I used my US card in Cook Islands & the ATM just asked me Accept or Decline Conversion - I feel like I should choose Accept coz it seems more appealing but it had these super confusing numbers on the screen saying 8% markup so not sure. What should I do?
At an ANZ machine outside Rarotonga Airport, I hit Decline, got NZD, and my Capital One account billed me fairly. Later at my hostel (Backpackers International), another traveler complained they hit Accept and lost like $15 on the same withdrawal. Everyone agreed - Decline is the only safe choice.
It’s the same DCC scam you see worldwide. In Cook Islands, ATMs run by BSP and ANZ try to trick tourists with the Accept button. Always decline and take NZD. Even with a 3% US bank fee, it’s still cheaper than their “special” USD rate. Don’t be fooled by the wording.
I learned the hard way on Rarotonga. Pressed Accept at a BSP ATM near Muri Beach, and the conversion was awful - my $300 NZD withdrawal cost nearly $20 more. A friend at the same machine pressed Decline, and his Bank of America card gave him the proper rate. Never again.
At ANZ ATMs in Avarua, you’ll get that “Accept conversion” screen. Always hit Decline. Accepting means you get charged in USD with a hidden markup of around 8-9%. Declining means you get New Zealand dollars (NZD) at the fair Visa/Mastercard rate. My Chase card handled it smoothly.