iamlynn98

Hello all,

I am writing in hope that all of the experts on here can help my sister. I have a Bank of America debit card so I will just go to the ATM to get GBP but she has an obscure credit union that doesn't do currency exchange. Of course she waits until a week before we leave to tell me this!! Anyway, what do you guys suggest she do? She wants cash on her when we get there, however I am perfectly happy with my (and my husband's) ATM cards to get money when we get there.

I was thinking about trying to get a debit card for travel but I am not sure we have time. Any suggestions are welcome and appreciated!!

Thank you!
Jerilyn

kayd

Have her open a checking account at a bank that will give her an ATM card today. That way she can get pounds the moment she arrives in England -- not really necessary to have them on this side of the Atlantic.

There's always the old-fashioned method of taking dollars and changing them to pounds at the exchange booth in your arrival airport. Use this as a back=up to the ATM card.

bellini

She could take dollars to Uk and any main post office has currency exchange and would sell you GBP for US dollars.

Dukey

You have received good advice to pass on to your sister.

I am a little concerned about the "she waited to tell me..." part and wondering if she is going to try to rope you into being "the rescuer" on this so my advice is, DON'T let her. Set limits now or whine the rest of your life (LOL)

iamlynn98

Are the rates at the post offices in England ok or are they like the exchange places in the airports that charge an arm and a leg in fees?

PatrickLondon

Two issues here: cash in hand vs. trusting foreign ATMs, and getting access to her funds from abroad.

For the first, your sister could take the hit on buying a first amount of UK cash to feel a bit more secure on arrival (she could do this on arrival at Heathrow - you get a better deal buying currency in its country of origin). For the second, could she put dollars into your account, and get you to draw pounds out for her? You'd have to keep records of the transactions and divvy up after you get home again, but that might be simplest.

PatrickLondon

UK Post Office exchange rates:

http://digbig.com/4pbmg

Bear in mind there might be more queues in post offices than at ATMs.

Jed

My sister is 3 years older than I am, and when we were kids she would pull my ears and twist my arm behind my back. Then I would cry to my mother. Didn't do much good.

As an adult, I finally learned to stand up to her, and not take her insisting on how to do things.

Insisting on GBP when it is unnecessary and now difficult to get, you might consider answering her whining with one word: <b><i>ATM</i></b>.

johngerard

There are some new 'credit' cards on the market - they are advertised here in the UK - whereby you pay in advance &amp; are able to top up the card if necessary. They are supposed to be like a credit card but it is limited to credit the amount you have paid into it. Thomas Cook advertised them this year to enable UK tourists to use in America &amp; the unused balance was converted on return to the UK. There was a charge but it has been taken on by more companies &amp; those charges will vary.
Our European emigres from EU states do not have UK bank accounts &amp; they are being encouraged by Tony B's government to use these 'credit' cards. I don't have one myself but they seem an option in your sisters circumstances.
I used my debit card in America for paying hotel bills without any extra charges.
Hope this helps.

ira

Hi ia,

Currency exchange and ATM cards are separate issues.

Sis can always buy $100 worth of GBP at the departure airport. This will cost about $3 more than using an ATM in GB.

Is her ATM card connected to the major networks?

What do you mean, &quot;She doesn't have an ATM card&quot;?

tod

Not only do ALL the banks in South Africa do Currency Exchange ( a days prior notice is sufficient) but we have Foreign Exchange offices like Rennies who deal solely in giving you the currency of your choice.
One small thing..........we have to produce an airticket!

MaureenB

She might have time to open an account and get an ATM card. Just tell her to ask how much of a foreign transaction fee they charge. It can be one percent to three percent.

Be sure to tell your banks that you'll be traveling in the UK, so they don't get suspicious of withdrawals and shut down your account.

A last resort strategy would be to have your sister make a deposit into your account with the amount of cash she thinks she'll need. Keep that receipt, of course, as a record of her money. Then keep the ATM receipts, as she withdraws money from your account, against her balance. It's a bit more math, but that's how my sisters and I would help each other out in a pinch.

I hope the rest of your trip goes smoothly.
&gt;-

sandypaws3

AAA offers a pack of small denomination bills in foreign currency, so you can arrive with local currency. I can't find the magazine where I read about that, so not sure what it's called, but you can just call your local AAA office.

Sandy

bardo1

iamlynn98,

I see you are based in Orlando. Here are just a few options:

Money Exchange Bureau
7670 International Dr # B, Orlando(407) 354-2233

American Express: Travel Agency
7618 W Sand Lake Rd, Orlando
(407) 264-0104

Foreign Currency Exchange
4200 Conroy Rd, Orlando
(407) 345-5111

I'm sure there are many others, especially in a place like Orlando.

Christina

I'm not sure what the issue really is here, either. I don't know if my bank does &quot;currency exchange&quot;, either, but don't care and never asked them. Somehow it sounds like what you really mean is her bank won't allow her to withdraw funds at foreign ATMs because it doesn't have the right network or something.

If that is really the issue, then I agree with the idea that if you have a working ATM card, why not just have her deposit some money into yours, and you can withdraw some for her. Unless you don't trust her somehow, and think she'll be asking you for more than she put in and you'll never get it back. I wouldn't hestitate to do that for any of my siblings. As for limits, I've never been near my limit on ATM withdrawal, at least not every day as I don't use it everyday, so I don't think that would be a problem.

If she just wants a few pounds before arriving, this is not a big deal and she can get them at the airport or a currency exchange service she wants if that is so important to her. I suspect that isn't the issue her as you then go on to talk about getting debit cards for travel and.. what?? If you have an ATM card, why are you thinking of getting a debit card for travel.

janisj

Are you sure you and your sister are talking about the same thing??

<b>First of all</b> - find out exactly what she asked her Credit union and what she means by &quot;it doesn't do currency exchange&quot;. MANY banks and CU's don't do currency exchange, but that doesn't mean she can't get &pound; in England.

Does your sister have a checking account/ATM card at the credit Union?? As long as she has a checking account/ATM card w/ cirrus or another of the major networks -- all is well.

But if she doesn' have a checking acct/ATM card - then you are sort of up a creek.

She may have to resort to the hated Travelers Checks (in US$) It will cost her, but at least she can exchange them for cash in England