Avoid Agoda

[joanie_dan]

Made bookings with them and guess what exchange rate they charge for sgdjpy conversion during payment date? 76!!! (current spot is 82.3.

Total scam.

Went to their Facebook page and realized lots of complaints.

 

[juxtaposition]

U choose pay later?

 

[anyhowsaysay]

When you made payment if doing advance I think they gave you the option to pay in Yen as well.

 

[buttbERry]

got pay by cash option?

 

[Mergui219067]

Choose in the currency you can win them then .

 

[dede1217]

U choose pay later?

Most likely should be that i guess ...
have similar situation before for other country ...
they would charge the booking in that country currency, then convert to sgd.

if that time you book and pay immediately, then the currency exchange rate would be much difference ...

 

[joanie_dan]

Yes pay later but it doesn’t matter because JPY amount is fixed. It’s the conversion from JPY to SGD that agoda charge. So I am
Aware that I am subjected to ccy fluctuation, however at time of booking 2 mths earlier(the estimated SGD amount was based on 2 mths ago fx rate), til payment deduction date in November, jpy depreciated against sgd, in fact I should be expecting that the sgd I need to pay decrease, however it went up by about 6% of the total payment amount. If it’s not a scam, I duno what is

 

[joanie_dan]

I didn’t see another ccy payment option n according to agoda, they say currency option is only available for pay now instead of pay later function.

When you made payment if doing advance I think they gave you the option to pay in Yen as well.

 

[saffronsatire]

I always dislike their pay later option. To me it's either pay now, non-refundable and no cancellation or pay on arrival, can cancel up to a certain date; even if it's more ex, at least got flexibility and sometimes the difference only sgd20+ per room per night. Agoda not cheaper for me whenever i check.

 

[dimitri_can]

i think agoda, booking.com all linked to same company...

 

[joanie_dan]

Another member has pointed out that pay later option has an embedded 5% extra charge in the fine lines of t&C. This was not reflected at the payment page and merely stating subject to exchange rate fluctuations is misrepresentation.

Other deferred payment plans that we are familiar with locally states 0% or x% notifying consumer of the charges.

A good shout out to all for awareness.

 

[Perisher]

i think agoda, booking.com all linked to same company...

Both Booking .com & Agoda are owned by Priceline.
In fact,
so are all these

 

[oceanicmanta]

Yes pay later but it doesn’t matter because JPY amount is fixed. It’s the conversion from JPY to SGD that agoda charge. So I am
Aware that I am subjected to ccy fluctuation, however at time of booking 2 mths earlier(the estimated SGD amount was based on 2 mths ago fx rate), til payment deduction date in November, jpy depreciated against sgd, in fact I should be expecting that the sgd I need to pay decrease, however it went up by about 6% of the total payment amount. If it’s not a scam, I duno what is

to make us see better can list the following ? :

1) Date of Booking + JPY amount + estimated SGD amount by Agoda

2) Date of Payment + SGD amount charged to CC

Thanks

 

[ladadee]

if i were to compare booking from agoda or direct, even with membership discount it is cheaper to book from agoda for japan accom (esp hotels)

 

[joanie_dan]

Yes all 3rd party websites would have periods where they are quoting cheaper prices,.

The Point of this thread is that they are conveniently hiding surcharges in t&c (legally nothing wrong) and not being upfront about it.

I am sure if they had Made it obvious, pay now vs pay later (5% surcharge), consumers would have made an informed choice.

if i were to compare booking from agoda or direct, even with membership discount it is cheaper to book from agoda for japan accom (esp hotels)

 

[Windowlover]

Have to check for best pricing even using this apps like direct hotel booking as sometime they have more discount too. Homework is unavoidable

 

[princessreiko]

Made bookings with them and guess what exchange rate they charge for sgdjpy conversion during payment date? 76!!! (current spot is 82.3.

Total scam.

Went to their Facebook page and realized lots of complaints.

Yes, it has always been like that.
They give you the option of cancelling it before the payment date.
Sometimes the deal is very good and you have to pay on the day itself.
They are doing a business, so if they charge you on a specific date, it is only fair that they follow the rate on the day itself.

 

[Greent]

Can try https://travel.rakuten.com/

Recently my JP trip using rakuten compare with booking (same hotel , same location) but price difference is like 200+ sgd after conversation ...

 

[anyhowsaysay]

if i were to compare booking from agoda or direct, even with membership discount it is cheaper to book from agoda for japan accom (esp hotels)

I always try to book direct with the hotel.
Maybe only less than 5% I will use those 3rd party booking sites.
Most Japanese hotels run early booking discount, sometimes if you switch the language to Japanese even get bigger discount.

 

[joanie_dan]

They conveyed it’s the USDSGD rate, Fair to take exchange rate on charge day, but unfair to charge an extra 5% (on fx rate) without specifying upfront. 5% on fx is equivalent to about 6.85% on total sgd payment for current spot 1.37.

Yes, it has always been like that.
They give you the option of cancelling it before the payment date.
Sometimes the deal is very good and you have to pay on the day itself.
They are doing a business, so if they charge you on a specific date, it is only fair that they follow the rate on the day itself.