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Claiming back foreign currency exchange fee.

1 reply

Wingedharpy · 26/07/2017 15:13

Just looking to see if I'm heading in the right direction with this and wondering if anyone else has had a similar experience.
I booked a hotel for a short break in December in Europe.
Opted for the "free cancellation" rate to enable me to cancel booking without incurring financial penalty.
Terms of booking stated I would pay at hotel - no upfront costs unless I cancelled within 24 hours of arrival.

Yesterday, credit card declined as I attempt to make an on line purchase.
It appears that had the purchase gone ahead, I would have been over my credit limit.
Further investigation and phone calls to credit card company reveal that the European hotel have taken the full cost of the booking.

E-mails to hotel explaining the situation.
They are very apologetic and confirm it is their error and they will reimburse the money which they advise me has now been done.
Trouble is, CC company have charged me their usual foreign exchange fee on the first transaction and I will probably be charged again on the second transaction, though, I won't know how much until the transaction is completed.
Am I correct in thinking that the hotel should reimburse me for those fees given that this situation has occurred due to their error?
What are the chances of them coughing up do you think?
In retrospect, would it have been wiser to have booked this with a Halifax clarity credit card?

OP posts:
kath6144 · 26/07/2017 15:36

If you have a Halifax clarity card then yes! Not sure how you can get the fee back, you can attempt to get it from hotel but doubt they will give it.

Can you talk to your CC provider, explain that the transaction was not approved by you as money wasn't supposed to be taken until you arrived at hotel, see if they will waive the fees?

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