Australia central bank allows merchants to charge extra for cc usage....as long as customers are informed up front.....and restricted to not more than what it cost the merchandise to accept payment by card....

All the airlines, including Qantas, charge extra for online booking payments with cards.....

Some merchants abused this by overcharging surcharges, so actually making money out of this.....so the new guidelines mandate such surcharges CANNOT exceed the cost to merchants....

https://www.accc.gov.au/consumers/prices-su...card-surcharges

The AUD went up last 2 days.....the rba cut rates by 25 basis points yesterday, but the AUD held up, the cut already factored in....

I am getting about 2.916 for spends over the weekend, settling yesterday..... although the original rates were last week's 2.906.....

If that's from cc points conversion, you have wasted your points....

Then you have spent a lot of money through the BP card.... hopefully you have also leverage on cc to top up.....

The whole point of using CC and collecting points is for the premium class travels it can open up for mere mortals.....

Not going to ever pay RM20k for a J class ticket to London, but I can use points (converted into airline miles) to redeem for j ticket with some spare change ( varies depending on the ffp).....

To redeem into a LCC is then of course rather stupid.....with its horrible experience.....just pay cash then.....since it's cheap anyway (by definition).....

BNM rule is that sst will be charged the month after activation of card, or if not activated, on the 4th month after issuance of card....

Using the card to pay in AUD these few days, I note the initial rate quoted is near the median rate (ie xe rates) but the settlement rate is significantly higher.....

Appears not as competitive as spending in SGD....where the settlement rate is close to initial quote....

Hari Raya holidays backlog....

Those on holiday and only changing small amount of cash like 1-2k for petty use, the differences in rates will amount only to a most a few tens of MYR.....no need calculate so much....your petrol and parking trying to change at money money changers may be even more.....

The problem with BP cards is that there is no name....so it's difficult for banks that "swallow" up such cards to establish ownership.....

No notification on use earlier, notification only arrived after I open the app to check....

Have used it last month in MRT Singapore.....works well, same charges as for EZ link card....

However, individual transactions are not recorded in the app.....about a week later, SMRT bill BP for the journeys in one single charge in SGD, and converted into MYR.....exchange rate close to XE....

You can download the Simplygo App to keep track of individual journeys.....

Registering for Simplygo is tricky, but once registered, no problems adding foreign cards into the system.... including BP....

If the system allows usage of any contactless payment cards like visa/MC etc, then no problem using BP ...

The final total sum was received a week after I left....

Use like any other cc in Australia ....in fact the majority of times, just wave.....if however, you slot in the card, then key in pin.....Oz done away with signature many years ago....

Once reduced, they will want evidences to support any increase again....hence the cs usually advice not to reduce unless you want it permanent....

This was discussed last week, search back....

Download the Simplygo App, link your cc or ezylink cards and all journeys will be captured....

CCs will get billed every few days I'm one lump sum plus 50cents charge....

Every time SMRT charge your CC.....which is once in 2-3 days for Visa, or weekly for MC....