of my cash on hand which was to go to a Royal Bank of
Canada and have them change $100 US to Canadian for a $3 fee so that I
would have pocket money.(btw Canadian money is pretty) that would have
been cheaper .
Anyway we had a great trip and I wanted to save you guys some cash.
Don't be a dummy like me!
The fee is built in. There are buy and sell rates. The 3% foreign exchange
fee has always been excessive to me.
You are correct, Bill just isn't asking what the fee is (I always have
ended up paying a fee, I travel so often I keep a separate Canadian
wallet)
--
--------------------------------------------------------
Personal e-mail is the n7bsn but at amsat.org
This posting address is a spam-trap and seldom read
RV and Camping FAQ can be found at
http://www.ralphandellen.us/rv |
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| Josh S... |
Posted: Mon Jul 28, 2008 11:19 pm |
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Guest
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In article <uOmdnSLbC_tBPhHVnZ2dnUVZ_sbinZ2d at (no spam) comcast.com>,
"Dennis" <none at (no spam) sprynet.com> wrote:
Quote: Yep, and it didn't cost CITI one penny more to do the Canadian transactions.
Just covering the big money they lost on their dumb sub prime
investments. |
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| Josh S... |
Posted: Mon Jul 28, 2008 11:19 pm |
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Guest
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In article <rImdnQNxydjOOxHVnZ2dnUVZ_gednZ2d at (no spam) earthlink.com>,
"Tom J" <tomnews at (no spam) earthlink.net> wrote:
Quote: I don't think you can get a credit card from anyone anymore that
doesn't charge a fee for Foreign exchange.
M<y CDNbank includes the (~2%) fee in their exchange rate.
Also, the next time you visit Canada, ask if there is a fee before
exchanging cash. I have never paid a fee to exchange cash in Canada.
I have walked out the door of a few banks and gone down the street to
another bank.
The fee for cash exchange is in their exchange rate. |
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