Princess Converting without authorization

[a9753]

My past two cruises, I have ticked the box saying DO NOT CONVERT into home currency, and princess on both occasions have assured me it would be takin care of, and the charges are in my home currency. Many people on the ship are having this problem. This is wrong.

[kobecat]

Totally wrong of Princess doing this and I have heard of it happening several times! On our last cruise, I went to the Desk a couple of days before the end of the cruise and paid for the charges that were there (28 day cruise) with a different credit card, instructing them NOT to convert from US$. The lady who spoke with me (a lovely young lady from New Zealand) seemed a bit surprised by my request. She said if I had ticked the box, it would not be converted but I did not want to take the risk.

 

The last couple of days charges went through on the original card and were NOT converted anyway.

 

The interesting thing was the charges I put on the different card, did not show up on my Visa statement for nearly three weeks. I suppose because it was a manual transaction and they actually rang to get authorisation.

 

Better to be sure than sorry.

 

Beryl

[phillipahain]

If you ticked the box ...........Princess are indeed in breach

 

I have repeatedly warned on this forum about this scam and stated that THE ONLY FOOLPROOF way to prevent it is to insist Pursers desk do a MANUAL swipe of your credit card the evening before disembarkation

 

That way and only that way will the onboard account be charged in $

 

We have a $ account both in USA and UK so the last thing we need is a $ charge converted to Sterling at 4% comision plus a lousy exchange rate only to have to have it converted back to $ when it hits our account

 

but since Princess automatic system IGNORES the boxes and charges in the currency of your passport the only way around it is to do a manual swipe

 

Complain very loudly to Princess and your CC company and they should refund what its cost you

[1827cruise]

Question, is this only a problem for non-U.S cruisers or should everyone watch out for it? Thanks:)

[phillipahain]

Anyone with a USA passport will be charged automatically in $

 

If you have a Canadian or non USA passport then Princess system is set up IRRESPECTIVE of the ticked box to charge you in the currency of your passport

 

Canadians/Europeans/Aussies /Kiwis have all posted in threads on this forum on the same topic

[sessa]

We have had the same problem in the past. The last cruise we were on last February/07 on the sea Princess I went to the pursers desk and payed my account off the night before leaving. When they changed the currency on us before Princess made it to difficult to get our money back so we let it go. We will now always settle our account before debarkation.

[cruisinbuddy]

First time I've heard of this. Is it new? I was on the Golden in '05 and my cc was charged in US and my bank converted it to Cdn. I guess this is just another way of them making even more $$?

[cherylandtk]

First time I've heard of this. Is it new? I was on the Golden in '05 and my cc was charged in US and my bank converted it to Cdn. I guess this is just another way of them making even more $$?

It's not new, and you must be one of the random few lucky ones; either that or perhaps you used a US based credit card?? Its been a real mess for our global friends, and the best advice is that given by Phillipahain: Pay off your onboard account manually on the last night using your credit card of choice and ensure your account is charged to your card in $US; your bank can do the conversion for a much smaller fee.

[Wilcoam]

I have NEVER had this problem with Princess or X. Whether on-line or via the booklet, I simply PHOTOCOPY the page with the tick box.

 

On the last day pf the cruise, when I close my account, at say 2:00 AM. At that time I ask what currency my card will be charged in.

 

If they say, your home currency, I show my photocopy and ask them to fix it.

 

They do (lol)

 

It's called BEATING THEIR SYSTEM...

Pretty simple actually...

 

jc

Toronto

[phillipahain]

"photocopy the page with ticked box and show it to them "

 

 

Do you think we have not tried doing that too?

 

We have even had final onboard accounts say "your credit card has been charged x dollars"

 

Great we thought at last they have taken notice ........only to return to the UK to get a Bank statement showing that the $ have actually been converted to £ before they got to VISA and hey presto our $ account has been charged in £ which then has to be converted back to $

 

Hence we no longer trust Princess and pay manually the night before disembarkation which is what Pursers Desk say is the only guaranteed way to ensure the account is charged correctly

 

This now means Princess have to get authorisation and make a transatlantic phone call to our $ account bank in the UK from wherever the ship is at the time ................

