Euro (€) Currency Thread

CTID_2

well we got there in the end! Welcome to the world of !!!! exchange rates emweaver

emweaver

I knew what the rate was and I was reading it as I knew it lol but then I just realised I hadnt typed it as it was if that makes sense lol

robnye

robnye wrote: »

thought i was being clever and followed the 'change your money into foreign currency' for the best rate.

used the mse best currency thing...

went to the website for 'currency express', ordered my euros at the best rate
euros promptly delivered 2 days later....

now the pee'd off bit,

just checked my bank statement and i have been charged 2% of the transaction amount...

spoke to my bank (A&L), to be told, its not their fault its visa...

but surely A&L are the ones to blame, they deducted the money (cotton picking winkers!)

what i dont understand, is i paid by debit card (cash straight from my account) to a british company in pounds and then got charged for doing so..... it was a computer to computer transaction, how can visa justify charging me the same fee as they would charge if i had withdrawn the money overseas....... i would have ended up paying less n the high street....

uuuurrrgggghhhhhhh

come back from holiday, having spent less than i intended.... and changed the money back to ££££'s..... and the exchange had got worse in my favour.... so actually gained some of the 'Visa payment' back.....

emweaver

all banks other than nationwide charge you for buying currency, i was advised of this by the post office

aramo

For those who are interested in getting (1) a good deal when buying sterling or (2) a cheap 1/2 day out in London this little story might be of interest.

Having a day return Ryanair flight to London Gatwick going awanting on the 2nd of Sept I flew from Ireland to London for 1c each way.

Despite doing some research at www.nationalrail.co.uk I only discovered at Gatwick ticket office that after 10am I could get a Cheap Day Travelcard for £10 at Gatwick airport which covered Gatwick to London return [any stations] and Zones 1,2,5,6 on the tube/bus system. So I'm happy I was not tempted to preorder a Gatwick-Victoria return for the same £10. As you'd expect I have a National Rail Card.

I checked sterling for euro exchange rates, for convienence I'll quote as nett sterling per 1000 euros (this mimimises effect of commission if any) the bigger the number the better.

Gatwick airport rates: £724 £736 and £740
Near Victoria station: £782 £800 and £800.23
TEG Victoria: £799.50
Bayswater: £777 £800 and £800.10

Barclays Bank (Bayswater) £740
Post Office (Bayswater) £754

The tiny hole in the wall exchange next to Queensway station is a shister he quotes a great rate but neglects to display a high commission, added to that changing cash literally 'on the street' is unsettling.

This being a money saving site here's a list of my costs for the day

Airport parking e9.00
Ireland-Gatwick return e0.02 (incl surcharges)
Gatwick-London return £10.00 (Day Travelcard)

FYI the Global Exchange in Victoria is the best I could find on the day
http://www.globalexchange.co.uk/ContactUs.asp
runner up was Roundworld Trading Ltd in Bayswater 020 7243 1417

emweaver

Im not sure to buy currency or use my nationwide card, atm I can get a rate of 1.208, I assume its unlikely for the market exchange rate to drop below this next wk? So I should be better off using my nationwide card?

purple_cat_2

just an update on travel money services.
on saturday we placed our order and paid using fast bank transfer ( not charged for by the bank), the money was instantly paid to them but unfortunately they only work until 3 so they had closed by the time I completed the order, not realising this I panicked when by monday we had not gotten any confirmation of our payment and delivery date (scheduled for tday wed 10th). I emailed them in a panic on monday and also got my partner to ring them in his lunch break, they told him they would check up on it and ring me at home,
which they did about 45 min later saying they had recieved payment and we would recieve the euros on wed, they also sent me an email confirming this and re-sent the confirmation (which I had still not recieved).
they were very pleasant and helpful and joy of joys our hol spends arrived this morning with the postman!!! (phew)
all in all I would reccomend them especially if you need your money within 3 days.

;0)

cantthinkofanickname

I just go to the PO and collect all cash for whole stay. Do not use Cards to eliminate risk of scams charges, etc. Split the dosh between those travelling, a bit in my wallet and some in another pocket, bit in my shoe (just before arrival). Leave a bit in the room carefully hidden. Just reduce the risks of loss, etc. all the time. Carry a card for emergencies.

The Euro is now only 1.2 and soon it will be 1:1 (my guess anyway) then the UK will probably quietly slide into using the Euro. About time!

What do others do?

Woodyrocks

Although we are not going away until December, would I be better off buying my Euros now because it does seem to be sliding at a rate! I was even considering waiting until I got there to purchase but seems I would be better off getting it at home before leaving for a better rate.

I do not want us to join the Euro and I hope this isn't going to push us into it without a choice

jammin_2

Guys, the Pound has been sliding back up, stronger against the Euro, for over a week now.

Check this graph.

Now, it might slide back down tomorrow, or it may continue climbing, who knows. But at least it's stopped plummeting the way it was recently.