Charged a $34 to use my Pre Loaded Post Office Dollar Card, Paid in Dollars!!

[Portugal1000]

Just checked my Post Office Pre Loaded credit card. I paid for Bonnet Creek in dollars via Paypal and I have been charged a fee of $34 even though I paid in dollars. Also looks like they have converted the dollars back into sterling then back into dollars again meaning I lost even more money.
Anyone experienced anything like this before.
Thanks

 

[RossK]

Yes, its very common for US retailers to try and charge you in sterling. They make it sound like they're doing you a favour, when in fact, the exchange rates are usually extremely unfavourable (and the retailer is effectively charging you more for the product!). It sounds like this is what they've tried to do in your case, without even realising its actually US dollar account. You should ask for a full refund explaining they've charged a US dollar account in GBP, without explaining or requesting permission to do so. I assume this was either a Visa or Mastercard? You should check with your card provider and see whether you can raise a dispute/chargeback if you have no luck with the retailer.

 

[Portugal1000]

Just realised its even worse, probably nothing I can do about it. I paid $1170 via PayPal. I sent it as dollars using a pre paid card as mentioned. Looks like PayPal have changed it back into sterling and the the post office have charged me the $34. So I sent $1170 and my card has been charged a total of $1252. So it cost me $82. So annoyed as I had asked pay pal about this ages ago before I pre loaded my card, wanted to make sure it was possible. I put $5000 on there when rate was higher. Annoying thing is I have a normal post office credit card so it would have been cheaper for me to use this. Also I still have nearly $2000 to pay and had planned to use the dollars on my pre paid card.
I just don't understand why PayPal have change a dollar payment back into sterling.

 

[zippy99]

I would call PayPal - we deal with them for our business and I find them really helpful and every issue I have experienced has been solved straight away.

 

[Elise79]

Try changing your default currency to US Dollars.

If you pay for anything in a currency other than your default currency and you don't have a PayPal balance in that currency then they will convert the payment required to your default currency then take it from your funding source.

In your case you sent the payment in US Dollars but as you didn't have a US Dollars balance so PayPal converted it Sterling.

PayPal then drew the Sterling off your Dollar card hence the charge from PO.

 

[Woodview]

PayPal I think is based in Ireland + 353 then if it is 1 then it is based in Dublin
+ 353 then 21 then it is in Cork