CO.Ski

Hello - Does anyone have any ideas on how I can get some money to my mum in the UK? She bought something for me and I need to pay her its only 149 GBP, about $250. I want it to be in GBP when it arrives and not US$, I called my bank (Credit Union) they could not help. I tried Wells Fargo and they will only help if I am a customer which I am not.

So I know I could do a wire transfer - but that seems very complicated from what the bank said, needing to know which American Bank my mum's bank is affiliated with

I don't think I should send travelers checks through US mail, my bank is useless and any bank who can help won't as I'm not a customer ugh....

Any help its not masses of money - but I want to get it to my mum as quickly and painlessly as possible

sarahlou145

I use xe.com to send money to the UK and a good rate and no fee either

CO.Ski

thanks i will check them out - does not seem like this should be so difficult

lansbury

Would they do that small an amount, even if there was a fee?

Mummy in the foothills

My mom paid me for a gift I bought at Christmas using paypal, it came to me as USD. Very small fee and she said she got a good exchange rate.

Bob

If it's a small amount, just use paypal or xoom.com ?

Or you could get them a visa debit gift card loaded up and send that in the mail...

Manc

put folding notes in an envelope and tell her to change it at Thomas Cook.

avanutria

Have you still got any cheques left from your current account? You could mail one of those.

CO.Ski

Thank you everyone - I appreciate the help - I'd not even thought about Pay Pal.

TimNiceBut

Paypal with the Friends & Family option is likely to be your cheapest bet to get the money over.

Wire transfers are costly and seem to incur additional fees at all ends so I'm trying to avoid them as best as I can.

GeoffM

Western Union as a last resort. Travel agents with forex in the UK are often WU agents.

Beware of fee-free deals though, always check the exchange rate. After all, they make their money somehow and it's that slightly wider difference between buy and sell that costs you. One with a fee might work out cheaper than one without.