chatty34

Our families back in the uk are using a number that allows them to make calls to Oz at the cost of a local call.
They are dialing 08452 449 449 before they dial our number, I believe you are then prompted to dial the number that you are calling and informed that it will be the cost of a local call.
Can be used on all UK landlines BT,Telewest etc etc

wholeworldwindow

My sister lives in USA and sends our kids US$ for birthdays etc! I love her to bits - but what an ignorant thing to do, especially to kids! Even my 70-odd mother makes it to the post office to change money over!

Englishmum

Actually I think I can understand why she does this. Unless she lives in a major city eg. New York, Chicago or Los Angeles she would find it difficult to find any currency exchange bureaus. We live in the New Jersey suburbs and bank with a major bank (JP Morgan Chase) and they don't do foreign exchange, nor does any local bank that I'm aware of (you have to arrange it all in advance) and the Post Offices in the US certainly don't. Americans tend to be quite parochial and only about 20% of them have a passport (and even then manily seem to go to Canada, Mexico or the Caribbean).

I would have to make a journey to an American Express travel office, Newark airport or into New York City to exchange money. In fact, American Express Foreign exchange has recently closed its office at Newark Liberty International airport (I think they may still be at JFK) as most foreign arrivals tend to use their ATM cards rather than traveller's cheques. Only Travelex operates at Newark airport now - and it's a British-owned company!

Always21

That's a good point actually. It's not nearly as easy to get foreign exchange here as in the UK. The airport is the only place I know of near me.

Sue

Yep, that's spot on.

Family used to send us pounds and I could never get it changed. Most banks told me it would take 2-3 months because they had to send it away (and we're only talking 10 - 20 pounds!), and some refused point blank to exchange it.
Most family members have now got the message and will generally send my son $ because it's far easier for them to get different currencies. If they do send pounds then I "buy" them off my son and end up sending it back to a nephew or neice for their birthday. I swear we've been sending the same money backwards and forwards for years

woodsey

My local branch of Wells Fargo change English money no problem, even small amounts such as 10 pounds that people send for birthdays..never had a problem
This Christmas though rather than the usual farce of us sending money home and them sending money here were just going to buy our own kids presents with our own money and label them from each other..

Englishmum

What we do is to buy things for relatives in England by going to http://www.amazon.co.uk as it will take a US credit card and billing address.

This afternoon I arrived home and found an Amazon.com parcel on the doorstep; my sister had ordered birthday gifts for my husband and son from the US amazon.com website.

(Is there an amazon.com.au to send gifts to expats in Oz?)

jjmb

Nope international sites are UK, Canada, Germany, China, France and Japan.

Having family in Peth and Canberra, I have been generally disappointed in the internet sites on offer in Australia but I still use them as it a much cheaper way of sending gifts.

The Johnstons

My brother uses amazon, play.com etc to send us all gifts to Scotland from North Carolina, sometimes a bit late for birthdays etc but never forgets. My Mother-in-law on the other hand lives 15 miles away, hasn't seen my daughters (who are 8 & 5) for 2 years and has stopped even stopped sending them cards for birthday/Christmas. Just goes to show that distance really doesn't mean anything. (Evil witch )
TJ

woodyinoz

for kids toys use http://www.peedeetoys.com.au