Sending money abroad

Toomuchdebt

(please move if this isn't the best board)

Which bank offers the chepaest way of sending relatively small amounts (around £200) to Poland?(asking for a friend who has family there).Abbey is £20,so is Lloyds.Western Union are £14-£16 I think.Any better ones out there?

pcyam

If you ask for a foreign draft/cheque from Abbey they only charge £10, but you have to forward the draft yourself to your friend.

Toomuchdebt

Thanks pcyam,BUT I work at Abbey and they don't do foreign cheques or foreign drafts-they will do a bankers draft but only in sterling which is no good at all for Poland.The other option there is a telegraphic transfer but that costs £20.

LizEstelle

I use Western Union every other month for a relative in Poland. It costs £14 each time so it's painful - but reliable.

Apparently they have a loyalty card which I'm about to investigate - should reduce the cost. Also, I believe you can set up a sort of standing order with them which may take things further still.

Toomuchdebt

Thanks-I will look into this-I have used Western Union and they are very quick and relaible-will see what the loyalty card is all about as I'll be there tomorrow.

bengal-stripe

Toomuchdebt wrote:

BUT I work at Abbey and they don't do foreign cheques or foreign drafts-they will do a bankers draft but only in sterling which is no good at all for Poland.The other option there is a telegraphic transfer but that costs £20.

They do offer it on their website:

Send a small, non-urgent payment to someone abroad

We suggest you use a currency draft. This operates just like a cheque, except it’s drawn in local currency on a foreign bank.
Ask for one at your branch. Two days after the money is debited from your account we can send the draft to you, or you can collect it from the Abbey branch where it was ordered. Then, simply send it to the person you want to pay.
The exchange rate we use will be the rate on the day we debit your account

Sending Funds
Currency Drafts
£10 per draft
Telegraphic Transfers
£25 per transfer when sending sterling abroad

£25 per transfer when sending foreign currency abroad. NB. For both sterling and foreign currency Telegraphic Transfers there may be extra charges levied by the intermediary and/or destination bank. Abbey has no control over these charges

gt94sss2

Toomuchdebt wrote:

Which bank offers the chepaest way of sending relatively small amounts (around £200) to Poland?(asking for a friend who has family there).Abbey is £20,so is Lloyds.Western Union are £14-£16 I think.Any better ones out there?

Have they considered using PayPal ?

You may want to also read this article - I think that PayPal now offers the Polish Zloty as an option as well even though the article doesn't mention it

Regards
Sunil

peter999

Toomuchdebt wrote:

(please move if this isn't the best board)

Which bank offers the chepaest way of sending relatively small amounts (around £200) to Poland?(asking for a friend who has family there).Abbey is £20,so is Lloyds.Western Union are £14-£16 I think.Any better ones out there?

There isn't a real cheap way to do it, I don't think.

First Direct charge £21 & you can arrange transfer over the phone.
(HSBC won't do over phone, have to go into branch.)
Takes 2-5 working days.
.

Toomuchdebt

bengal-stripe wrote:

They do offer it on their website:

Thx-I wasn't aware of that-we've certainly not been trained in it anyway-lol.I think it would be too risky sending it that way-Polish postmen are notorious for opening interesting looking envelopes from abroad.I think I'll stick with Western Union-that way it gets there quickly(within 3 minutes) and can't get lost in the post anywhere.

Toomuchdebt

gt94sss2 wrote:

Have they considered using PayPal ?

You may want to also read this article - I think that PayPal now offers the Polish Zloty as an option as well even though the article doesn't mention it

Regards
Sunil

Thx Sunil-I hadn't thought of paypal-will look into it

pcyam

Toomuchdebt wrote:

Thanks pcyam,BUT I work at Abbey and they don't do foreign cheques or foreign drafts-they will do a bankers draft but only in sterling which is no good at all for Poland.The other option there is a telegraphic transfer but that costs £20.

Snap I work for Abbey too.