Higher pre-authorization for booking transaction

PavelD
PavelD Member Posts: 7 ✭
edited December 2014 in Ask The Community
Hi, I made an online booking on Booking.com, and I've recently noticed a transaction's exchange rate is WRONG.

Pending Authorizations

Date: 12/14/2014 02:23 T103482838

Pre-Auth Transaction-POS Signature Purchase International
RAMADA ENCORE BOLOGNA ITA

Local Currency Amount: [European Economic and Monetary Union (EMU), Euro: 621.0]
Amount to charge: $947.08

Conversion rate is 947.08/621.0 = 1.57! It has never been so high in the history, how is that possible? WTF?!

On official MasterCards's site USD/EUR rate is 1.2396

I'm very disappointed. Please explain, how can I avoid this.

Thanks,
Pavel

Comments

  • Nissim
    Nissim Administrator Posts: 3,602 ✭✭✭✭✭✭✭
    edited December 2014
    Hi Pavel,

    When you make a purchase with certain types of merchants, the charge may be pre-authorized at up to 20% higher than the actual amount. This is only for the pending authorization, to ensure that your card will have sufficient funds to complete the purchase. Once the merchant charges the funds, this pending authorization will be released and your card will be charged for the actual amount.

    This is most common with hospitality merchants (hotels, travel reservations, restaurants, etc).

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