Sending Money Abroad

Not a good idea, as your recipient will wait a long time getting the cheque cleared and face high charges, which could be disproportionate for small amounts. Normally you'd send a banker's draft in the destination currency (also called money order) which you buy from your or another bank. You pay a fee of around 10 and there may be a percentage charge on exchange rates. Recipient simply pays into their bank account and full amount should be credited, like an inland cheque. More expensive but much quicker is electronic transfer by companies like Western Union (often 30-40). One advantage is that recipient can receive cash from nearest agent (which you specify). Sending a traveller's cheque in the destination currency is an option, but unless you send registered it's not a safe method and sometimes recipient gets charged for banking it. Others use PayPal (if recipient has an email address and you set up an account with them), but some don't like it because of charges and unhelpful T&C.

Alec

It's not a HUGE amount I am sending, around 160 or there about, what would you recommend? It's not urgent either, because I am sending other things along with it. I guess the best options would be banker's draft or traveller's cheques.

Buy the foreign currency at a bank or travel agency, put it in an envelope and send it registered post.

DG

That's what I've done with amounts up to £100 or a bit more, apart from anything else it's much less hassle than getting a bank draft.

If you can put up with the rather poor exchange rate you can do the whole transaction at the post office.

Yes, but there is no guarantee that the cash will go to the recipient. Post Office only guarantees delivery to an address, not an individual. Someone who happens to pick up the letter could just pocket the money and you have no comeback (other than through police). With a banker's draft, it's like a crossed cheque and can only be paid into the recipient's bank account. For

160, small charge for a draft (and exchange rate is certain to be better than for cash) more than repays itself.

Alec

I guess there's always paypal as well