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making a payment in hong kong dollars

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I'm looking to buy something in a different country, Hong Hong to be precise, so I'll be paying in Hong Kong dollars. Will I be able to make a payment from my natwest visa card, and what charges will this entail? I was going to transfer the money to my friends account in Hong Kong and get him to pay but we are running out of time.

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  • hermante
    hermante Posts: 596 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 500 Posts Name Dropper
    edited 9 August 2011 at 8:13AM
    Fozz_Dog wrote: »
    I'm looking to buy something in a different country, Hong Hong to be precise, so I'll be paying in Hong Kong dollars. Will I be able to make a payment from my natwest visa card, and what charges will this entail? I was going to transfer the money to my friends account in Hong Kong and get him to pay but we are running out of time.

    You'll need to look it up for your specific account but if you see here

    http://www.natwest.com/personal/current-accounts/g4/cards/abroad.ashx#tabs=section2

    it says there is a fee of 2.75% plus whatever they add to the exchange rate they use.

    Does your friend trust you enough to pay first before your transfer goes through? You might already know this, but if your friend lives in Hong Kong, he is likely to have a multi-currency bank account which accepts pounds. He could then offer you a better exchange rate as you can send him pounds directly (though you will have to pay a Natwest fee for international transfers - so it depends on the value of whatever you're buying).

    Are you getting the item sent to the UK?
  • bendix
    bendix Posts: 5,499 Forumite
    Just use your credit card. It's the easiest thing in the world. Sure there will be a small cost to this, but it's much less than transferring money into another account. Why bother with all this nonsense of multi-currency accounts etc? When I lived in the UK it used to cost me 40 quid to transfer money to other countries - there is no way in hell you will pay that on a credit card payment.

    I've recently moved to HK and still use my UK credit and debit cards for all manner of purchases in Hong Kong. I never bother to worry about the small charges.
  • pmduk
    pmduk Posts: 10,682 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Photogenic Name Dropper
    It depends on the amount. This is one of the few circumstances I've been tempted to use paypal. they don't give the best exchange rate, but it has always worked out cheaper than using my debit card. I must admit I usually have fairly small transactions though
  • bendix
    bendix Posts: 5,499 Forumite
    I can't believe Paypal works out best. I usually use my Amex. The exchange rate is the spot rate, and there's usually a pound or two commission.

    This is a global economy people - use it.
  • I consider, that you commit an error. Let's discuss it. Write to me in PM, we will communicate.
  • jonesMUFCforever
    jonesMUFCforever Posts: 28,898 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper
    I consider, that you commit an error. Let's discuss it. Write to me in PM, we will communicate.
    LOL:rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::beer:
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