How to transfer Stirling to Dollars

tug

Hi everydobby
We are joining thousands of Canadians and flying to Florida for two and a half months of winter sunshine.
I have found a place to rent but the owner has not let his property before and was trying to sell it, but has had no suitable offers.
I have a Nationwide credit and debit card but what is the best way to pay the rent of $5000 dollars over there without incurring too much in bank charges please?
Has anyone any ideas?
Regards,
Tug

andrewmoorcroft

i thought the nationwide card was the one recommended on this site to get commission free and transaction free money from the auto bank. someone will find you the post which is a big official mse one on cheapest way of spending abroad.

pin

Hi, Here is my list of top places on how to get money to spend abroad:
[FONT=arial,helvetica,sans-serif] [FONT=times new roman,new york,times,serif] [FONT=arial,helvetica,sans-serif] [FONT=arial,helvetica,sans-serif] [FONT=times new roman,new york,times,serif] [FONT=arial,helvetica,sans-serif] [FONT=arial,helvetica,sans-serif] [FONT=times new roman,new york,times,serif] [FONT=arial,helvetica,sans-serif] 1. Nationwide Debit Card for ATM withdrawals from destination country (no foreign loading) / the Audi credit card or the Post Office credit card for purchases in destination country (but watch out for Dynamic Currency Conversion) (no foreign loading for purchases, BUT watch charges for cash withdrawals).

2. Nationwide Credit Card (please note Nationwide's policy re chip and pin in foreign countries: see this thread from FlyerTalk) (no foreign loading for purchases, BUT watch charges for cash withdrawals).
[FONT=arial,helvetica,sans-serif] [FONT=times new roman,new york,times,serif] [FONT=arial,helvetica,sans-serif] [FONT=arial,helvetica,sans-serif] [FONT=times new roman,new york,times,serif] [FONT=arial,helvetica,sans-serif] [FONT=arial,helvetica,sans-serif] [FONT=times new roman,new york,times,serif] [FONT=arial,helvetica,sans-serif] [FONT=arial,helvetica,sans-serif] [FONT=times new roman,new york,times,serif] [FONT=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]
3. SAGA credit card (if you are over 50) for purchases in destination country (no foreign loading for European purchases, 1% for rest of the world, no cash withdrawal interest if balance repaid in full BUT 1.5%/£1.50 cash withdrawal fee).

4. Any other debit card for ATM withdrawals from destination country / any other credit card for purchases in destination country (but for both CHECK T&C's to see exact charges).

5. Thomas Exchange Global ("TEG") in central London - pay and pick up at store.

6. Travelex online (remember Travelex will price match any other exchange service, i.e. the one above) -pay online, pick up at airport.

For price matching: order through Travelex online as you would do normally, then call up TEG (02072401214 or 02078281880) and get a quote re their exchange rate. Email Travelex: [EMAIL="customerservices@travelex.com"]customerservices@travelex.com[/EMAIL] (must be done on the same day) stating the following: your Travelex reference number, your currency quote from TEG (and the fact you got it from TEG) and your address (Travelex will send you a cheque refunding the difference). Also Travelex normally acknowledge receipt of your email. Full terms and conditions of the Travelex Price Promise are on the Travelex website.

7. Marks and Spencer - pay online or pay and pick up instore.

8. Online FX (using this link ensures free deliver) - pay online, delivery to home.

9. Thomson Travel (they seem to use Amex as their travel money provider) - pay online, delivery to home.

10. Co-op Travel (they use Currency Express / Exchange and offer free delivery for orders over £300) - pay online, delivery to home.

11. Post Office (while probably not the best rate, there are many of them around, so may be convenient) - pay online, pick up at PO or pay and pick up at PO.

12. Haggle with High Street travel agent (which may ensure better rates than 5 to 9 above) - pay and pick up instore.

With 4 - 12, if you are paying with debit / credit card check your T&C's as many providers charge for the privilege of using money exchange services.

Here are links to ATM locators: VISA and MasterCard

Here are various information links to VISA: Foreign Exchange Rate FAQ and Visa Exchange Rates

Also please read Martin's article: Spending Overseas and Loading Technicals

Also look at the these forum threads: The Cheapest Way to Spend Overseas Discussion Area and How to buy TCs and foreign currency

Hope this all helps!!
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hammy_the_hammer

i'm not sure of your circumstances but i think the limit a day from the cashpoint is either £250 or £300 a day . remember when withdrawing the maximum each day to take into account that the limit is worked out on the UK clock (i've been caught out before).
so with agreement with the landlord you should be able to draw out enough cash to keep them happy initially and then pay them cash each week to make up the balance. ..if they want it all upfront i don't really know

tug

Many thanks Hammy, you understood the question too!
I think a "dribble" method of payments may suit both of us.
Kind regards,
Tug

Aiadi

pin wrote:

Hi, Here is my list of top places on how to get money to spend abroad:
[FONT=arial,helvetica,sans-serif] [FONT=times new roman,new york,times,serif] [FONT=arial,helvetica,sans-serif] [FONT=arial,helvetica,sans-serif] [FONT=times new roman,new york,times,serif] [FONT=arial,helvetica,sans-serif] [FONT=arial,helvetica,sans-serif] [FONT=times new roman,new york,times,serif] [FONT=arial,helvetica,sans-serif] 1. Nationwide Debit Card for ATM withdrawals from destination country (no foreign loading) / the Audi credit card or the Post Office credit card for purchases in destination country (but watch out for Dynamic Currency Conversion) (no foreign loading for purchases, BUT watch charges for cash withdrawals).