[haggis]

Last March, whilst on the Island Princess, this problem? once again came up with my statement. I had ticked the box and added my signature alongside and on the second day, I was informed at the pursers desk that it was not possible for my account not to be changed into £ sterling. I then asked the purser what rate of exchange would be applied and was informed that the present rate on Princess ships was $1.75 to the £1. Bearing in mind the then rate was $1.96 to $1.98 to the £1. I informed the young lady that in my view a solution to HER problem would have to be found and we reached the agreement that my card would be swiped the last evening and paid in $1's.

On returning home I contacted my CC provider and after relating this tale of attempted ' extortion' to their complaints dept, they informed me that Princess, without doubt, were in breach of agreement and if they converted against my written wishes in the future, they, the CC provider would fight my corner for me and win. Princess, like all other establishments, are bound by the rules when they sign up to accepting credit cards and not abiding by customers written wishes is certainly a breach of contract.

Why do they issue the slip with the box for one to tick if they are going to convert it anyway?

Jimmy

[kruisey]

I have never had a problem princess have always charged me US$...When I tick the wee box I also write in big letters US currency please....Maybe some of the employees forget to wear their glasses when they read these forms;) Thats why I always write and underline my words.:)

I am still in UK looking after mom and will be very pleased to arrive home this next Friday evening in Vancouver. Have had about 7 days sunshine in Northwest of England since I arrived on 12 June.:eek: Mom is doing very well (94) and eating eating proper dinners now ....She was on soup and sandwich and eating like a bird when I arrived,kept falling.......plus was having a little too much of her favorite whisky.:) Now she is rationed by the doctor. ...no more falls and has put on weight.:) The carers have strict instructions and the whiskey bottle is on a high shelf....much to moms annoyance.;)

[terrierjohn]

On our last cruise, I went to the Desk a couple of days before the end of the cruise and paid for the charges that were there (28 day cruise) with a different credit card,.....

....The last couple of days charges went through on the original card and were NOT converted anyway.....

 

....The interesting thing was the charges I put on the different card, did not show up on my Visa statement for nearly three weeks.

Beryl

I also had a long delay in receiving the credit card charge after using the Phillipahain system In my case, as the dollar continued to decline after our cruise, I ended up with an extra profit vs the exchange rate at the end of the cruise. However this may not always be the case and Princess really should abandon this system, surely they make enough profit out of the cruise, onboard spending, casino and shore excursions, without needing any extra.

[drakes2]

This has always amazed me, what if you are a British Citizen holding a British passport but live in Australia or some other country. Does Princess still convert your account to pounds sterling? You could be living in the US for all they know and have never become a citizen of that country. I am Canadian and have just now acquired a US Visa for this purpose. If Princess converts my account to CDN dollars, I'll argue the charge with my bank and Princess will have to cough up the difference.

If you ticked the box ...........Princess are indeed in breach

 

I have repeatedly warned on this forum about this scam and stated that THE ONLY FOOLPROOF way to prevent it is to insist Pursers desk do a MANUAL swipe of your credit card the evening before disembarkation

 

That way and only that way will the onboard account be charged in $

 

We have a $ account both in USA and UK so the last thing we need is a $ charge converted to Sterling at 4% comision plus a lousy exchange rate only to have to have it converted back to $ when it hits our account

 

but since Princess automatic system IGNORES the boxes and charges in the currency of your passport the only way around it is to do a manual swipe

 

Complain very loudly to Princess and your CC company and they should refund what its cost you

[terrierjohn]

This has always amazed me, what if you are a British Citizen holding a British passport but live in Australia or some other country. Does Princess still convert your account to pounds sterling? You could be living in the US for all they know and have never become a citizen of that country. I am Canadian and have just now acquired a US Visa for this purpose. If Princess converts my account to CDN dollars, I'll argue the charge with my bank and Princess will have to cough up the difference.

Princess convert the price from USD based on the currency of your credit card, which presumably is somehow identified from it's number. So they only make the one error, assuming you requested them not to convert.

[drakes2]

The OBC's we have will more than compensate for the gratuities on our upcoming cruise. We don't gamble or buy a lot of drinks from the bars. DH purchases the coke card, so there should not be too much on our onboard account. Depending on the balance I may just pay cash and avoid the hassle. I'd hate to get back and find they've converted my US Visa to Canadian.

Princess convert the price from USD based on the currency of your credit card, which presumably is somehow identified from it's number. So they only make the one error, assuming you requested them not to convert.

