Paying Overseas Seller Via Bank Deposit

Bernie

OllieLong wrote:

People in Germany nearly all use bank transfers as the norm and as a result PayPal is free within Germany as they cannot compete with the banks. You should just check out their feedback and take into the amount you are going to paying. It should be OK but take the necessary precautions as usual.

We had a Sparkasse account for several years when we lived in Germany (with the military). No interest payable on current accounts and charges for everything - cheques, statements, whatever!

Bank transfers are free here too - but they take 3 days even when sent electronically. When that changes next year, we may see Paypal.uk (owned by eBay) lower their high charges.

I always ask for electronic bank transfers for ebay payments - I will take payment by PP if the buyer wants a speedier transaction - but only if they foot the additional cost involved. I'm not slicing that out of my modest "profit".

innovate

Bernie - if you choose your bank in Germany carefully, you get the same kind of banking as you get here. i.e. free for the day-to-day transactions everybody does, and free statements, free internet access, free chequebook & card etc.

I know, because I have a german bank account. Only noticable differences are interest charges/payments - they are lower than here (both on positive balances and overdrafts/loans).

You are right, however, the Sparkasse is not one of the banks offering free banking and interest on positive balances.

I think you would find that most if not all the german ebayers have sussed out free banking

Ms-Money-Penny

Just been to the bank after days of trying to get his IBAN number and BIC code and then she said £20 to send the money.

So as he wont take paypal - i am probably to going to end up with a non paying bidder strike thanks to my daughter.

So off to change my user ID and password so she can't use my account again.