What happens if you purchase an item from a UK store online by using us money?

Answer 1

Generally, you use a credit card, and generally, they charge it to your bank or credit card, which generally charges you a small percentage of the purchase price to convert the currency. Policies of individual banks will vary. I think mine charged less than 5%.

I just paid for lots of train and hotel reservations a couple of months ago before travelling from the US to the UK. Curiously, British banks never charged me a fee to use their ATMs, but my own bank charged me $5 everytime I used a British ATM, as well as the currency exchange percentage, of course.

Answer 2

Generally, you have to use your credit/debit card or paypal. Whichever institution you use will pay the store using UK currency, then "convert" the amount they paid into US currency and charge you that amount. I've heard varying reports about whether they charge you an arm and a leg or charge you a reasonable exchange rate. They also may or may not charge you some kind of set-rate fee. They should, though, be able to tell you in advance how they calculate their exchange rate (prime plus 0.25 or something like that) and if they charge a fee, if you call them on the phone.

Answer 3

the store will convert the rate for you and bill you accordingly.

this happens on ebay all the time.