Why am I charged an International Transaction Fee?

An International Transaction Fee (sometimes called a Foreign Transaction Fee) is typically charged by credit or debit card companies when you make a purchase or conduct a transaction outside of your home country, or when the transaction is processed through a foreign bank. Here's why it happens:

• Currency Conversion: If you purchase something in a foreign currency, your card issuer may convert that currency into your home currency. They might charge a fee for this service.

• Foreign Payment Processors: Even if you shop online from a website based in your country, if the payment is processed through a bank or payment processor located in another country, it can trigger an international fee.

• Bank and Card Network Fees: Card networks like Visa, Mastercard, or American Express often charge a small fee for processing international transactions, which is passed on to you.

Due to a change in legislation from July 1st, 2018, some banks may apply a 3% fee as a cross-border charge because PayPal is based overseas. There are a number of credit cards exempt from this, and we advise you to check with your bank to confirm, as this is not something Photobook or PayPal is charging you for.