VA Amex Paypal/Amex conversion credit

Hi - just wondered if anyone has experienced this or can explain it better than MBNA[:I]

I used my VA Amex to add 927 into my paypal account (I've a US $ paypal account). This worked fine, paypal shows;

11 Sep. 2008 Charge from Credit Card Details $1,667.63 USD
11 Sep. 2008 Currency Conversion Details -$1,667.63 USD
11 Sep. 2008 Currency Conversion Details 927.00 GBP

927 being the amount I needed to pay.

My VA Amex shows;

11 Sep 2008 Paypal pmt 972.91

and

13 Sep 2008 Paypal/Amex CNVRSN CRE San Jose CA $100.05 USD at .58650/GBP 58.68CR

Now I'm not complaining that I've received a 58 credit - but i can't see why - other than the oscillating dollar/pound ex rate having something to do with all this? [:?]

any thoughts?

thanks

Andrew

[Nottingham Nick]

I stand to be corrected here, but PayPal charge a surcharge for using Amex, rather than Visa or Mastercard.

I don't know if it is because the MBNA Amex isn't a proper Amex card, but when I have used my Virgin Amex on PayPal, I have had this surcharge refunded as a separate transaction. Could it be down to this?

Nick

[mitchja]

There's always been a conversion involved when you use an Amex card with PayPal as PayPal can only deal in Dollars with any Amex card.

It just so happens thats it's been a positive conversion with the recent exchange rate. The last few times I bought something using Amex and PayPal I also received a credit meaning the nett amount paid is lower.

Regards

Thanks Nick & Mitcha -

Great to get a positive result on a dollar transaction given the recent freefall!

Andrew

I get this all the time with PayPal and my AMEX card, it usually ends up that the item i purchased on eBay has cost me a little less, as they appear to make sure, that as they deal in $, you do not get charged in £s more than you should, so I am guessing they slightly weigh it in the favour of a larger credit.