[mexico5]

Thanks to these boards we were aware of this problem before our first cruise with Princess last year. We gave them $300.cash/person to set up our shipboard credit in cash not credit card. Worked great! It really is too bad that Princess cannot get these things straight.

[ehogan]

I had this problem as well, two years ago. I have a U.S. Dollar Visa account (through a Canadian account) so I did not want my charges converted. They converted my charges to CDN dollars, then charged CDN dollars to my U.S. account, therefore, I was charged Princess's conversion fee to convert U.S. to CDN then I was charged, by my bank, another conversion fee from CDN back to US.

 

I did complain to Princess and they paid the difference and charges back to me but it took about 6 weeks to get my money back.

 

We leave on the Golden later this month - I have ticked the do not convert box, highlighted clear instructions not to convert on several areas of the boarding pass. I really do not want to stand in those long lines the night before debarkation so I am hoping for the best.

[drakes2]

As stated previously on these boards, have them manuall swipe your US visa card the night before. That should ensure that your charges remain in US currencly. I am curious to know how things work out for you. Can you post your experiences on the board when your return from your cruise. GOOD LUCK AND HAVE A WONDERFUL CRUISE.

I had this problem as well, two years ago. I have a U.S. Dollar Visa account (through a Canadian account) so I did not want my charges converted. They converted my charges to CDN dollars, then charged CDN dollars to my U.S. account, therefore, I was charged Princess's conversion fee to convert U.S. to CDN then I was charged, by my bank, another conversion fee from CDN back to US.

 

I did complain to Princess and they paid the difference and charges back to me but it took about 6 weeks to get my money back.

 

We leave on the Golden later this month - I have ticked the do not convert box, highlighted clear instructions not to convert on several areas of the boarding pass. I really do not want to stand in those long lines the night before debarkation so I am hoping for the best.

[Cruise Junky]

If you have a Canadian or non USA passport then Princess system is set up IRRESPECTIVE of the ticked box to charge you in the currency of your passport

 

That's not completely true. I travel on a UK Passport and when they do screw up, they charge me in Canadian as that's my residence. It's not based on Passport.

[Cosmic Rays]

I've followed this debate for sometime now.........we were on the Star Princess in the Baltic in July and I opted, as always, to leave my account in $$'s and have my CC company - Nationwide - convert it for me. It worked, and they did, giving me a conversion rate of $2.03 to the £. I checked my statement and the bill was as posted in Dollars. Were we the exception to the rule??

So, I am a happy man........................

 

Colin:) :)

[drakes2]

If Princess erroneously charges my US Visa in Canadian funds, my bank says I can dispute the charges. Should I mark next to the tick box (DO NOT CONVERT TO CDN, OR ELSE). Just kidding.

I had this problem as well, two years ago. I have a U.S. Dollar Visa account (through a Canadian account) so I did not want my charges converted. They converted my charges to CDN dollars, then charged CDN dollars to my U.S. account, therefore, I was charged Princess's conversion fee to convert U.S. to CDN then I was charged, by my bank, another conversion fee from CDN back to US.

 

I did complain to Princess and they paid the difference and charges back to me but it took about 6 weeks to get my money back.

 

We leave on the Golden later this month - I have ticked the do not convert box, highlighted clear instructions not to convert on several areas of the boarding pass. I really do not want to stand in those long lines the night before debarkation so I am hoping for the best.

[cdnguy]

We've never had a problem. We always check the box but I do paste on the e-ticket a note saying "This is a US $ CC issued in Canada. It is used for US $ purchases only. I'm billed in US dollars and I pay this CC in US dollars."

Bit of a nuisance doing this but always seems to work.

As someone mentioned, it's always a good idea to visit the purser's desk during the cruise just to make sure the 'message has gotten through'.

[drakes2]

Thanks for the great info, neighbour. I will be sure and do exactly that and keep a photo copy for myself to give to my bank in case of a dispute in charges. I'll be so diligent that I can't imagine I'll have any problems.

We've never had a problem. We always check the box but I do paste on the e-ticket a note saying "This is a US $ CC issued in Canada. It is used for US $ purchases only. I'm billed in US dollars and I pay this CC in US dollars."

Bit of a nuisance doing this but always seems to work.

As someone mentioned, it's always a good idea to visit the purser's desk during the cruise just to make sure the 'message has gotten through'.

[phillipahain]

GOOD LUCK is all I can say

 

Will be interesting to hear how you fare after your cruise