Arillas Forum
Welcome to Arillas => Arillas general information => Currency, cash and exchange. => Topic started by: blondegirl on May 14, 2007, 11:14:10 AM
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Hi, just been into my post office and picked up a leaflet... they are doing straight over the counter euro exchange with 0% commission, if you keep your receipt they will buy them back too.
You dont have to order them (unlike other currencies which take 2 days) but just part with your sterling and its done there and then. How good is that! Depends on what the exchange rate is at the time though but its a good idea to take a little bit out to start with. Sue
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Hi Blondegirl
I always used to get my Euros from the Post Office like you say - no commission - but then I found M&S usually do a better exchange rate. I will also probably use the Arillas cash machine but I think my bank charges £2.50 for each withdrawal and I also slightly worry about what would happen if the machine broke down and I was stranded with nothing. I'd have to go and wash up at Dimitri's taverna to pay for my supper.....
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Hi Sandy
We always use M&S to get out euros, they always seem to do the best rate.
Amanda
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Does anyone know what the excahnge rate is at M&S and what the rate is actually out in Arillas??
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We have got our Euros from M & S for the last couple of years.
I went in the one on Norwich a couple of weeks ago and it is not there anymore.
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Oops.... meant to say in Norwich, not on Norwich!
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Hi Smiffy
I went to M@S yesterday and the rate is 140.7 so not that good.
I am off to Nice for the weekend ( Hen party !!!! ) so I am going to wait until tomorrow to see if things improve. Pauline x
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Mmm thats not good at all is it!
I normally always change up money once im in resort, does anyone know what the exchange rate is out there at the moment, Harold did you manage to notice at all, or anyone else thats come back this week??
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We have just picked ours up from p.o. around 140 to £ Did not think that bad for a walk in service, and no commission, on chqs if we took Euro no commission but sterling would cost about 1.5% commission. We always found the Marina gave a good exchange rate so do not bother too much, just take enough to see us through for a day or two, but now of course the a.t.m. is available, so hopefully no probs.
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Shuey.
The bureau de change in Marks is now downstairs. I always get mine from the post office but I do work there. We also do a money card which you can load with euros and use whilst away so there is no need for cash. Leaflets at most post offices.
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I thought it a bit odd that it had just disappeared. The money card sounds a good idea. Will have to give that a try next time.
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The money card sounds like a good idea... can you use that like a switch/debit card?
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I too would be interested to know how this works. Our post office is very helpful but did not mention this as an option, grateful for any responces from those who have used this method.
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Have never used it myself but if you let me have your home address will get a leaflet on Monday and post it to you. Not all post offices offer this service but will know a little about it.
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How do I p.m. you? Got Monday to re visit p.o. but main one 8 miles away. Thanks for info. going back out July so will be interested in responses.
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There's info on the post office travel site... very useful. The card costs £10 to start with and you can have up to 3 for different currencies. You load your card with the amount you need. If you run out you can make a phone call and more can be transferred. Use any sign using the Visa sign. You can pay for goods and services too where you see the Visa, Electron sign. Sounds like a really good idea. They even give you a small account book to keep up to date with what you have spent. Anyway, have a look!
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Thanks for that i will definately give it a try next time!
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My word someone knows their stuff, you will do me out of a job.
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I'll second that Lisa - do me out of a job also!
Our little post office stock euros but we aren't able to handle the money cards for some reason.
lynn
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Hi Lynn.
Where do you work. The other office that I work in does the money card.
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Hi, I just quote what I read from the 'net. What I was wondering was that do you get the card from the PO or do they send the details off and you have to wait for a pin number... If so then that could take some time and you would have to plan for it all to be transferred etc... Our sub po doesnt do it, only euros over the counter and I was told to go to the big po.. or perhaps do it online?
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Hi Lisa,
I work in Stanstead Abbotts post office in Hertfordshire. We only recently started stocking euros.
Sorry Sue,
Our line is also to advise going to a main post office, I'm afraid. The training we receive at our branch is useless!
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You get the card there and then. The pin number I cant remember.
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They are really helpful in my sub post office... I will be really upset if they decide to close it down.. my "little friends" there do a brilliant service, they are always busy so its not like it isnt used very much. The lady there always tells me what is new in the PO to keep me up to date, she is lovely, I hate going to the main PO as it always has such long queues with only 2 out of 5 counters normally opened, but I suppose needs must if I want to get this card.
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The card is a wonderful idea, i saw an advert for it on the tv just before we went away so too late, but thinking we'll probably do it for when we go Mexico.
I used to live near where you work Lynn, i used to live in Bishops Stortford.
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Hi Smiffy,
That's funny, Colin used to work at Bishops Stortford on the railway!
Whereabouts in Essex are you (if it's not a secret?!)
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In good old sunny Romford! I hate it, cant wait to move, the only reason i left Stortford was because i was so unhappy at my job and the oppurtunity presented itself to move back down here and live with Brett, but we both hate it now, i wish id never left Stortford, i loved it there!
So on that card, can you use it for Dollars, and will they accept it in Mexico??
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We don't actually do the money card in our p.o., Smiffy, but I just checked for you on the Post office site and it says you can use it for dollars. Apparently, you can have three currencies on it at once.
I seem to remember my Dad used to work at Romford, but that was many moons ago!
L x
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Ooops, wrong information, sorry, just re-read the po site, and the three currencies are only euros, dollars or sterling, and you would need a different card for each!
Not sure about Mexico - think they use pesos, but don't know if they accept us dollars as well.
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Thanx for that info Lynn, yeah i checked, you can use dollars in Mexico aswell.
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You're welcome, Smiffy, and that's good news about being able to spend dollars there. :D
(I remember in Antigua the locals preferred us dollars to their own currency.)
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Just had a look at bank statment and on 19th May it was 1.423 in the A.T.M. in Arillas and I know it was 1.400 over here as my daughter told me, not a lot in it really. Viv
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I only took a small amount of cash wth me 2 weeks ago & I used the ATM in Arillas as soon as I got there to get my money. I have a Nationwide card so I'm not charged interest & I believe the exchange rate is very competitive [ not had my statement yet ]!!!!