I withdrew cash at an ATM in Mauritania and selected Accept Conversion because it sounded safer. Later I saw the rate was terrible. Is this normal?
Yes, this is a common pitfall in Mauritania. I used a Banque El Amana ATM in Ksar and selected “Accept” because it sounded more secure. My N26 card ended up using a terrible rate, and the extra cost was baked into the conversion. This is exactly what DCC does it looks harmless, but the ATM pockets more through the exchange rate. Always Decline Conversion to get the rate your bank or card provider offers it’s much better.
I was in Nouadhibou last month and used a Banque Populaire ATM. I selected “Accept” and got charged in GBP sounded safe at the time. But when I checked my Monzo account, I’d lost more than expected. DCC strikes again it’s a quiet way of adding hidden fees inside the exchange rate. Since then, I always choose Decline Conversion so my card handles it at the proper rate.
Same thing happened to me at a Banque Al Wava Mauritanienne Islamique ATM near the airport. I pressed “Accept,” assuming I was avoiding extra charges, but my Revolut card was charged at a horrible rate. That’s DCC the ATM converts to your home currency using its own inflated exchange rate, not your card’s. When I hit “Decline” on a later withdrawal, the cost was noticeably lower. Always decline, especially if you use a travel card.
Yes, that’s a typical issue it’s called Dynamic Currency Conversion (DCC). I withdrew cash from a Banque Mauritanienne pour le Commerce International (BMCI) ATM in Nouakchott, and I chose “Accept” thinking it was the smart option. But my Wise card later showed a terrible exchange rate, easily 5-7% worse than what it should’ve been. When you accept, the ATM sets the rate, not your bank. Always Decline Conversion so your card provider applies its fairer rate.