Sending Money Abroad To Someone Without Email Address?

Eenymeeny

Hi, I'm hoping for some advice please. We need to transfer money to the European bank account of a lady who doesn't have an email address or use of the internet. (Over 80years of age so isn't going to start now!) I regularly use XE.Com for my son who lives abroad and never have any problem but he has an email address.
Can anyone advise a cheap easy way to transfer money to her account without us both being charged by our banks. (Barclays are quoting £25 this end and I don't how much she might be charged...)
Thanks for any advice

System

If the old lady is in the eurozone, use a bank, such as HSBC, that will convert GBP>euro this end and send the euro as a SEPA Credit Transfer. The old lady's bank in an EU country must charge the same to receive euro sent by SCT from Newcastle as they do to receive euro from within that country, in practice almost certainly free.
The downside is that, as far as I know, all UK banks charge extortionate amounts for sending SEPA Credit Transfers.

Eenymeeny

Thanks YoungNick am I right in thinking that will be the £25 charge that has been quoted for Lloyds TSB and Barclays then?
I think that I'd prefer to use XE.Com or I see that the post office seem to offer a similar currency exchange. I understand that they offer a lower rate but at least I know what I'm getting and without any nasty surprises at the other end!
The problem is that from memory XE ask for an email address, which she doesn't have. Maybe it's not neccesary as it's only to notify the recipient that it's been sent... ? I just don't want to get halfway through a transaction for it to fall through.

System

HSBC currently have a discounted "offer", for their on-line customers, of £17.
http://www.hsbc.co.uk/1/2/personal/international-money-transfers
The annoyance with any overseas transfer is that you don't see the exchange rate unless you sign up and almost complete the transaction. For us small-time consumers, it would be much easier if all banks and forex operators were required to state "for amounts up to x, we slap y% on the interbank rate." I have no problem with them charging - they've got to cover costs and make a profit. I just wish the charging was required to be transparent.

Eenymeeny

Thanks for your help YoungNick. I decided to use XE.Com as I've used them before. They gave a decent exchange rate (about 1.14 euro to the pound and no other charges. Checked with their customer service, the internet address was only to inform the recipient that the funds had been transferred as a courtesy. Took about 3 hours in all Hope that's some help to others in a similar situation.

LittleVoice

Eenymeeny wrote: »

The problem is that from memory XE ask for an email address, which she doesn't have. Maybe it's not neccesary as it's only to notify the recipient that it's been sent... ? I just don't want to get halfway through a transaction for it to fall through.

Sounds as though you went ahead with the XE route but it seemed to me that if it required an email address you could set one up for her and you would have the password (if it were something like a hotmail account). She wouldn't actually need to access the email account herself. And you could phone to confirm the money was through to her account.

Eenymeeny

Good idea! Now why didn't I think of that? Might be useful for future use. Thanks a lot :T