I was emailed today with a choice of 3 methods of deposit for my rental.
Wire Transfer
International Check
Moneygram or Western Union
She told me the cheapest method would be to send an International Check and am not sure of what that is or how to do it. I found the other services charge quite a bit for such a minimal deposit. If anyone has any advice for me or has sent an International Check, please let me know.
Thanks
Sue
This message has been edited. Last edited by: Kim,
Posts: 24 | Location: Windsor, CA, USA | Registered: 09 January 2003
I'm reviving this topic b/c our rental deposit is due. Last time I wired the funds but this time I thinking of sending a Euro check. I know AAA sells travelers checks in Euros but I don't think that's what I want. Anyone know where I can get a Euro check? Also, I'm assuming if my credit card company does it, I'll have to pay a finance charge until they receive the money (i.e., it's a cash advance, isn't it?)?
You can ask your rentor if they will accept the travellers checks denominated in Euro. Many banks and financial institutions will have a small or no fee for the TC's. Mailing them may create a problem if lost however. Swift and other wire transfers are expensive.
I have had luck in getting some rentors to accept a dollar denominated check and then calculating the balance owed in Euro for payment on arrival.
I’ve found that major banks are extremely expensive when doing international money orders/checks and wires. You might want to look for a company that does strictly foreign currency exchange and wire transfers.
I have been using (Ruesch International) for several years now. They have office's in New York City and DC. Their wire fees are very reasonable ($15 USD) no matter what the about is. They also have the best exchange rates.
I turned on Patrizia of Papavero Rentals about Ruesch and she loves them because of the amount of money she is now saving.
I used our Reusch account at work to get our deposits to the La Foce bank account via wire transfer last year. Worked like a charm, didn't cost more than $15. I think La Foce had some weird charge for accepting our money, like 5 Euro. Yrs, Robert
Posts: 812 | Location: Santa Monica, California | Registered: 23 March 2002
Kim & Sue--An "International Check," in the sense the Italians are using the term, is what we here in the U.S. know as a cashier's check, only denominated in a foreign currency, instead of dollars. "Bank check" is another name for it.
You get it at your bank, same way you get a cashier's check. I got one in lire from my bank about 3 years ago and was charged no service fee--only the actual amount of the check I was requesting in lire. At the time, the bank clerk told me that account holders were entitled to 1 cashier's check a month (or some such time period) at no service fee.
I STRESS that this happened 3 years ago. We all know banks have begun charging fees for nearly everything, so I don't know if I'd get the same response if I walked into my bank and asked for one today.
quote:Originally posted by arney: ....I STRESS that this happened 3 years ago. We all know banks have begun charging fees for nearly everything, so I don't know if I'd get the same response if I walked into my bank and asked for one today. arney
Not to worry. Many banks still provide international checks without charging a service fee. Unfortunately, my local credit union is not one of them so last month I called around to find a “real” bank.
Several banks offered competitive exchange rates and, of those, many did not charge their customers a fee. I just opened a (free) checking account in one with a convenient branch and ordered my first euro check. It was easy. There was a delay of several days before the check was delivered to my branch, but that may not be the case if you live in a city.
The downside? I have mailed a check to a hotel that does not accept credit cards and now I’m waiting for their acknowledgment. Next week I’ll mail a deposit to the owner of the apartment we rented. If either check is lost or cashed by someone other than the payee, it could be difficult to trace.
Now I get to feel the stress, but that’s O.K. At least it’s about something more interesting (and potentially less frustrating) than worrying about packing!
Peg
Posts: 47 | Location: Sarasota, Florida, USA | Registered: 03 August 2003
It's now time for me to send a check in Euros to reserve my apartment at Residenza Il Carmine . I know there was a recent thread about deposits, checks, etc where Kim was a participant. So how do I get a check in Euros most cheaply? My local bank (Fleet) charges for any bank checks; maybe I'll try Citibank where I am sort of a customer through Salomon smith Barney. Any recent advice?
Posts: 6768 | Location: Montclair, NJ, USA | Registered: 16 March 2003
Topic Closed
. I know there was a recent thread about deposits, checks, etc where Kim was a participant. So how do I get a check in Euros most cheaply? My local bank (Fleet) charges for any bank checks; maybe I'll try Citibank where I am sort of a customer through Salomon smith Barney. Any recent advice?