2. Nationwide Credit Card (please note Nationwide's policy re chip and pin in foreign countries: see this thread from FlyerTalk) (no foreign loading for purchases, BUT watch charges for cash withdrawals).
[FONT=arial,helvetica,sans-serif] [FONT=times new roman,new york,times,serif] [FONT=arial,helvetica,sans-serif] [FONT=arial,helvetica,sans-serif] [FONT=times new roman,new york,times,serif] [FONT=arial,helvetica,sans-serif] [FONT=arial,helvetica,sans-serif] [FONT=times new roman,new york,times,serif] [FONT=arial,helvetica,sans-serif] [FONT=arial,helvetica,sans-serif] [FONT=times new roman,new york,times,serif] [FONT=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]
3. SAGA credit card (if you are over 50) for purchases in destination country (no foreign loading for European purchases, 1% for rest of the world, no cash withdrawal interest if balance repaid in full BUT 1.5%/£1.50 cash withdrawal fee).

4. Any other debit card for ATM withdrawals from destination country / any other credit card for purchases in destination country (but for both CHECK T&C's to see exact charges).

5. Thomas Exchange Global ("TEG") in central London - pay and pick up at store.

6. Travelex online (remember Travelex will price match any other exchange service, i.e. the one above) -pay online, pick up at airport.

For price matching: order through Travelex online as you would do normally, then call up TEG (02072401214 or 02078281880) and get a quote re their exchange rate. Email Travelex: [EMAIL="customerservices@travelex.com"]customerservices@travelex.com[/EMAIL] (must be done on the same day) stating the following: your Travelex reference number, your currency quote from TEG (and the fact you got it from TEG) and your address (Travelex will send you a cheque refunding the difference). Also Travelex normally acknowledge receipt of your email. Full terms and conditions of the Travelex Price Promise are on the Travelex website.

7. Marks and Spencer - pay online or pay and pick up instore.

8. Online FX (using this link ensures free deliver) - pay online, delivery to home.

9. Thomson Travel (they seem to use Amex as their travel money provider) - pay online, delivery to home.

10. Co-op Travel (they use Currency Express / Exchange and offer free delivery for orders over £300) - pay online, delivery to home.

11. Post Office (while probably not the best rate, there are many of them around, so may be convenient) - pay online, pick up at PO or pay and pick up at PO.

12. Haggle with High Street travel agent (which may ensure better rates than 5 to 9 above) - pay and pick up instore.

With 4 - 12, if you are paying with debit / credit card check your T&C's as many providers charge for the privilege of using money exchange services.

Here are links to ATM locators: VISA and MasterCard

Here are various information links to VISA: Foreign Exchange Rate FAQ and Visa Exchange Rates

Also please read Martin's article: Spending Overseas and Loading Technicals

Also look at the these forum threads: The Cheapest Way to Spend Overseas Discussion Area and How to buy TCs and foreign currency

Hope this all helps!!
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Hi Pin. Can the Nationwide Debit Card be used for purchases without charges? and is it not preferable to the Credit Cards that bear the interest charges even if the balance on the statement is paid in full???

Also does anyone know how to get smaller denominator of the Dollars I have. On exchange I was given $100 notes which are almost useless as I need much smaller notes for day to day use. Thanks for any help.

pin

Aiadi wrote:

Hi Pin. Can the Nationwide Debit Card be used for purchases without charges? and is it not preferable to the Credit Cards that bear the interest charges even if the balance on the statement is paid in full???

Also does anyone know how to get smaller denominator of the Dollars I have. On exchange I was given $100 notes which are almost useless as I need much smaller notes for day to day use. Thanks for any help.

Yes you can use the debit card for purchases. However with the credit card you get the the extra protection that comes with section 75 of the consumer credit act. Also if you pay your balance of at the end of every month in full, there are no interest charges (trust me, I've been using the Nationwide credit card abroad for over four years and have never been charged interest).

As for dollar notes, I guess it is a case of asking for smaller denominations.

hammy_the_hammer

aiadi i may have misunderstood something but if you have $100 bills just use one for something small in wal-mart or any other national company and they'll happily give you change with a smile ....i don't think i've ever experienced any negativity when giving over a large note or trav cheque in the states ....unlike the uk or europe !!!!...i have the opposite problem when the cashpoints keep giving me $20 bills when i would have been happier with larger ones

Aiadi

hammy_the_hammer wrote:

aiadi i may have misunderstood something but if you have $100 bills just use one for something small in wal-mart or any other national company and they'll happily give you change with a smile ....i don't think i've ever experienced any negativity when giving over a large note or trav cheque in the states ....unlike the uk or europe !!!!...i have the opposite problem when the cashpoints keep giving me $20 bills when i would have been happier with larger ones

Sorry Hammy but I didn't mention that it is the Maldives and not the US....:rotfl: