UK based foreign currency exchange transfer online companies ,,,as safe as bank?

klmeer

Is it considered safe to use one of the UK based foreign currency exchange transfer online companies to transfer large sums of USD from a foreign bank into a GBP account in a UK bank . It seems much better rates are offered . But how secure is it ? I have never done anything like this before . Having checked out 2 or 3 of the most highly rated companies on Moneysupermarkets.com I feel satisfied that it is safe .
However as I am alone in a foreign country without access to financial advice and do not have any experience of this I am hesitant to put my life savings at risk for a saving of about 1000 pounds .
But as I have already lost about 4000 GBP in currency exchange mistakes I am keen to soften that blow .I have looked at .Globalreach,, HiFX and World First and they seem ok .
Am I on the right track or about to make a massive mistake ?
Thank You

xylophone

http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/banking/foreign-currency-exchange

andromedean

I've used Transferwise mentioned in the link without any problems