Poster: A snowHead
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Off to France next week need to change some cash to Euros. Last year I was surprised when I exchanged
£250 >euros at Hsbc and later same day £250 at Nat West that I received 30euros more for same money from NW.
Who offers the best deal on the High Street
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Thomas Cooks give you a better deal than Banks, or they did a couple of years ago. Now I just go there by default
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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It's best to avoid the high-street and use an ATM at your destination. This was you get the interbank rate instead of the tourist rate, which means you end up with about 5% extra Euros for your pound.
However be aware that your bank will still charge you commission on this - typically 2.75% - and probably a cashpoint withdrawal fee - typically £1-£2, so only withdraw it in chunks of over £100.
The *best* way is to use a Nationwide Debit Card in an ATM. They don't charge commission, only the cashpoint withdrawal fee. Nationwide and Liverpool Victoria credit cards also don't change commission, but the NW does charge interest instead - still works out cheaper than the high street.
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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Acyually the best way is to have an overseas bank account where they will exchange your money at a better rate for no fee !
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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Ah Hah Mr Orf, so you do have a Swiss Bank account! Not a word to the revenue from me of course
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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D G Orf, even better if you work for that overseas bank and can make currency transactions with no spread and no fee.
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marc gledhill, the amount I may or may not have in an account I may or may not have in Switzerland might just about earn enough interest to cover the annual bank charges, not enough for the revenue to worry, about sadly
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D G Orf, not in my experience they don't, I've Swiss, German, French, UK and off-shore accounts, the exchange rates are way better than changing money but it's generally cheaper below a 1000 quid or so to use an ATM to move money, then either spend it or make a cash deposit. Charges per transaction are typically lower on the continent than the UK so using debit cards is also cheap.
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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Anyone can get a Swiss Bank Account its not difficult . You can open one up over the NET with the Swiss Post Office. Swiss banks offer accounts in CH Franc, Euros & $$.
My adivise for regular travellers to the mainland from the UK is to open a Euro account with your bank in Blighty , this will save any charges when getting money out of ATM's abroad.
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ise, my annual bank charges if I were to have one might or might not be in the region of 6CHf, and were that to be the case interest might be something like 1%
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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The Post OFfice change currency for no commission, you have to order them a couple of days beforehand. Also I believe Marks and Spencer do it also for no commission, not 100% on this one, but worth checking out.
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And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
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sallyanne, correct although M&S may also require you to order the currency in advance, they do usually have limited amounts in stock, however in both cases whilst you don't pay comission you may get a slightly worse rate of transfer than on offer at a bank
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www.travelex.co.uk - order online, no commission and a better rate than the post office. Collect at the airport or, in my case, Dover docks.
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You know it makes sense.
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sallyanne, No, you don't have to pre-order euros in advance with the Post Office - you just turn up with £££ and they'll give you Continental currency on the spot. I found their rate better than I got from HSCB.
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Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
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Debit card for me, even better than my 'no commission' rate as they get you with a poor rate.
With the advent of Euros I take out as much as I can afford and carry over to the next year as I am always going to spned it someitme.
Obviously that plan falls over if you visit Switzerland or the States so use debit cards there.
But if you carry sterling most resorts give a better rate than the UK anyway.
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Poster: A snowHead
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Get a Nationwide flex account, no charges to use your card in Europe.
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