flip off this new Uber characteristic so you are not overcharged

Even in case you’re effectively educated on international transaction charges and learn how to keep away from them with a no-foreign-transaction-fee bank card whenever you journey overseas, a sneaky new Uber characteristic could thwart your fee-free worldwide spending technique.

Uber is rolling out Most well-liked Foreign money Pricing in choose places, together with the U.S., Canada, the UK and the European Union, information that got here to our consideration after one member of the TPG workforce obtained an account replace e mail from Uber.

Starting Feb. 27, Uber will cost residents in these areas a 1.5% foreign money conversion charge in the event that they select to pay of their most popular foreign money as an alternative of the native foreign money once they request a journey overseas.

The popular foreign money setting is meant to assist riders understand how a lot they pay once they journey internationally by displaying costs of their dwelling foreign money, slightly than the native foreign money. This will additionally assist alleviate conversion charges charged by some banks and bank card issuers, which may exceed the 1.5% charge charged by Uber.

Associated: Tricks to save on abroad ATM withdrawals

After all, in case you pay with a card that does not cost international transaction charges, you are basically giving Uber an additional 1.5% whenever you request a journey outdoors of your property nation.

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When the characteristic rolls out, Uber will mechanically assign your property foreign money as your most popular foreign money — however you’ll be able to decide out to keep away from this surcharge.

To decide out, open your Uber app and click on “Account.” From there, go to your “Pockets” and click on on “Most well-liked Foreign money.” It ought to default to your property foreign money — however you’ll be able to change the setting to “No most popular foreign money” in case you want to pay within the native foreign money whenever you journey. By making “No most popular foreign money” your default, you’ll be able to keep away from the 1.5% surcharge.

Even in case you do not change this setting earlier than you journey, additionally, you will see the choice to decide out of paying in your most popular foreign money at checkout whenever you e book a journey overseas. It is best to vary this setting earlier than your subsequent worldwide journey, although, so you do not overlook.

If you are at it, be sure that the cardboard(s) in your Uber pockets are ones that do not cost foreign money conversion charges and that you simply hold updated on methods to maximise perks when driving with Uber.