couriers in france

[smiley]

Hi everybody

So theres no confusion I will posting this topic in chit-chat and overseas aswell.

It is and isn't linked to caravaning but edging my bets for all who view.

My daughter has secured a place as courier with keycamp next season.

My question - money. Obiviously she doesn't want to pay the 2.75% on purchases and the 1.5% getting cash out all the time. Does anyone have ideas around this other than a french bank?

thanks

 

[mikeE]

Has your daughter checked out the rates charged by the Caravan Club credit card ( and you get site night vouchers )and Abbey debit card ? They both seemed favourable for me earlier this year.

mike E

 

[Guest]

All banks will charge to give you money in a foreign country. There may not be a commision as such, but there will certainly be a movement of the exchange rate used, that is in their favour, so adds up to the same in the end. Don't forget 2 banks are involved, your own UK bank and the European bank you are using. They want something from the deal.

One way is to take travellers cheques in euros and pay the fees up front in one hit. Or take cash and hide it in a safe place.

I have a euro account with an ATM card, not from a UK bank I may add as they don't do them. But I still pay for transactions, it is the nature of the beast that you pay somewhere. Even if you live in Europe and have the euro as your currency, banks will still charge you if you use an ATM outside your own country. They are not stupid, just the customers.

 

[rob_jax]

Hi Smiley,

For the past ten years, I have my home in the UK and work in both Rotterdam and the UK, so this is a shared problem.

The options I have looked at include:

1. A Euro bank account with a UK bank - for Lloyds this has to be an Off-shore account in the Isle of Mann - and costs a few pounds to set up plus an annual account service charge.

2. Opening a bank account with ING or ABM/AMRO in Holland - this is quite easy - but you need the same credentials to open the bank account as you would in the UK - typically proof of residence and utility bills - or support from your employer.

In the end I decided to keep with our Lloyds UK account because I get a good rate on using my card in Europe - I've just checked the exchange rate I got on my last purchases and it's better than the tourist exchange rate.

I grudgingly accept the commission charge to get Euro notes from an ATM machine, which I don't do that often because it's much better for me to use a credit card.

Robert

 

[Lutz]

I've got an account with the Citibank. You can withdraw from any of their ATM's anywhere in the world without any charges. Unfortunately, they only have one branch in France (lots in Spain and other countries though) but there may be a UK bank which has more branches in France and offers the same service.