Assessed "International Fee" when buying from Canada

Assessed "International Fee" when buying from Canada · 05:24 PM

I'm located in Oregon, USA. I bought a K-5 from a famous Canadian reseller. This is not the first time I've purchased there, but it is the first time I've been hit with an International Purchase Transaction Fee to the tune of $40.19.

Apparently this is the latest cash grab scheme by US banks. There isn't much I can do about it now. I could have read all the terms and conditions of my bank card, and kept binders of cross referenced modifications to my account, but I don't do this. Instead, I was hit with a silent fee, assessed after the time of purchase without notice. I found out about it only by looking through my records.

Beware of these changes before you make big purchases from foreign lands.

aleonx3 · 04-29-2011, 08:08 PM

First time I heard about this hidden fee, that sucks. Did you use bank transaction or credit card for the purchase? I live in Canada now (used to in the US).. but the only additional charges on purchase from the States would be the currency exchange rate which is currently to our advantage.

Aegon · 04-29-2011, 09:18 PM

I used a bank transaction through paypal, which is called an "instant transaction", yet it still draws directly from my account. I'm not sure if a credit card transaction would also have this fee.

To be clear, the fee was assessed by my bank, not by paypal.

**gofour3** · 04-29-2011, 10:10 PM

Originally posted by Aegon

I'm located in Oregon, USA. I bought a K-5 from a famous Canadian reseller. This is not the first time I've purchased there, but it is the first time I've been hit with an International Purchase Transaction Fee to the tune of $40.19.

Apparently this is the latest cash grab scheme by US banks. There isn't much I can do about it now. I could have read all the terms and conditions of my bank card, and kept binders of cross referenced modifications to my account, but I don't do this. Instead, I was hit with a silent fee, assessed after the time of purchase without notice. I found out about it only by looking through my records.

Beware of these changes before you make big purchases from foreign lands.

Was the K-5 in Canadian or US dollars? If a transaction went through to your US bank account in Canadian dollars, then I can see that fee for the exchange rate and other foreign exchange charges.

It’s happened to me in reverse.

Phil.

Aegon · 04-29-2011, 11:23 PM

It was in USD. The auction listing was in USD and the payment showed USD.

**Clinton** · 05-03-2011, 04:54 PM

I wonder how your bank even knew...

Blue · 06-01-2011, 02:51 PM

That sounds like B.O.A. shenanigans.

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04-29-2011, 08:08 PM	#2
aleonx3 Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Brampton, Ontario Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 3,996	First time I heard about this hidden fee, that sucks. Did you use bank transaction or credit card for the purchase? I live in Canada now (used to in the US).. but the only additional charges on purchase from the States would be the currency exchange rate which is currently to our advantage.

04-29-2011, 09:18 PM	#3
Aegon Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Portland, OR Posts: 1,416 Original Poster	I used a bank transaction through paypal, which is called an "instant transaction", yet it still draws directly from my account. I'm not sure if a credit card transaction would also have this fee. To be clear, the fee was assessed by my bank, not by paypal.

04-29-2011, 10:10 PM	#4
gofour3 Site Supporter Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Vancouver, Canada Posts: 8,092	Originally posted by Aegon I'm located in Oregon, USA. I bought a K-5 from a famous Canadian reseller. This is not the first time I've purchased there, but it is the first time I've been hit with an International Purchase Transaction Fee to the tune of $40.19. Apparently this is the latest cash grab scheme by US banks. There isn't much I can do about it now. I could have read all the terms and conditions of my bank card, and kept binders of cross referenced modifications to my account, but I don't do this. Instead, I was hit with a silent fee, assessed after the time of purchase without notice. I found out about it only by looking through my records. Beware of these changes before you make big purchases from foreign lands. Was the K-5 in Canadian or US dollars? If a transaction went through to your US bank account in Canadian dollars, then I can see that fee for the exchange rate and other foreign exchange charges. It’s happened to me in reverse. Phil.

04-29-2011, 11:23 PM	#5
Aegon Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Portland, OR Posts: 1,416 Original Poster	It was in USD. The auction listing was in USD and the payment showed USD.

05-03-2011, 04:54 PM	#6
Clinton Site Supporter Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Salt Lake City, UT Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,912	I wonder how your bank even knew...

06-01-2011, 02:51 PM	#7
Blue Moderator Site Supporter Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Florida Hill Country Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 17,377	That sounds like B.O.A. shenanigans.