Holiday rental host asking for euro cheque as a deposit, UK bank won't give euro cheque

tootingjo

We've agreed to rent a property in France and the host is asking for a 1000 euro cheque to be handed over as a deposit when we arrive. My bank (Barclays) seems to no longer provide euro currency cheques as most transactions are electronic these days. The host will accept cash, but we'll surely lose money on transfer fees if we go with this option. It's also not ideal to be waiting for her family member to do checks and give us the cash back on the day we leave and with a time pressure.

Are there any options I can offer the host to make life easier for us? Or is it possible to get a euro cheque cheaply somehow? Any ideas welcome. The host is letting out a family home as a one-off and is not a regular air bnb host which might explain why there is this unusual arrangement. 

Voyager2002

If you trust the host with cash, then offer banknotes in pounds sterling. If all goes well and the cash is returned to you then there will be no currency exchange costs.

eDicky

tootingjo said:

The host will accept cash, but we'll surely lose money on transfer fees if we go with this option.

Do you mean cash as in banknotes, or bank transfer?

How confident are you that it's not a scam?

You're unlikely to obtain a euro cheque cheaply in UK, if at all.

I would ask if they will accept £850 in cash, so that you're not stuck with excess euros when leaving.

tootingjo

Thanks, yes it's cash in notes. Good idea to offer british cash, most likely it won't get held and will simply be returned. I'm sure it's not a scam but it's still less than ideal if her father gets delayed and can't turn up on the leaving day with the envelope! Still, I don't think we have any other options.

LightFlare

tootingjo said:

We've agreed to rent a property in France and the host is asking for a 1000 euro cheque to be handed over as a deposit when we arrive. My bank (Barclays) seems to no longer provide euro currency cheques as most transactions are electronic these days. The host will accept cash, but we'll surely lose money on transfer fees if we go with this option. It's also not ideal to be waiting for her family member to do checks and give us the cash back on the day we leave and with a time pressure.

Are there any options I can offer the host to make life easier for us? Or is it possible to get a euro cheque cheaply somehow? Any ideas welcome. The host is letting out a family home as a one-off and is not a regular air bnb host which might explain why there is this unusual arrangement. 

tootingjo said:

Thanks, yes it's cash in notes. Good idea to offer british cash, most likely it won't get held and will simply be returned. I'm sure it's not a scam but it's still less than ideal if her father gets delayed and can't turn up on the leaving day with the envelope! Still, I don't think we have any other options.

was this apparent when you made the booking ?  have you declined their request to see their reply ?

you do have the option of cancelling and going elsewhere if you dont accept any T&Cs added on after the booking was made

I def wouldnt be handing over that amount of cash to a stranger

saajan_12

Any reason it has to be in such a physical form? Why not a bank transfer / Pay pal / Revolut / something where there's a paper trail and may be some protection? 

Some of those will also charge a lower conversion spread than what you'd get to convert cash. 

tootingjo

That's a good point. I don't suppose it needs to be cash. It's a question of trusting the host to return the money whether it's a bank transfer or notes. I'm not particularly happy with either option, but I don't want to change the holiday so will have to go along with it.

In a funny way a good old fashioned cheque was better all round for this situation, as the money isn't needed until it's cashed, and it could be stopped if necessary. 

prowla

A cheque - how quaint!

My thought was PayPal (but beware that F&F gives you no protection).