Sending money to Germany?

xx_Minnie

Hi all,

I have a bit of dilemma. I'm subletting a flat in Germany and I'm not sure how to send the rent + deposit money, which comes to 1600 euro.

The landlady wants the money on or before my arrival date, because she's going on holiday. I equally don't want to send it before I get there and see the flat. She won't take cash and said I could do bank transfer or paypal. International bank transfer takes longer than a day and paypal has massive international transfer fees which as far as I can see come out to about £60 so that's a last resort.

I think I'm going to end up having to go with paypal but does anyone have any other suggestions? I was hoping to send it to a friend's German account ahead of time then send it on the day, but no dice.

Thanks!

Voyager2002

Send the money in advance to your friend... any chance that he could visit the flat? Anyway, on the day he could probably do a domestic bank transfer or a Paypal transfer within Germany at a lower cost than an international transfer.

eDicky

She won't take cash? In Germany? Wants you to send the money in advance of viewing the flat? Hmmm...

mgdavid

eDicky wrote: »

She won't take cash? In Germany? Wants you to send the money in advance of viewing the flat? Hmmm...

agree, sounds *very* suspect...

xx_Minnie

Voyager2002 wrote: »

Send the money in advance to your friend... any chance that he could visit the flat? Anyway, on the day he could probably do a domestic bank transfer or a Paypal transfer within Germany at a lower cost than an international transfer.

No, my friend can't help me unfortunately. This is what I was hoping to do but it didn't work out.

eDicky wrote: »

She won't take cash? In Germany? Wants you to send the money in advance of viewing the flat? Hmmm...

I know it sounds a bit weird, but since we've agreed I wont pay until I've seen the flat I think it's fine?

eDicky

xx_Minnie wrote: »

I know it sounds a bit weird, but since we've agreed I wont pay until I've seen the flat I think it's fine?

Well, I don't see how you can make any kind of transfer, costly or not, that is guaranteed to arrive in the landlady's account on your day of arrival but after you have viewed the flat. And the only likely reason I can see for her refusal to accept cash.is lack of time to bank it before her holiday departure. I think you will have to resolve that point somehow, and have her accept a cash payment.

benjus

Can't you just take the cash and pay it into her bank once you've seen the place? Will you be there during bank opening hours? Is there a branch nearby?

eDicky

benjus wrote: »

Can't you just take the cash and pay it into her bank once you've seen the place? Will you be there during bank opening hours? Is there a branch nearby?

That's the obvious solution, but it is becoming impossible in some European countries to deposit cash into somebody else's bank account. I don't know about Germany.

xx_Minnie

Thanks very much everyone! I'll ask again if she's sure she can't take the cash, and if not look into depositing it into her account - that seems like the best idea if it's possible.