After each card payment, the customer receive an alert and a payment receipt showing the amount in Euros and the value of the payment with the local currency.
However, in the event of foreign transactions, the amount may decrease or increase a few days later.
Why did the amount paid changed
After a card payment, the money is never immediately taken from the account. There are two steps:
- Authorisation: Via Visa, the retailer's bank sends a payment authorisation request to the bank of the payment method’s holder (physical card, contactless mobile payment or virtual card). The amount is immediately locked on the account.
- Settlement: a few days later (1 to 10 days), the bank and Mastercard or Visa transfer the funds from your account to the retailer’s bank account.
The Mastercard or Visa exchange rate may change between those two steps. This affects the amount paid. The amount will be updated in the transaction History and on the payment receipt.
When the amount paid changed
During this time frame of 1 to 10 days, the Mastercard or Visa exchange rate may go up.
For example, for a "fish and chips" that cost £10 (10 pounds) in London:
- On Monday, day of the authorisation, £1 is worth €1.13. The customer paid €11.3
- On Thursday, day of the settlement, £1 is worth €1.15. It means the "fish and chips" is now worth €11.5.
20 cents will be charged directly on the account. The payment receipt will show the updated amount.