We were using AMEX in Scotland a couple years ago. They charged the fee too. That was a very expensive trip with the dollar in the tank and everything in the UK seems so much more expensive. Every line item on the statment had their bloody fee. Over 3 weeks with all the charges it really added up.

These credit card companies never used to do this, unless they hid the charge in the exchange rate. I remember people telling us to use the credit cards because they get institutional bulk exchange rates that an individual cannot get.

Sounds like we will be getting a Captial One credit card if they aren't charging the fees.