Home Pro Plus - They Got Me

[monekyface]

Went to Home Pro Plus on wireless road in Bangkok. Bought two items. When I got home saw that the reciept has some weird stuff on it.

"I understand that Mastercard has a currency conversion process that I have chosen not to use the Mastercard currency conversion process and I will have no recourse against Mastercard with respect to any matter related to the currency conversion or disclosure thereof."

In other words, you won't complain that you were never told that they are converting this to a transaction in your home currency instead of using Thai baht, and conveniently in their world the Thai Baht was 29.7619 to the dollar.

I guess in a sleazy place in Patpong you might expect a padded bill- but surely not at Home Pro Plus. Of course, I'm wrong. And FYI, no- they did not give me the option, just handed me the slip to sign. I have had the choice at ATM machines in the past and of course always declined- I don't need to let the do me the "service" of converting the currency as I am a little wiser than that.

[Semper]

And you thought using credit cards was for free?

[pipo1000]

And you thought using credit cards was for free?

Not sure,but it seems that in Thailand credit cards even give you money on top as I always see those adverts that if you pay with credit card this or that you get a discount of 8 - 12 %.

[GreenSnapper]

Even in reputable shops you must always stay on alert of possible scams. And this one wasn't even the worst.

TIT.

[TommoPhysicist]

This is not a scam, CC transactions are always made in your home currency, unless you tell them different.

The cashier at HomePro probably didn't know there was a choice to offer you.

It's also the CC that makes the profit from the currency conversion.

[GreenSnapper]

This is not a scam, CC transactions are always made in your home currency, unless you tell them different.

The cashier at HomePro probably didn't know there was a choice to offer you.

It's also the CC that makes the profit from the currency conversion.

Both is wrong.

CC transactions are always done in the currency of the dealer.

The currency conversion is an optional feature, which is probably switched on at this shop when a farang pays with farang card. The money made from the scam is shared with the CC company.

[wana]

why would paying in another currency be the same or cheaper ?

why not use your thai card to pay ? thb to thb transactions with no middlemen cant realy go wrong

[GreenSnapper]

why would paying in another currency be the same or cheaper ?

why not use your thai card to pay ? thb to thb transactions with no middlemen cant realy go wrong

This is certainly correct, but he may have his reasons and just because someone uses a foreign credit card does not justify a scam. The problem is that people believe reputable shops do have clean business practices. They don't have and you have to be careful and suspicious always.

Sadly so!

[wana]

why would paying in another currency be the same or cheaper ?

why not use your thai card to pay ? thb to thb transactions with no middlemen cant realy go wrong

This is certainly correct, but he may have his reasons and just because someone uses a foreign credit card does not justify a scam. The problem is that people believe reputable shops do have clean business practices. They don't have and you have to be careful and suspicious always.

Sadly so!

he didnt get "scammed "

todays rate is 30.X%

he paid 29.X % for the previledge of using an international credit card and the cost of exchanging the currency

we can argue all day and i dont think its particularly fair ,but i think he learned a cheap lesson and wil know for next time

to make his currency exchanges at the most beneficial place ,not at the place where you my be impulse buying something

[TommoPhysicist]

people believe reputable shops do have clean business practices.

Amazon.com have exactly the same practice when you buy items from them using a foreign CC.

As do almost all online stores.

You have to select that you don't want to use the CC home currency.

[GreenSnapper]

people believe reputable shops do have clean business practices.

Amazon.com have exactly the same practice when you buy items from them using a foreign CC.

As do almost all online stores.

You have to select that you don't want to use the CC home currency.

I'm sorry you are writing nonsense.

I'm using my foreign credit card for many years all over the world, and get always billed in the original currency.

Only a few times the shop tried the same currency exchange trick. But not secretly as in the OPs case, they asked me in which currency I want to handle the deal. Of course I declined the bad exchange rate.

Home pro did a scam and it is quite sure that the staff has been told to use it without telling the farang when he tries to pay with foreign card.

Bad, dishonest behaviour. Simple as that.

[cdnvic]

You may not like the conversion rate but to call them out for fraud is misleading and rather libelous itself. Topic modified for legal reasons, and topic closed.