I need to get two checks payable in pounds sterling. The bank sent me to the post office and the post office sent me to the bank. I am frustrated! Any suggestions?
Jessie
PayPal is great for international transactions, it does not cost either user anything and the receiver can get either credit to an account or a check.
Joe
I’m told American Express and many credit cards can do money exchanges as well. I sent a US check to a pipemaker in Australia who deposits it to his bank and for a small fee ($15US) they convert the funds for him. Very convenient for me.
My post office sent an international money order in $ to England where the recipient converted it into pounds. Transfer of themoney order took almost 2 weeks.
Check with your larger local banks and ask if they have an international department. Then go to that department and they should be able to do it. If you don’t have an account with the bank they might want a cashier’s check or cash – ask before you go.
In the case of my bank, I have to go the the main bank downtown. None of the branches can do that sort of thing.
In January everything will be in Euros instead of Pounds… maybe then it won’t be such a hassle.
Raindog
As one who is from England (where they spend sterling) but lives in Ireland (where they will spend Euro from January 1st), I can tell you that British retailers/dealers (those in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland) will still be using Sterling currency for a long while yet.
Even though Britain is in Europe it is not converting to use of the Euro, when most of the rest of Europe do, next week.
Confused? Join the club!
Steve Power
[ This Message was edited by: StevePower on 2001-12-28 06:03 ]
Hmm…I will call my credit card company. Thanks for all the suggestions.
Jessie
Jessie… do you use the word freakin’ in real life ??
Actually, Tony, yes I do, depending on to whom I am speaking. In some cases I use alternative words. Hee hee.
I don’t care what the other folks on this board say about you Jessie… 
You’re OK in my book !
Credit cards are best for international transactions, as the credit card companies generally in my experience pass on very good rates. However, few small businesses take credit cards, and Paypal only works in US dollars.
I have recently tried a new (to me) service that you might check out. Although at this point, this is not a recommendation, since I haven’t finished the transaction (the check is, as they say, in the mail). http://www.accu-rate.ca has a division that will issue bank checks in foreign currencies for credit card payment. The exchange rate was about a 5% premium over the interbank rates quoted on yahoo, and there are no other fees. I will say that they are serious about address verification and credit card fraud - having just moved last month, I had a heck of a time convincing them of my new address. If you want, I’ll let you know when the check that is currently winging its way to Sweden is successfully negotiated by the payee, and I have my nyckelharpa.
Good luck
I have had success in sending money (D marks)directly from Canada into a bank account in Germany. At first the person behind the counter told me that it could not be done. I assured the person that it could be done and that all they needed to do was to find out how. Half an hour later, the transfer was complete.
I’m with Jessie. Sometimes Freakin’ is just the word that has to be used. Like when your dentist tells you that you need $2800 worth of work and its a week before Christmas. All I could say, with a dazed look on my face, was “Merry Freakin’ Christmas”.
Too bad you don’t live closer to the border Dm…I just paid $1275 for work that would have cost me $4000 in the states. They do good work too. BTW…is “freakin” considered the same as “friggin”??? Gm
She also says “Oy-freekin’-Vey!” like I do!
On 2001-12-27 19:49, Tony wrote:
I don’t care what the other folks on this board say about you Jessie… >
You’re OK in my book !
Interesting thing to say, Tony. I wish I didn’t care what people said about me.
Jessie
[ This Message was edited by: JessieK on 2001-12-28 09:14 ]
Grannymouse,
I think friggin is like freakin or some flippin word like that!
Tom
Thanks to that creep Bin Ladin, you cannot send International Money Orders from the U.S. to Britain anymore, as I found out two weeks ago when I tried to pay Fred Rose for a whistle.
The U.S. Post Office checked a computerized list showing countries to which IMO’s may be sent and Blighty was no longer listed. I would imagine there are quite a few others too that have been dropped since Sept. 11.
In order to send a certified bank (tellers) check you have to have an account at the issuing bank, and even at that I got into a big brouhaha with the branch manager of my bank who informed me they would not allow “their” certified checks to go out the country. She tolde me they could wire the money to Fred’s bank in England, but it would cost me $40 … which would be about 20 percent of the amount in the check.
Fuggedaboudit!! I told her I’d had an account in their main branch for 20 years and that it was none of her damn business where I sent my money! Upshot was I demanded she call the bank president and tell him they had a choice … issue the check to me or kiss my account Bye By!
She made the call, and after a rather lengthy wait, (during which time none of the bank employees, would make eye contact with me) a minion appeared with my check in hand. Cost me $5!
I then went to the Post Office and sent the check by Registered Mail. In hindsight, I realized I could have saved the 5 bucks for the check and just send Fred the cash that way. In fact, they asked me in the P.O. when I registered the letter if it contained money!
So let’s see … We are going to dry up terrorists funding by prohibiting IMOs being sent to Britain. But not to worry, Uncle Sam we will happily charge you $7 to send the cash by Registered Mail!
Go figure!
Mal
Wow Mal,
That’s totally wacked. Thanks for sharing that with us, very interesting indeed!
Loren