Transfering money to a UK bank account
Sep 9th 2013, 4:49 am
#16
Just Joined
Joined: Sep 2013
Location: UK
Posts: 2
Re: Transfering money to a UK bank account
Western Unioin or Dollar East is best.
Sep 9th 2013, 6:51 am
#17
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Joined: May 2007
Location: England
Posts: 4,213
Re: Transfering money to a UK bank account
We need to transfer about 40,000 pounds to a solicitor in the UK, who's acting for us in our purchase of an off plan apartment. There'll be 3 more payments we'll need to make over the next couple of years. We used our online Australian bank account to send the reservation fee and while the fee was reasonable ($22), the exchange rate was terrible, about 50p to the dollar. I've done some Google research and there seems to be a lot of - I don't know what they're called, exchange brokers?, who offer much better rates, around 57p to the dollar currently. Halo is one of them.
These are big transactions for us and we're a bit nervous. Does anyone know of a good company/exchange broker for this type of transaction? I'll put up a week's free accommodation in Liverpool for a good tip. Second prize is 2 weeks
These are big transactions for us and we're a bit nervous. Does anyone know of a good company/exchange broker for this type of transaction? I'll put up a week's free accommodation in Liverpool for a good tip. Second prize is 2 weeks
Sep 9th 2013, 10:49 am
#20
Concierge
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Joined: Jan 2013
Location: Western Australia
Posts: 21,139
Re: Transfering money to a UK bank account
Hi we use Ozforex, first two transfers are free and then anything over $10,000 are also free and you also then get a better exchange rate, I haggle and sometimes get an even better rate from them. I also use Euroexchange here in the UK, its free to transfer is in your account in hours and we always get a better exchange rate than most other places. Good luck with your purchase.
Thanks for taking the time to post Afra. I've used Western Union a couple of times to send money to a UK relative who doesn't have a bank account (still can't get my head around not having a bank account!), I find the fees really high and the exchange rate even worse than my bank. I'll keep using them just for that purpose though, because there doesn't seem to be any other way.
Sep 9th 2013, 1:07 pm
#21
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Nov 2003
Location: Scotland
Posts: 7,949
Re: Transfering money to a UK bank account
Ta Brit, nice to know you can haggle, I like a good haggle
Thanks for taking the time to post Afra. I've used Western Union a couple of times to send money to a UK relative who doesn't have a bank account (still can't get my head around not having a bank account!), I find the fees really high and the exchange rate even worse than my bank. I'll keep using them just for that purpose though, because there doesn't seem to be any other way.
Thanks for taking the time to post Afra. I've used Western Union a couple of times to send money to a UK relative who doesn't have a bank account (still can't get my head around not having a bank account!), I find the fees really high and the exchange rate even worse than my bank. I'll keep using them just for that purpose though, because there doesn't seem to be any other way.
Sep 9th 2013, 1:41 pm
#22
Concierge
Thread Starter
Joined: Jan 2013
Location: Western Australia
Posts: 21,139
Re: Transfering money to a UK bank account
Good look; as you say avoid Western Union (or Onion or whatever). I had one dealing with them when someone gave me a WU draft for a birthday present. The rate they gave me was derisory but I had no choice and had to cash it at the rate they offered. They seemed more like pawnbrokers. (yes, correct spelling)
But I don't think there's any other way to get money to someone who doesn't have a bank account? I'll share an example of my prawnishness (well, I was only half a prawn because my husband was involved too). We sent cash in registered mail envelopes one Christmas, $1,000 to each of my husband's two brothers in the UK. One got it no problem. The other got the Christmas card that was inside the registered envelope shoved into the mail slot - and that was it! We were stupid to do it but at that time had no idea how to send money to people with no bank account.
Still can't get over the thief delivering the card - some warped sense of fair play?
Sep 9th 2013, 2:39 pm
#23
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Nov 2003
Location: Scotland
Posts: 7,949
Re: Transfering money to a UK bank account
Apologies - I meant good LUCK of course. I was also covering PORN not Prawn!
Yep, a lot of people in mail sorting offices have houses and assets well beyond their means! Especially around Christmas time. That's why it is illegal to send legal tender basically - stamps, postal and money orders, cheques etc but never cash.
Yep, a lot of people in mail sorting offices have houses and assets well beyond their means! Especially around Christmas time. That's why it is illegal to send legal tender basically - stamps, postal and money orders, cheques etc but never cash.
