ZEN.COM is introducing a change to the way its protection against the Dynamic Currency Conversion (DCC) mechanism operates – a form of currency conversion applied by some merchants and payment terminal operators during international transactions. This solution is particularly relevant for people traveling and making payments abroad – both privately and for business purposes.
From now on, DCC protection is automatically enabled for all ZEN card users. It does not require any additional settings in the app. This means that when paying abroad, users no longer need to check whether the appropriate option is active – the system works by default.
What is Dynamic Currency Conversion?
Dynamic Currency Conversion (DCC) is a mechanism whereby, during a payment made abroad – whether in a physical store or an online shop – the customer is offered the option to settle the transaction in their card’s currency instead of the local currency of the country where the payment is made.
Although this solution may seem convenient, in practice the exchange rate set by the merchant or terminal operator is often less favorable than the standard settlement carried out by the card scheme. As a result, the customer may pay more than if the transaction had been processed without DCC. Such situations most commonly occur while traveling – for example in hotels, restaurants, car rental companies, or at airports.
How does protection work at ZEN.COM?
At ZEN.COM, the use of DCC is blocked at the card scheme level. This means that:
- the transaction cannot be converted at the merchant’s exchange rate,
- the payment is processed in a standard way, in accordance with the card scheme’s rules,
- the user does not incur additional costs resulting from the application of DCC,
- the protection covers both physical terminal payments and online transactions.
The solution works automatically – without exceptions and without any additional configuration – for all ZEN.COM card users. Thanks to this, travelers can pay abroad without the risk of unfavorable currency conversion and without having to make additional decisions at the payment terminal.
What is changing?
Previously, users could manage DCC control themselves via a setting available in the mobile app. Now, the protection mechanism is enabled by default and does not require any activation.
The change simplifies the user experience while ensuring full protection against unfavorable currency conversion. In practice, this means smoother payments during international trips and greater predictability of the actual transaction cost.
Transparency and security
Protection against unfavorable settlement mechanisms and transparency of transaction costs remain key elements of the ZEN.COM offering. The goal is to simplify international payments and eliminate hidden costs – so that users can pay abroad just as freely as they do at home.
For travelers, this means greater control over spending, better cost predictability, and more peace of mind when using their card abroad.
