Are 'overseas' transactions in AUD counted as international spend for Points earn?

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Keith009

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Some of the merchants I shop with online have an Australian website and charge in AUD, yet are considered overseas transactions by credit card companies because the merchants are actually located outside Australia. An example of this is Strawberrynet where I purchase something off the Aussie website in AUD (and the item gets shipped to me from somewhere in Sydney) and my card is charged in AUD but still I incur a transaction fee as the merchant is located in Hong Kong.

I've always put these transactions on my Westpac Altitude Black card which earns 1.5 Points/$ and used for most local spend. But if I used my Citibank Signature instead, would I end up earning at the 4 Citibank Reward Points (or 2.6 airline points) for $1 spent internationally or would it still be considered a domestic purchase for the purpose of earning Citibank Reward Points (1.5 Citi points / $ or 1 airline point)?
 
Re: Are 'overseas' transactions in AUD counted as international spend for Points earn

Some of the merchants I shop with online have an Australian website and charge in AUD, yet are considered overseas transactions by credit card companies because the merchants are actually located outside Australia. An example of this is Strawberrynet where I purchase something off the Aussie website in AUD (and the item gets shipped to me from somewhere in Sydney) and my card is charged in AUD but still I incur a transaction fee as the merchant is located in Hong Kong.

I've always put these transactions on my Westpac Altitude Black card which earns 1.5 Points/$ and used for most local spend. But if I used my Citibank Signature instead, would I end up earning at the 4 Citibank Reward Points (or 2.6 airline points) for $1 spent internationally or would it still be considered a domestic purchase for the purpose of earning Citibank Reward Points (1.5 Citi points / $ or 1 airline point)?

Weird - I don't get overseas transaction fees for Strawberrynet. Anyway, Citi defines 'international spend' as:

International Spend means any Eligible Transaction made with a merchant who tells us they are located in a country outside Australia

So theoretically you should - and it doesn't look like it matters which currency it is in.

Source: http://www.citibank.com.au/global_docs/pdf/MCG12231.pdf
 
Re: Are 'overseas' transactions in AUD counted as international spend for Points earn

Thanks Plutonus. May just have to experiment it myself and watch if the Points balance show an increase at the international rate.

I pay for purchases on Strawberrynet with my Westpac card which has begun charging an international transaction fee based on where the merchant is located. Uber is another one.
 
Re: Are 'overseas' transactions in AUD counted as international spend for Points earn

Thanks Plutonus. May just have to experiment it myself and watch if the Points balance show an increase at the international rate.

I pay for purchases on Strawberrynet with my Westpac card which has begun charging an international transaction fee based on where the merchant is located. Uber is another one.

I have done Uber transactions on Citi Sig. Billed from California in AUD. No fee, but 4pp$.
 
Re: Are 'overseas' transactions in AUD counted as international spend for Points earn

Thank you! Will switch all these 'overseas' transactions to my Citibank signature card right away!
 
Re: Are 'overseas' transactions in AUD counted as international spend for Points earn

Had US Paypal payments appear on my statement in AUD dollars, however with a currency conversion fee and after 3 days of arguing Citibank refused to credit the bonus points to the transactions stating they were local spend. I argued if they are local spend then why is Citi charing me a currency fee on them. She couldn't answer and said as a Goodwill gesture she could credit the currency fees. In the end I just gave up on these certain Paypal transactions.
 
Re: Are 'overseas' transactions in AUD counted as international spend for Points earn

I recently did this accidentally. Had a foreign charge billed in AUD and assumed I'd not get the bonus points, but I did.
 
Re: Are 'overseas' transactions in AUD counted as international spend for Points earn

Hi All.

Would Paypal purchases from a US company billed in US dollars earn be classed as international spend?

Is Paypal an "overseas" company and so shouldn't all Paypal purchases be classed as international spend?
 
Re: Are 'overseas' transactions in AUD counted as international spend for Points earn

See my post above. It's hit and miss.
 
Re: Are 'overseas' transactions in AUD counted as international spend for Points earn

Guys does anyone have any experience in how Citi view airbnb transactions ?
They charge in AUD as they detect my IP address as being Aus-based however I am pretty sure they are based offshore.
 
Re: Are 'overseas' transactions in AUD counted as international spend for Points earn

I don't think there is a way to know in advance if the merchant tells citi they are overseas.
I had the transaction for some flights I booked via a US travel agent in USD show up as being made in "Los Angeles, AU". I managed to get citi to agree that LA wasn't in Australia and they credited me the bonus points (not worth the 3% but I was after the travel insurance and the flights were better than 3% cheaper via the US). I've got plenty of bonus points from wiggle and other UK based sellers who charge in AUD (usually at competitive rates) and appeared as overseas transactions. so the short answer, YMMV.
 
Re: Are 'overseas' transactions in AUD counted as international spend for Points earn

Just had a chat to Citibank to clarify a point bonus and they told me it is only for physical 'swipes' overseas. So no online shopping.
Is this actually correct?

I could swear I am earning at better than 1:1 on things like Amazon purchases but it seems near impossible to tell as Citibank do not provide the tools to do a points earned reconciliation (unless I'm missing something)

Thanks
 
Re: Are 'overseas' transactions in AUD counted as international spend for Points earn

Just had a chat to Citibank to clarify a point bonus and they told me it is only for physical 'swipes' overseas. So no online shopping.
Is this actually correct?

No.

Love and other bruises, makes us all good losers.
 
Re: Are 'overseas' transactions in AUD counted as international spend for Points earn

Ok thanks.

How are other forum members calculating their points earn on transactions?
 
Re: Are 'overseas' transactions in AUD counted as international spend for Points earn

Sadly with spreadsheets I imagine which is what I'm using. Always come up about 600 points or so short but I don't chase it - too much grief for a small return.
 
Re: Are 'overseas' transactions in AUD counted as international spend for Points earn

All I do is calculate my overseas spend and then workout my bonus points (as well as any local bonus partners). If they are ok I leave it. If not a quick call to Citi and they adjust it.
 
Re: Are 'overseas' transactions in AUD counted as international spend for Points earn

OK, I should start doing this.

I have a local supplier who bills in USD. Do you think this will count as international? Citibank said no, but it sounds like they make this up on the run.
 
Re: Are 'overseas' transactions in AUD counted as international spend for Points earn

NM. Just reread where you said "local supplier".
 
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Re: Are 'overseas' transactions in AUD counted as international spend for Points earn

The terms explicitly say overseas merchants, nothing about currency.
 
Re: Are 'overseas' transactions in AUD counted as international spend for Points earn

OK, I should start doing this.

I have a local supplier who bills in USD. Do you think this will count as international? Citibank said no, but it sounds like they make this up on the run.

As plutonus said, I doubt it. You'll get slugged the 3.3% to convert, but unless your local supplier tells citi they are overseas you won't get the points.
 
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