I used my US card in Oman & 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?
In Sohar, at a NBO ATM, same deal. The ATM wanted me to accept conversion to USD. I declined, and my Wise card billed me correctly in OMR. Accept would’ve added an unnecessary 8-9% markup. Always decline.
Bank Dhofar ATM near Salalah airport asked me “accept conversion.” If you accept, you’re giving the ATM control. If you decline, your US card provider converts at the fair Visa/Mastercard rate. I tested both-accept was $15 more expensive on a $200 equivalent withdrawal.
At an HSBC ATM in Oman, same message popped up. Accept looked tempting, but the markup was obvious in the numbers. I pressed decline, got charged in OMR, and my Revolut app showed perfect rates. Accept would’ve cost me 10% more.
In Muscat, I used a Bank Muscat ATM. It asked me to accept conversion into USD with a so-called “guaranteed rate.” The fine print said 8% markup. That’s DCC. Always decline, let your card convert at the proper rate in OMR.