Using Credit Card from another Country

Yes.  Many merchants will apply a surcharge to cover the processing fee; others don't want the hassle, and simply decline foreign credit cards altogether.   The biggest appliance store here in Manaus is in the second group, unfortunately for us.

Does your card have no fees? I always charge in reals and US bank has no fees. Have made couple large transaction, but couple years ago. with no fees.

Unfortunately, "no fee" is only on the part of the issuing bank.  Apparently Brazilian law allows merchants to recover the card processing fee, and many do,  5.99% seems a little high, but rates vary.  I've seen them charge it for domestic credit cards, too.  Often, they do it by having a special "credit price", like their special "cash price", but worse. 

Well now I know. So far so good on Mercado's. They have not charged me to buy food there.
As said hove not had to buy large stuff.
Thanks

Great if they're better in your town.  You know Brazil:  the same everywhere, except where it's different!

NewBrazil wrote:

I been in Brazil for over a year now. I am Permanent Residency been using a credit Card from the US that has no fees but the processing company for Brazil has now place 5.99% for any foreign currency exchange on the credit card. This has just happened to me this year called my credit card company and they are saying it not something they have control over. So now when you use a foreign credit card you will be charged 5,99% currency exchange fee. Hope this helps

Not all charge 5.99%. Cielo processing is rampantly doing that. Get Net doesn´t. All the supermercados
in my area doesn´t even the big malls. If you don´t want to pay that, you have to ask if they use Cielo.
There´s one restaurant that I frequent that charges thru Cielo and charge me 5.99% all the time...

robal

I'd recommend searching online for a virtulised card for overseas use. With one of these, you attach your credit cards to this physical card, use this card abroad in local currency, and which charges your credit card in home currency, thus avoiding the exchange fee (or reduced fee).   

My update where I been charged the 5.99% for currency exchange on my no fee international credit card. So far at a merchant Armazem Paraiba and Mateus grocery store. I use it at a restaurant no charge. When I get charged I get two slips one with Reals total cost and a second shows the dollar amount and the print Saying the 5.99% currency exchange charge. So now may use more cash since for example the ATM charges 24 Reals so for the purchase of 1600 below would have paid 48 Reals at ATM. We bought a couple of kitchen appliances total 1600 Reals the 5.99% turned out to be 96 Reals. So if I would have gone to the ATM would been cheaper and my ATM card pays back the fee.