Sep 9th 2013, 2:46 pm
#24
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Joined: Jan 2013
Location: Western Australia
Posts: 21,139
Re: Transfering money to a UK bank account
Apologies - I meant good LUCK of course. I was also covering PORN not Prawn!
Yep, a lot of people in mail sorting offices have houses and assets well beyond their means! Especially around Christmas time. That's why it is illegal to send legal tender basically - stamps, postal and money orders, cheques etc but never cash.
Yep, a lot of people in mail sorting offices have houses and assets well beyond their means! Especially around Christmas time. That's why it is illegal to send legal tender basically - stamps, postal and money orders, cheques etc but never cash.
I feel even worse now, an illegal prawn. No comeback from the post office of course, as the money shouldn't have been in the card in the first place. An expensive lesson learned - we had to send the brother who missed out more money, by WU this time. He forgot to say thanks before he started in on the exchange rate
Sep 9th 2013, 9:34 pm
#25
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Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 708
Re: Transfering money to a UK bank account
Sticks in my craw too, Oz. And I wouldn't have minded if you'd called me a prawn But I don't think there's any other way to get money to someone who doesn't have a bank account?
I'll share an example of my prawnishness (well, I was only half a prawn because my husband was involved too). We sent cash in registered mail envelopes one Christmas, $1,000 to each of my husband's two brothers in the UK. One got it no problem. The other got the Christmas card that was inside the registered envelope shoved into the mail slot - and that was it! We were stupid to do it but at that time had no idea how to send money to people with no bank account.
Still can't get over the thief delivering the card - some warped sense of fair play?
But I don't think there's any other way to get money to someone who doesn't have a bank account? I'll share an example of my prawnishness (well, I was only half a prawn because my husband was involved too). We sent cash in registered mail envelopes one Christmas, $1,000 to each of my husband's two brothers in the UK. One got it no problem. The other got the Christmas card that was inside the registered envelope shoved into the mail slot - and that was it! We were stupid to do it but at that time had no idea how to send money to people with no bank account.
Still can't get over the thief delivering the card - some warped sense of fair play?
Sep 10th 2013, 12:54 am
#26
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Joined: Jan 2013
Location: Western Australia
Posts: 21,139
Re: Transfering money to a UK bank account
My brother-in-law did go to the post office to complain - he was told it's an Australia Post problem. Which is patently absurd, because Australia Post tracked delivery and it had arrived at the Liverpool mail sorting facility.
Someone there had a good Christmas
Sep 15th 2013, 3:47 am
#27
Canuck/Aussie
Joined: May 2006
Location: BC, Canada
Posts: 4,547
Re: Transfering money to a UK bank account
We've used Ozforex many time to move house proceeds, etc, to Australia and we used them again (or their Canadian version) when returned to Canada.
Everything was pretty easy and always got a great rate so would use them again if I ever need to transfer money again. We used our bank once or twice for smaller transactions and the rate sucked and surprisingly it took a few days longer than it did when using Ozforex, I didn't expect that actually!
Just do a search on here and you'll find lots of reviews for them (and others as well).
Everything was pretty easy and always got a great rate so would use them again if I ever need to transfer money again. We used our bank once or twice for smaller transactions and the rate sucked and surprisingly it took a few days longer than it did when using Ozforex, I didn't expect that actually!
Just do a search on here and you'll find lots of reviews for them (and others as well).
Dec 19th 2013, 1:04 pm
#28
Concierge
Thread Starter
Joined: Jan 2013
Location: Western Australia
Posts: 21,139
Re: Transfering money to a UK bank account
We've used Ozforex many time to move house proceeds, etc, to Australia and we used them again (or their Canadian version) when returned to Canada.
Everything was pretty easy and always got a great rate so would use them again if I ever need to transfer money again. We used our bank once or twice for smaller transactions and the rate sucked and surprisingly it took a few days longer than it did when using Ozforex, I didn't expect that actually!
Just do a search on here and you'll find lots of reviews for them (and others as well).
Everything was pretty easy and always got a great rate so would use them again if I ever need to transfer money again. We used our bank once or twice for smaller transactions and the rate sucked and surprisingly it took a few days longer than it did when using Ozforex, I didn't expect that actually!
Just do a search on here and you'll find lots of reviews for them (and others as well).
