Sending a small about to USA.

[David Squinker]

Hi,

I need to send payment to the USA for about $60. The company does not accept
UK cheques and for various reasons I do not want to use a credit card.

Come some kind soul explain the type of non-cash payment method I can use.
Is it a banker's draft (drawn on a US bank that has a relationship with my
bank).

Because when I called NatWest they didn't exactly seem to understand what I
was talking about! Also, can I just buy the banker's draft in cash from any
bank, or what exactly is the situation.

Thanks.

 

[Tumbleweed]

Hi,

I need to send payment to the USA for about $60. The company does not accept
UK cheques and for various reasons I do not want to use a credit card.

Come some kind soul explain the type of non-cash payment method I can use.
Is it a banker's draft (drawn on a US bank that has a relationship with my
bank).

Because when I called NatWest they didn't exactly seem to understand what I
was talking about! Also, can I just buy the banker's draft in cash from any
bank, or what exactly is the situation.

Thanks.

You need to get an international money order (IMO), which is effectively an
international cheque. Will probably cost about a tenner on top of the $60.
Dont know if you can just buy one from any bank, I've always used my own so
the question has never arisen.

 

[Robin Graham]

Hi,

I need to send payment to the USA for about $60. The company does not accept
UK cheques and for various reasons I do not want to use a credit card.

Come some kind soul explain the type of non-cash payment method I can use.
Is it a banker's draft (drawn on a US bank that has a relationship with my
bank).

Because when I called NatWest they didn't exactly seem to understand what I
was talking about! Also, can I just buy the banker's draft in cash from any
bank, or what exactly is the situation.

Thanks.

IIRC the cost of a banker's draft is £10! Natwest should have been able to
tell you this.

Rob Graham

 

[David Squinker]

what


IIRC the cost of a banker's draft is £10! Natwest should have been able to
tell you this.

Rob Graham

OK, so I take it I just go into NatWest say "please make me a US$ bankers
draft for $60 and I will pay you in cash for it plus your fee", and then get
it and send it to the USA?

Do I need an account with them? The issue I have is that quite often if you
are asking for anything slightly out of the ordinary, staff have no idea
what you are talking about - hence these questions now to save time and
energy in the future.

 

[Terry Harper]

You need to get an international money order (IMO), which is effectively an
international cheque. Will probably cost about a tenner on top of the $60.
Dont know if you can just buy one from any bank, I've always used my own so
the question has never arisen.

Try the Post Office.

 

[Robin Graham]

OK, so I take it I just go into NatWest say "please make me a US$ bankers

draft for $60 and I will pay you in cash for it plus your fee", and then get
it and send it to the USA?

Yes, that's what I've done.

Do I need an account with them?

I don't know. I used my own bank, LloydsTSB

Rob

 

[Sovereign]

Hi,

I need to send payment to the USA for about $60. The company does not accept
UK cheques and for various reasons I do not want to use a credit card.

Come some kind soul explain the type of non-cash payment method I can use.
Is it a banker's draft (drawn on a US bank that has a relationship with my
bank).

Because when I called NatWest they didn't exactly seem to understand what I
was talking about! Also, can I just buy the banker's draft in cash from any
bank, or what exactly is the situation.

American express travellers cheque is just the same as a bank draft. Send
them international recorded.

 

[Alec]

with

OK, so I take it I just go into NatWest say "please make me a US$ bankers
draft for $60 and I will pay you in cash for it plus your fee", and then get
it and send it to the USA?

Do I need an account with them? The issue I have is that quite often if you
are asking for anything slightly out of the ordinary, staff have no idea
what you are talking about - hence these questions now to save time and
energy in the future.

Most banks sell a banker's draft (money order) to non-customers, usually
while you wait in bigger branches, or where they have a foreign exchange
desk. £10 charge is common, and whatever they add to interbank exchange
rates. HSBC is quite good and their charges are reasonable.

Alec

 

[Andy Chase]

X-No-Archive: yes

American express travellers cheque is just the same as a bank draft. Send
them international recorded.

Hi,
I was thinking of doing this as well - to send 40-50 USD to a friend
in the states.

I realise travellers cheques are readily acceptable by businesses out
there in place of cash, but would my friend, as a private individual,
encounter any difficulties trying to cash or bank it?

Presumably I would have to write his name as the payee, and my second
signature (i.e. the 'signed in presence of the payee' - which of course
it won't be - signature). Is there any thing else that needs to be done
before sending it ?

 

[AK]

I realise travellers cheques are readily acceptable by businesses out
there in place of cash, but would my friend, as a private individual,
encounter any difficulties trying to cash or bank it?

Presumably I would have to write his name as the payee, and my second
signature (i.e. the 'signed in presence of the payee' - which of course
it won't be - signature). Is there any thing else that needs to be done
before sending it ?

There is no problem doing this at all, but make sure it is American Express
cheque. He will have to pay it into a bank account. It is just as safe as
a crossed cheque as only the name recipient can use it

 

[Andy Chase]

X-No-Archive: yes

There is no problem doing this at all, but make sure it is American Express
cheque. He will have to pay it into a bank account. It is just as safe as
a crossed cheque as only the name recipient can use it

Many thanks for your reply. I now have to ask why an AMEX travellers
cheque is different from any other. I already have (4-5 year old)
cheques issued by both VISA and Master Card - in USD obviously, and was
hoping to be able to use one of those. Any commission on these has
already been paid so there would be no further charges.

 

[Pet Lover]

Many thanks for your reply. I now have to ask why an AMEX travellers
cheque is different from any other. I already have (4-5 year old)
cheques issued by both VISA and Master Card - in USD obviously, and was
hoping to be able to use one of those. Any commission on these has
already been paid so there would be no further charges.

The Americans only really recognise Amex cheques, they don't recognise
others. I once took thomas cook cheques to the US and couldn't get local
banks to cash them at all because they didn't recognise them. In the end I
had to go to a major bank in Boston to cash them (and ended up cashing them
all as it had proven so difficult). Amex cheques can even be spent like
cash in supermarkets and restaurants etc. You could try sending another
one, but don't be surprised if they reject it

 

[John]

Hi,

I need to send payment to the USA for about $60. The company does not accept
UK cheques and for various reasons I do not want to use a credit card.

Come some kind soul explain the type of non-cash payment method I can use.
Is it a banker's draft (drawn on a US bank that has a relationship with my
bank).

Because when I called NatWest they didn't exactly seem to understand what I
was talking about! Also, can I just buy the banker's draft in cash from any
bank, or what exactly is the situation.

If you don't want to use a credit card, so be it, but why not use a
debit card? That is sign on as a customer of something like PayPal,
and register your debit card .... and sending money internationally is
extremely easy.

Recently I needed to send someone US$9 ... they basically received it
instantly.