Debit card charged immediately from France for Seaside payment method (in US)

[MisterBill99]

I had lots of OBC (some from MSC, most from my TA) on last week's Seaside cruise. I expected to have a credit balance at the end of the cruise and did not want to lose points if it went back on a rewards credit card, so I decided to register my debit card as the payment method. I authorized the on board machine to hold $100 on the debit card but I guess I did not read the screen carefully enough (or maybe it just didn't say it) because it immediately processed a $100 charge on my card rather than just putting a hold on it as I expected it to do.

 

Then it got worse because I then learned that unlike all of the other lines I've sailed on, MSC doesn't have a concept of refundable OBC, even if it's from your TA (or even purchased yourself, as I learned in a different thread here). So I had to withdraw the original excess OBC at the casino (experience detailed in a separate thread) and then the extra $100 that had been added from my debit card.

 

But wait, it gets even worse! When the charge posted to my debit card account, it showed up as $101 instead of $100, which I did not understand. I asked guest services look into the extra $1 but I never heard back from them. Then when I checked my account transactions when I got home, I noticed that the charge posted as MSC Cruises in Paris, France! My debit card (from Fidelity) charges a 1% foreign transaction fee for debit card transactions, so that explained the extra dollar. Fortunately the credit card I subsequently changed my payment method to does not charge a FTF, so I will be OK there, assuming that also gets posted from outside of the US (the $250 authorization says MSC Seaside USD, so I'm guessing that authorization also came from France). That was certainly a surprise to me.

 

So a couple of warnings here for MSC Seaside customers. First, make sure you do not use a debit card (and possibly credit card) that has a foreign transaction fee (most charge 3%). Second, try to avoid using a card that charges a FTF, since you'll definitely get charged one on a debit card and may for a credit card. And a reminder not to expect to receive your excess OBC refunded to you at the end of the cruise.

[DCGuy64]

Thanks, I always use a fee-free credit card (never debit card, too risky) when I’m overseas. And yeah, even if it’s charged in US dollars, many companies use overseas companies to bill their customers so be on the lookout. I work at a bank and we get these kinds of issues all the time.

 

 

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[MisterBill99]

Thanks, I always use a fee-free credit card (never debit card, too risky) when I’m overseas. And yeah, even if it’s charged in US dollars, many companies use overseas companies to bill their customers so be on the lookout. I work at a bank and we get these kinds of issues all the time.

I am very savvy about this sort of stuff (although you make a good point about not using the debit card). But they got me on a) immediate charge and b) charge from outside of the country. Of course, had I realized from the start that they don't have a concept of refundable OBC, I wouldn't have tried to use the debit card in the first place.

 

I have several credit cards that do not charge a FTF so it would not have been an issue for me.But I wanted to warn others who might be surprised by a foreign charge from a US-based ship. Of course, I guess US-based companies charge from the US on their foreign sailings.

[DCGuy64]

My deposits have been showing up as MSC Geneva CH, which is obviously Geneva, Switzerland. I sometimes buy shirts from a UK-based clothing site and although I pay in dollars, I’ve seen a FTF because they’re based in the UK. Just part of the global economy we live in.

 

 

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[sidari]

MB ... Any remaining obc should have been used to reduce your final balance.

[MisterBill99]

MB ... Any remaining obc should have been used to reduce your final balance.

I spent less onboard (including tips) than I had in OBC. I was going to have a credit balance at the end. Other cruise lines refund it to the card on file. MSC apparently keeps it.

[sidari]

We had a big amount of obc left on the first Divina TA when we went into Miami a day early, MSC used it to reduce our final balance.

[Oppyguy]

My deposits have been showing up as MSC Geneva CH, which is obviously Geneva, Switzerland. I sometimes buy shirts from a UK-based clothing site and although I pay in dollars, I’ve seen a FTF because they’re based in the UK. Just part of the global economy we live in.

 

 

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I’ve had no FTF charges using my credit card on past MSC cruises. Also, RCL charges the room balance every two days, and didn’t apply OBC til later. My credit card showed drink package charges made onboard on my account the next day. Then kept adding charges and posting new total. In the end my card was showing over 2K for 1K in charges. As I suspected this is just to protect them, and in the end the earlier charges, which had showed as pending, dropped off. So final total was correct. But if someone had a low credit limit this could be an issue. It’s the same way many hotels precharge debit cards for incidentals.

 

 

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[mafig]

We had a charge on our Credit Card for a foreign transaction fee on our Divina cruise, but our bank was happy to reverse it. (Bank of America)

[mafig]

I spent less onboard (including tips) than I had in OBC. I was going to have a credit balance at the end. Other cruise lines refund it to the card on file. MSC apparently keeps it.

 

 

They do?:eek:

I just posted a thread how if it was refundable (from the TA) they'd get it back, either from GC or on their credit card. Are you certain? If so, I'll make sure to spend it all.:p

[nat9511]

Just got off Seaside yesterday. I had $100 OBC my son gave me as a Christmas present. I asked for a refund and they wouldn't do it. I asked if they would put it on my credit card at the end of the cruise and they said NO they would keep it. So I went to the casino and drew it out through the slot machines. I told Guest Services that it was my money not theirs. It was a gift. They didn't care.

 

I did have other OBC that they gave me and that covered my tips etc.

[MisterBill99]

Just got off Seaside yesterday. I had $100 OBC my son gave me as a Christmas present. I asked for a refund and they wouldn't do it. I asked if they would put it on my credit card at the end of the cruise and they said NO they would keep it. So I went to the casino and drew it out through the slot machines. I told Guest Services that it was my money not theirs. It was a gift. They didn't care.

 

I did have other OBC that they gave me and that covered my tips etc.

So in the Jim Zim review, he says that when he tried to disembark and had a credit balance on his account (due to a cancelled excursion), his card was flagged when he tried to leave and they made him go to guest services to clear the balance before leaving. I guess it's better than losing it entirely but he had to wait 45 minutes for GS and then more fun ensued (read the thread).

 

My charge got posted and it indeed did come from Paris, France. That means that anyone using a card that has a foreign transaction fee will have a very unpleasant surprise when they get their credit card bill. I'm guessing this is the case with Divina as well?

[MisterBill99]

They do?:eek:

I just posted a thread how if it was refundable (from the TA) they'd get it back, either from GC or on their credit card. Are you certain? If so, I'll make sure to spend it all.:p

It would appear that MSC has no concept of refundable vs. non-refundable OBC. The good news is you can get it at the casino with no added fee.