Question of the Week: When should I buy my foreign currency?

SallySunshine

I've just forward bought 300euros from Crown Currency, at the rate of 122.39c for delivery on 21st September.

I know I'll be able to use my Nationwide debit card for the last time as well but need some ready money with me.

O.K. the euro could go up in the interim period but as I have bought the minimum, for free signed for delivery on my chosen date, I don't think I'll lose out too much.

whitebuck

What ever you do DON'T buy online using Barclaycard as they will charge you a hefty fee for the 'cash advance' they never gave you

They know they're stitching you up and are proud if it

Biggles

whitebuck wrote: »

What ever you do DON'T buy online using Barclaycard as they will charge you a hefty fee for the 'cash advance' they never gave you

It's not unique to Barclaycard, a charge for obtaining travel cash is normal, and has been for some years, with all credit cards.

Grolsch30

od6600 wrote: »

An additional benefit is that they'll match any other price; I sent them a screen capture from the money maximiser and they honoured the better price (which would have meant treking into central London to collect) and I collected the cash at my regional airport.

Hi,

So could I order via quidco (to get cash back), £5000 worth of euros online via Travelex and then phone them up and get them to price match the better quote on money maximiser and if needs be send them a screen print of the money maximiser quote?

Voyager2002

A couple of weeks ago, my friend went to Thomas Cook's to ask about buying Euro for next summer. The man said that she had better buy now, because the rate was sure to get worse because of the trouble in Ireland. So she bought all her holiday money then, and now finds that the rate has got a lot better. Can she claim compensation because of the bad advice? Maybe it was a case of mis-selling a financial product?

richardw

whitebuck wrote: »

What ever you do DON'T buy online using Barclaycard as they will charge you a hefty fee for the 'cash advance' they never gave you

They know they're stitching you up and are proud if it

Is it a purchase then?

av5118

I am living in Italy and working in Euros...
I will go to the US in Autumn 2011 and was wondering when to buy dollars. Now? or to wait? or buy via the pound?
Any advice appreciated...

Baldur

av5118 wrote: »

I am living in Italy and working in Euros...
I will go to the US in Autumn 2011 and was wondering when to buy dollars. Now? or to wait? or buy via the pound?
Any advice appreciated...

Anyone who could give you a definitive answer to your questions would probably be too busy making a fortune on foreign exchange trading or honing their 'fortune telling' skills to post on these forums.

newwen112

Hoorah for MSE Natasha.

Drusillamac

Hello all,

I have some questions. This is the first time I've got abroad in four years so apologies for being a bit slow.

I go away on holiday next Thursday to sunny Spain and lots of things have slipped my mind, including arranging my holiday money. I tried to apply for Travelex card online but it didn't like my Visa debit card. Due to this they were unable to process my order online. However the alternative to pick up my card at the airport was offered. Hence the questions:

1) Has anyone got good/bad experiences of picking these cards up at the airport? Obviously I don't want to get there and be declined a card and be left with changing my money at the airport.

[STRIKE]2) How much notice did I need to give when ordering the card online? [/STRIKE]Strike this question off. Had a nosey in another forum and apparently you only need to give them four hours notice. Huzzah!

3) Do I order my currency in pounds or euros? I assumed it works on a similar way to using my existing debit card.

4) I'm going to Alicante. Does anyone have any feedback about how easy it was to use the card there?

Many thanks for helping out a scatty traveller!