Expedia.com.au - International Transaction Fees on NAB card

archieduh on 21/03/2025 - 14:49
Last edited 21/03/2025 - 18:20

I have been using Expedia for last few years and have never had any issues with fees when paying by my NAB credit card.
I just made 2 bookings for a trip yesterday and to my surprise I was charged a hefty international transaction fee by my bank.
This was not the case earlier. As recetly as Jan I did a booking with no fee.
All of them were and are Pay Now bookings for Australian stays/hotels.

The bank says they Charged the fee because as per them the company billed me overseas. The amount billed was in AUD.

I checked and now the billing is for Travelscape LLC
Previously the transaction appeared as ExpediaAU.
And in those previous bookings using the same card, no fees was chared.

This page also lists there should be no fee.

And I know other users in the past also did not have any fees charged on it like this example

Does anyone else experience this and were able to resolve this?

Also, I am sure I used Expedia.com.au and paid in AUD (and not Expedia.com or counterpart)

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Comments

  • jv on 21/03/2025 - 14:50

    a hefty international transaction fee by my bank.

    How much is hefty?

    • archieduh on 21/03/2025 - 14:51

      3.5%

      • Dr Phil on 24/03/2025 - 18:49
        -2

        Yep
        NAB increased thier foreign transaction fee last year from 3% to 3.5%.
        Time to change another debit card/credit card that doesnt charge foreign exchange fees and there are plenty.

  • star-ggg on 21/03/2025 - 15:07
    +1

    I use paypal and don't get charged the international fee. Paypal also shows charge as like TLC World

    • archieduh on 21/03/2025 - 15:14

      Do you have money in your paypal account or use a card linked to Paypal.
      I did 2 transactions one putting the card directly and the other using the card through Paypal and I was charged a fee in both cases.

      Also, when was your last transaction. I wasn't charged any fee for a booking in December but have been charged a fee now.

      • star-ggg on 21/03/2025 - 15:35
        +1

        Use card linked to PayPal. Have booked a lot of hotels outside of Australia this month.

        • archieduh on 21/03/2025 - 15:37

          This might be a new thing then. In my case even the hotel is in Australia.

          • netjock on 21/03/2025 - 16:46
            +1

            @archieduh: I had the same problem. Citibank (now NAB) card linked to Paypal to pay Meta for instagram ad. Got charged overseas fee.

            • archieduh on 21/03/2025 - 18:08

              @netjock: I have had this before on an online retailer that charged me in AUD but was based overseas.
              I bought the argument.
              But what I am looking for now is a confirmation - if Expedia too is now considered overseas by the way either they process payments or the bank looks at them.

    • bamzero on 22/03/2025 - 13:37

      It's still hit and miss with PayPal. I have been charged a fee for a transaction when previously wasn't to the same merchant.

      (I've disabled international transactions for that card now so at least I don't get surprised, or if I get charged I go back to bank and complain that it shouldn't have gone through and they refund it)

    • Dr Phil on 24/03/2025 - 18:54
      -1

      PayPal's International Currency Conversion Fee is a whopping 4.5%

  • Almost there on 21/03/2025 - 15:25
    +4

    You need to cop it. No resolution, foreign processor. That's part of NAB's T&C, had the same issue before.
    I simply created account with another bank for payments to any businesses that I have doubts are 100% Australian.

    • archieduh on 21/03/2025 - 18:10

      Thanks for sharing.
      Got really bad responses from Expedia.
      While they were patient and quick to respond, the responses were leaving a lot to be desired.
      They said the card I am using is not Australian as the "Zip" code is MA 98004.
      When I enquired I didn't enter it and there is no option on their site to enter it, they said - then the bank would have done it.

      The problem I have is I have used the same card at Expedia multiple times in the past without issues.

      The card has built-in travel insurance is the reason I use this to make travel bookings.

  • edisonAU on 21/03/2025 - 15:38
    +2

    Which NAB card do you have? Only the NAB Rewards Signature Visa has no international transaction currency exchange fees.

    • archieduh on 21/03/2025 - 18:12

      My card does have fee on foreign transactions.
      But the issue is that purchases on Expedia.com.au are billed in AUD.
      The hotel I booked is also an Australian billing in AUD.
      The reason NAB billed it saying the amount was processed overseas.
      In the past, as recent as January, had no such issues with Expedia.

      • md333 on 22/03/2025 - 12:26

        I've switched to Bendigo Credit card for this reason, gets the free travel insurance but also no fees for foreign transactions, so you don't have to try to figure out which websites are charging as foreign.

  • JimmyF on 21/03/2025 - 16:49
    +4

    The amount changed seems to be in AUD but the bank said the company is based in US or something like that.

    The fee is based on the country that is charging you, not the currency as such.

    So it appears Expedia is now billing outside of OZ, so intl fees apply.

    Best to complain to Expedia and ask why.

    • gomertose on 21/03/2025 - 17:22
      +2

      This is the correct answer

    • archieduh on 21/03/2025 - 18:15

      Thanks, yes let me edit the post to improve how I stated that.
      I understand that it depends on the country merchant is based and not the currency.

