exchange rates - GRRRRRR!!!

colinuk

colinuk

colinuk

Soldato
Joined
27 Jan 2005
Posts
3,137
Location
Versailles
Just been around leeds trying to get £1000 changed for my holiday in Las vegas soon! looking forward to it a lot!!!!

But these theiving sods called exchange rate people are taking the mick! 1£ should be about $2.2 at the mo, no i dont expect to get this but when they offer me $1.65 for 1£ i have to laugh....

post office is the best but at $1800 for £1000 seems im losing $200... maybe im just greedy! but hey, i work hard, well i work, for this money and i dont want to give any of it away to someone behind a counter! if you know what i mean...

So, if your going away soon and got a good rate, where did you go?

TYIA

Colin

Ps - would it be wiser to get just a little $ and use the CC or change it over in the USA?
 
Try

Marks + Sparks
Travelex - Pay online and collect @ airport
Tompson - My local today was doing $1.95 @ centre Mk not sure if just them as opp M & S or everyone..
 
colinuk said:
But these theiving sods called exchange rate people are taking the mick! 1£ should be about $2.2 at the mo, no i dont expect to get this but when they offer me $1.65 for 1£ i have to laugh....


TYIA

Colin

Ps - would it be wiser to get just a little $ and use the CC or change it over in the USA?
Click to expand...


this doesnt make much sense, the interbank rate is about $2.00 , nowhere near $2.2

$1.9+ is easily available in most high street places and $1.93 to $1.94 easy to get
 
Travelex online are by far the best. Today's US$ rate is 1.9511 and if you order online it's commission free too...

I use them several times each month for work trips. Make sure you do the order online, as the standard rates when you just turn up at the airport are nowhere near as good.
 
Marks and Spencers have always had good rates when I've changed money with them in the past. In fact they have it up at $1.927 to £1
 
M+S are probably the best shop to buy from on the high street, that Travelex sounds good when you buy online too but be careful your bank don't charge a commision for using your card to buy foreign currency with.
 
Sirrel Squirrel said:
M+S are probably the best shop to buy from on the high street, that Travelex sounds good when you buy online too but be careful your bank don't charge a commision for using your card to buy foreign currency with.
Click to expand...

Since when would a bank do that? Unless you mean a credit card company?
 
I've said it before and I'll say it again.

Get a Nationwide Flex Account and you can use your card abroad with no charges and you get the actual exchange rate, so you would get around $2 per pound.
 
Sometimes you're better paying commission when it results in a much better overall rate rate.

If you're not paying commission you're still paying to change your money because you're getting a worse rate on the exchange.

I've typically found the best rates for changing money are to be found in local bureau de change/cambio once you're abroad, or by using your card abroad.
 
ste_bla said:
Since when would a bank do that? Unless you mean a credit card company?
Click to expand...

Lloyds TSB charge you for using any of their cards, including debit cards, to change money. I think it boils down to whether or not they offer foreign currency also.
 
Try and get a Nationwide FlexAccount (their current account), the card has no charges to use it abroad and you get a very competitive exchange rate (pretty much $2 to the £ when I was there in April-June) which you'd be hard pressed to find elsewhere. Most US ATMs will charge you for withdrawals (there are certain banks that don't but not always easy to find) but on the whole you will save a lot of money doing it this way rather than changing money before you go out.
 
R0551 said:
Lloyds TSB charge you for using any of their cards, including debit cards, to change money. I think it boils down to whether or not they offer foreign currency also.
Click to expand...
So do Nawest on their Debit Cards. Just read my small leaflet thing yesterday as it happens. The constantly give me a new card. It's getting stupid.
 
I got $2000 last Friday for £1056 at the Post Office ($1.89)

Tob3z said:
So do Nawest on their Debit Cards. Just read my small leaflet thing yesterday as it happens. The constantly give me a new card. It's getting stupid.
Click to expand...
Barclays also charged me £10 when I got my currency using my debit card.
 
A month ago you would have got $2027 for £1000 at travelex. Good job I know someone that bought £2500 worth :p

Now you get $1951

What a difference a month makes ;)

Thats the best you get for cash - and I've tested them all (because for some reason people don't understand commission or rates when they add them all up)

As you stated though - expect to get about 1.60 - 1.70 at travelex at the airport (because mugs will pay anything if they have no foreign money) - their online rates will not be beaten.
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom