Feedback needed from the PS4 PSN players about PSN surcharges

[MagicDude4Eva]

I am currently preparing a submission to the National Consumer Tribunal, DTI and financial regulators as I have found that Sony South Africa (represented locally through PartServe) is violating a number of consumer and financial regulations.

Although I have a few proof-points, I need a few more and this is what is currently happening:
- The Sony ZA PSN store advertises games in South African Rand (i.e. R 899)
- The checkout and the initial authorisation against the card all show the same Rand amount (i.e. R 899)
- Once the auth on the card clears a 2,5 % conversion fee and forex-rates are levied on the purchase as the products are actually not processed in Rands (i.e. the R899 purchase will change days/weeks after purchase to R930)

Standard bank has responded to my query as follows:

Please note that the transaction has been processed as an international transaction.

International transactions will have a currency conversion fee applied, which has resulted in the higher charge.
Further to the currency conversion fee will be exchange rates which may result in a lower or higher than expected charge.

When speaking to a card-division agent, that conversion fee is typically 2,5% and the final charge can shift upwards depending on the spot rate. Most consumers will not notice a 5-8% difference (i.e. R20-40) on their card statements.

If you have recently made any PSN purchases would you mind PMing me the following details:
- Name of PSN title and PSN store advertised price
- Final charge on your card after the auth has cleared
- Type of card (Visa/Master etc) and issuing bank (FNB / SBSA)

This does not seem to apply to wallet purchases or vouchers and by the looks of it seems to also not apply to part-funded purchases (i.e. you have credit in the PSN wallet and just pay a top-up amount).

 

[RazedInBlack]

I only use vouchers on PSN, period, so no it doesn't apply to wallet purchases.

 

[Mike Hoxbig]

I'm extremely hesitant to trust Sony with my credit card details after the whole PSN hack fiasco, so I also use vouchers only...

 

[Batista]

I use vouchers only,same as Mike- worried about their servers.

 

[donanicky]

I also only use vouchers

 

[Praemon]

Interesting. I wonder what currency the charge is in? If there's a delay in settlement and the Rand depreciates drastically (like it has in the past few months), you could get a completely different charge on your card.

 

[Bighit]

Just to confirm what you were thinking regarding top ups, I was only charged my top up amount fee, no conversion fee or anything extra (FNB).

 

[MagicDude4Eva]

Interesting. I wonder what currency the charge is in? If there's a delay in settlement and the Rand depreciates drastically (like it has in the past few months), you could get a completely different charge on your card.

By the looks of it they consistently charge a 2,5% transaction fee:

2016-03-06 R 1,199.00  vs R 1,228.98
2016-03-23 R   749.00  vs R   767.73
2016-08-11 R   899.00  vs R   921.48

I will now also pull contacts from PASA and get the card companies involved as it would be illegal to charge more than the advertised product price. I know that some merchants lost their license because the surcharged credit-card processing fees which seems to be what Sony is doing.

 

[MagicDude4Eva]

An interesting turn of events (I am currently busy with PASA and SBSA - full history here - http://www.naschenweng.info/2016/09/08/sony-playstation-south-africa-overcharges-purchases/).

It turns out that SBSA seems to charge a "2.5% currency conversion fee" and it was not just limited to PSN, but also Steam and ITUNES:

I am now seeking clarification if this is an issue specific to SBSA, just me or if this applies to any international purchase via any bank. As you can anticipate, this issue will be huge, even if it is just with SBSA as it will mean that any purchase you have made on PSN, Steam, ITUNES (possibly Xbox Live) would be levied the extra illegal charge.

I would now really appreciate it if some more people here could perhaps look at their statements and then perhaps email me the details so that I can also forward it to Pasa (if you are uncomfortable with this, contact Pasa directly and quote my ticket "PASA-Pasa.FID3936" as a related matter).

 

[Arksun]

This doesn't apply to Xbox Live. If I buy something that states R799, then only R799 gets debited from my card. M$ has their ducks in a row.

 

[MagicDude4Eva]

This doesn't apply to Xbox Live. If I buy something that states R799, then only R799 gets debited from my card. M$ has their ducks in a row.

Have you checked if the charged amount stays the same after it settled? In my case the SMS notification and initial charge was the listed amount. This then changed 2-4 days later (and is only obvious once you re-check your statement).

My theory is now (still unconfirmed):
- This only applies to card customers of Standard Bank
- It affects any purchase where an online service charges in Rand but is an international merchant (so far I could confirm Steam, iTunes and Playstation Network)
- I am unsure if the same applies to Xbox Live, Microsoft purchases (i.e. those Office 365 renewals), Google Playstore purchases

 

[theratman]

Have you checked if the charged amount stays the same after it settled? In my case the SMS notification and initial charge was the listed amount. This then changed 2-4 days later (and is only obvious once you re-check your statement).

My theory is now (still unconfirmed):
- This only applies to card customers of Standard Bank
- It affects any purchase where an online service charges in Rand but is an international merchant (so far I could confirm Steam, iTunes and Playstation Network)
- I am unsure if the same applies to Xbox Live, Microsoft purchases (i.e. those Office 365 renewals), Google Playstore purchases

I'll have a look and see if anything suspicious pops up on my next purchase.