The Castlecourt Hotel, Westport, Co.Mayo

How we were robbed of about £18 when we checked out of this hotel.

What had been a pleasant holiday was spoiled by the way we were finally billed.  We'd paid the initial deposit by VISA and we were billed in Euros.  This was converted by our bank to sterling at the interbank rate.  The bank doesn't charge any commission and gives the full interbank exchange rate.

When it came to paying the balance of 592.20 Euros we assumed we'd be charged the same way as the deposit in Euros, and let our bank convert to sterling.  Wrong!  We were billed after the hotel, or their intermediary, had converted the figure to sterling.  This was done at an inflated rate of .82 GBP to a Euro.  That figure was  £485.74.  Had it be transacted as we thought it would be, and converted by our bank at .79 GBP per Euro, that figure would have been only £467.80.

Note how the VISA (below) slip says "I accept I have been offered a choice of currencies for payment. I accept the conversion rate amount and that the final selected transaction currency is pound sterling. I also accept that my choice of currency is final."

That is untrue as we were not offered a choice but had GBP forced upon us and thus lost about £18 to person or persons unknown