      With Expedia, till now it was a non issue.
      When I spoke to Expedia citing past booking examples, spent 1 hour to no avail.
      As per them nothing is changed on their end, rather its my card that is issued in USA and hence they processed the payment in USA. The said the "Zip" associated with my card is MA 98004.
      When I enquired I didn't enter it and there is no option on their site to enter it, they said - then the bank would have done it.
      I then gave them an example of a booking last year with the same card, they said even on that the Zip code is MA 98004. And that it is upto me to follow it up with the bank.

      • gomertose on 21/03/2025 - 18:56
        +2

        Bring it up with NAB. Occasionally banks will waive the fee as a one off as a gesture of good will. Mitigating factor is that expedia AU has used an AU processor in the past and has now changed without people being aware of it.

  • savemore on 21/03/2025 - 17:06
    +1

    I got caught like this with Rarewaves.com and Vinyl.com. They will advertise prices in Australia, but because their payment processing is overseas, this automatically resulted in my bank (ME Bank) charging an International transaction fee – 1.5% and then because I used a Mastercard, there was a Mastercard cross-border fee – 0.8%. It would be great if these companies were made to declare that even though the advertise the price in $AUD that the actual transaction will occur outside of Australia, so that if you do have a International Fee Free Card you can make an informed decision to use it.
    Update: Found this info at https://www.expedia.com.au/lp/b/terms-of-service

    Fees charged by banks
    Some banks and card issuers impose fees for international or cross-border transactions. For example, if you make a booking using a card issued in a different country from the Travel Provider’s location or you choose to transact in a currency that is different from the local currency of our Service, your card issuer may charge you an international or cross-border transaction fee.
    Also, some banks and card issuers impose fees for currency conversion. For example, if you make a booking in a currency different to the currency of your credit card, your card issuer may convert the booking amount to the currency of your credit card and charge you a conversion fee.
    If you have any questions about these fees or the exchange rate applied to your booking, please contact your bank or card issuer. Our Group of Companies is not associated or responsible for any fees relating to varying exchange rates and card issuer fees.

    • archieduh on 21/03/2025 - 18:18
      +1

      Thanks for taking the time.
      Yes I found this terms of service as well and had a meaningless discussion with Expedia.
      As per them it is my card/bank that is at fault, they billed me in AUD and use my card issuer country to process payment.
      They didn't give me a clear answer on their transaction system.

      I don't expect any help from NAB either.

      As I mentioned earlier, with the same card I did not have this issue with Expedia as recently as January.

  • AFOS on 21/03/2025 - 20:18

    Booked through Expedia last week. Paid with Citi card and used their link for booking (promo, easy to google). I was hesitant for the same reason and thought that I would harass Citi if they add exchange fees (promo T&Cs are silent about FX fees). Transaction appeared as Expedia.com.au, charged in AUD, no fees so far…

    • archieduh on 21/03/2025 - 21:52

      In your statement does the merchant appear as Expedia or as Travelscape LLC?

      • AFOS on 22/03/2025 - 09:51

        Expedia.com.au, not Travelscape

  • stirlo on 21/03/2025 - 21:20
    +1

    Move to a better bank. The big4 are constantly imposing fees for bullshit like this. Try Up Bank, it has no fees on anything.

    • archieduh on 21/03/2025 - 21:51

      This card has travel insurance feature and that's why I used this and am raising this as ideally want to continue using this but yes if this keeps happening would rather switch.

  • badonde on 21/03/2025 - 22:33

    Wait - the only reason i have NAB is because they bought CITI and i had no international fees on that - that carried over. Is that not the case anymore?

    • archieduh on 21/03/2025 - 23:22

      Mine is a simple NAB Rewards card. Different cards have different rules so maybe it is still the same for you.
      My issue is not the fees on interntational transaction but why it is being considered an international transaction in the first place.

    • lainey13 on 25/03/2025 - 11:03

      Cards not carried over from citibank don't have the fee free condition that citibank used to have that NAB are still honouring for that particular card. Other cards will still charge.

  • gidxg03 on 22/03/2025 - 08:21
    +2

    I recently bought a pool cleaner from an Australian online retailer. No notification was provided by the retailer that payment would be processed offshore yet it was and nab charged me the same fees as you. I complained to nab pointing out the retailer provided no information suggesting I would be charged an international transaction fee so nab waived the fee as a one off.

    You can also report it to the ACCC who were supposed to be looking into this: https://www.accc.gov.au/media-release/consumers-urged-to-loo…

  • SydneySwan on 22/03/2025 - 08:24
    +1

    I made 2 bookings on Expedia on March 19 and the charging entity is Expediacomau. Hotels priced in AUD but are in the Philippines. Paid with Amex - no FX fee.

  • BigBirdy on 22/03/2025 - 12:43
    +2

    Given we, as consumers, have no idea where the payment is being processed, it’s highly unfair.

    A few years back I copped a $70 int’l fee on an ANZ credit card when buying air tickets from Thai Airways .com.au website. I complained to my bank, and they refunded it as a “goodwill gesture”. I now have a Bankwest no fee card.

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