Foreign Exchange: Thomas Cook is cheeky

Scully's_Girl

Historically, even on this site, it's believed that when buying currency for abroad your best bets are post office, Marks & Spencer or Thomas Cook. It's impossible to determine which is best in the long run; it's better to check on the day. With Thomas Cook, they have something called "VIP Rates", for people who travel often with them. However, for the last few days I have been tracking Thomas Cook and have noticed that their standard rate is less than M&S, and their VIP rate only just barely exceeds M&S. For example, the other day M&S had a comparison of £1=EU1.406, Thomas Cook's VIP Rate was £1=EU1.411. Today, M&S was £1=EU1.422, & Thomas Cook barely beat it at £1=EU1.423, which is what I eventually bought for. I did let them know that as this special VIP rate barely skims M&S, I didn't feel very VIP.

Inactive

HSBC beats both of them I just ordered some @ 1.428680;)

moonrakerz

Do you really expect a rate that is available to oiks like me and thee to be that "VIP" ?

Get a Nationwide Debit card and use an ATM when you get where you are going.

jonesMUFCforever

Scully's_Girl wrote: »

Historically, even on this site, it's believed that when buying currency for abroad your best bets are post office, Marks & Spencer or Thomas Cook. It's impossible to determine which is best in the long run; it's better to check on the day. With Thomas Cook, they have something called "VIP Rates", for people who travel often with them. However, for the last few days I have been tracking Thomas Cook and have noticed that their standard rate is less than M&S, and their VIP rate only just barely exceeds M&S. For example, the other day M&S had a comparison of £1=EU1.406, Thomas Cook's VIP Rate was £1=EU1.411. Today, M&S was £1=EU1.422, & Thomas Cook barely beat it at £1=EU1.423, which is what I eventually bought for. I did let them know that as this special VIP rate barely skims M&S, I didn't feel very VIP.

Surely the time and money that you spend checking all these rates cancels out any gains unless you are dealing in very large amounts.

Inactive

ejones999 wrote: »

Surely the time and money that you spend checking all these rates cancels out any gains unless you are dealing in very large amounts.

Nope, it takes a couple minutes to check their web sites.

Anyone buying large amounts wouldn't use any of these companies anyway.;)

This is MoneySavingExpert.:rolleyes:

Steve_xx

Travelex is generally the best rate I find. The current £/Euro rate is 1.4323

Biggles

It would be around €1.47 with a Nationwide visa card at an ATM....

Why carry cash?

PoorBecauseILoveToShop

Biggles wrote: »

It would be around €1.47 with a Nationwide visa card at an ATM....

Why carry cash?

Because you know exactly how much you've spent, exactly how much you've got left to spend, and handing over cash feels alot more real than sticking a card in the machine. Therefore you might think twice before making a purchase.:p

Stef x

paulinespens

I hate places that don't show rates.

Thomas cook annoys me when they say the rate when you buy a minimum ammount.

The_Dr_3

It would be around €1.47 with a Nationwide visa card at an ATM....

Why carry cash?

Anyone tried opening a Nationwide account recently.
I went in yesterday and was told that you have deposit £750 per month to be able to open a new account, not sure what happens if you open it then don't regularly deposit this amount, there are probably charges involved but I was told this is designed specifically to deter people using their account for holiday purposes only as the admin costs are so high. It seems this boat has sailed.

[Deleted User]

Scully's_Girl wrote: »

Historically, even on this site, it's believed that when buying currency for abroad your best bets are post office, Marks & Spencer or Thomas Cook. It's impossible to determine which is best in the long run; it's better to check on the day. With Thomas Cook, they have something called "VIP Rates", for people who travel often with them. However, for the last few days I have been tracking Thomas Cook and have noticed that their standard rate is less than M&S, and their VIP rate only just barely exceeds M&S. For example, the other day M&S had a comparison of £1=EU1.406, Thomas Cook's VIP Rate was £1=EU1.411. Today, M&S was £1=EU1.422, & Thomas Cook barely beat it at £1=EU1.423, which is what I eventually bought for. I did let them know that as this special VIP rate barely skims M&S, I didn't feel very VIP.

This OP was posted almost twelve months ago. Today, if somebody offered me 1.40 euros the the £, I would jump at it.