Bank Charges for a Germany-to-UK Funds Transfer

I urgently need to get €2,000 sent over to me from Germany to UK - It's repayment of a long standing debt and I need it here by or before Friday as I'm driving down to Spain this weekend.

Obvious choice is the bank or Western Union - Any idea what the banks charge in Germany to send to UK and how long it takes? Commerzbank/Postbank Berlin to HSBC in the UK would be the route.

Any other ideas as to cheaper or faster methods?

Western Union is fast, but not necesserally secure and probably more expensive.

Since recently, Banks in EU countries are not allowed to charge any more for a transfer within the EU than for an inlands transfer if you use BIC and IBAN, although a commision for a currency change from EURO to GBP may be applicable.

Your Bank will tell you your BIC(Bank Identifier Code, used to be Swift Code) and IBAN (International Bank Account Nr). Deutsche Bank prints my BIC and IBAN on my monthly statements, and allows me to call it up on the web, I would assume the similar from HSBC -- at least on the web.

The IBAN is made up of a 2 letter country identifier (GB, DE) the branch number and account nr, as well as a checksum. It is unique for each account, so even if you have the branch nr and account number, you can't know what the IBAN will be.

In my experience, transfers with BIC and IBAN between Britain and Germany don't take any longer than normal inland transfers.

So there you have it: Get your numbers of the web tonight and send them to your friend. He can put the transfer into Commerz Bank tomorrow, and you should have the money Friday.

Cheers for the advice - Banks were the obvious route but they are too slow at between 5 and 7 working days to UK.

I am after a fairly instantanious (or at least same day/nextday) service much like TT or CHAPS transfers in the UK.

Western Union is secure but prohibitively expensive and I really don't want to have it sent with UPS/DHL etc no matter how simple it is to fold and pack inside something else to avoid X-Ray.

Come on guys there must be an instant(ish) way to transfer money between banks.

On Commerzbank online, they have a Foreign Transfer section (as opposed to the EU Standard Transfer). in this section they have a field "Execution mode:" and this can be :

SWIFT
Telex/SWIFT urgent
Cheque
Cheque to the ordering party

So I guess the second one would be of most interest. I could not see anything about how much it is or how quick it is.

ciao
JG

I would have thought that a bank might charge more to wire money, than somebody who does that principally, and definitely a lot more than an EU transfer -- especially a German Bank.

Google along to "international money transfers", you might find a Halawa, although that might get you suspected of illicit money dealings...

What about sending an empty envelope express COD? That way you get the money from them, and your friend pays them when he gets the envelope.

I would guess you'd have to wait quite a while for the courier to transfer the payment back to you.

I think we're scraping the barrel a bit now - As has always been the norm the only options seem to be either:

Pay Western Union an arm and a leg to transfer it so it does arrive immediately. (Over €100 at their exchange rate)

Pay the bank an arm and a leg but it won't arrive for 2 to 3 days even using an urgent transfer apparently (bastards). (About the same cost as Western Union and too long anyway)

Fold up the cash into tiny strips (It's only a couple of notes), pack it into something else and UPS/DHL it next day. (Next day arrival and costs €32 Euros - The only question is will they be able to detect that there's cash in the package if it's folded and inside something else?)

I've used the service from the Post Office here in Germany a couple of times, basically you pop the money in a secure envelope, the post assistant will check it with you, then she stamps the envelope on the front with the contents clearly marked ! The envelope is sealed in so a way that it's tamperproof.

The benefit is, the cashier knows you sent it, put's her signature on the envelope, the contents are insured for the full amount and it's registered mail, most of the postmen in the UK will wait while you check the contents before signing.

It only costs a couple of Euros and it takes at the most 2 days .

It's not insured outside Germany though - This is how the last lot was sent over - It was sent two weeks ago this Wednesday...No sign of it yet.

Just a thought, or rather, I just remembered that some airlines offer express courier services on their scheduled flights.

A company I worked for years ago did an express posting of documents this way. I think the package was delivered to the airport at check-in for the flight and, as far as I know, hand carried on and off the plane by cabin staff, then picked up at the airport at the other end.

Got to be the fastest way and, as it seems as though any way of doing a transfer in the time you want is going to be more or less massively expensive, it might be the cheapest fastest way. Going to be secure as well, as long as the plane isn't hijacked or something.

I think we might have to resort to the folding the money up tightly, slipping it inside a box of chocs and UPS/DHLing it unfortunately - It's only two notes after all.
Cost is €50 and will turn up next day guaranteed.

I'm guessing if its shape is disguised by folding it up and putting it in something else anyone x-raying it isn't going to notice it? - They don't scan for cash in any other way do they?

And just hope the "postie" hasn't got a sweet tooth and strikes it lucky, eh? :$

Well enjoy the chocs, when you get them -- Friday's getting closer all the time...

And you know what? As I look out of my window here in Sleaford, Lincolnshire it's almost pitch black with rain clouds so the lure of 20 degrees plus and clear blue skies on the Costa is stronger than ever.

Just booked my hotel for the stop over on Friday night near Toulouse and have worked out the buggers will have had nearly a hundred euros in tolls out of me by then!

Just get the sender to do an overnight transfer / swift transfer to your account in pounds (pounds in, Euros out). The cost will be about 70 Euros, but you do not pay commission and the exchange rate is taken on the international sell course. So you still have to pay 70 Euros for sending the money, but you get to save 50 to 70 euros in not having to exchange the money at your local bank or travel agents!
The sender will need your full name as written on your account details, the bank name and address, the swift code of your bank and the IBAN code for your bank/account number!

Far better and safer that sending cash, and acutely cheaper as you do not have to go about getting F*cked by some foreign exchange house!

Britain is not Euro zone, so as far as I know they are entitle to charge you!

1. Are you sure you need the money right now. The Pound is mighty low!

2. Are you sure you can get the money out of your German bank, most banks tend to only allow x hundreds per day! Yes even if they do know it is your money!

Have fun at the Costa! )

You do know that hardly anyplace other than banks will take €1000 notes?

Most places here won't even accept €500 notes!

Better get your mate to send you 10 €200 notes, if you are planning to spend them as you go.

I was simply going to exchange them at the foreign exchange at the tunnel - They know what €1000 notes look like unlike the plebs this side of the water!

@ Gentleman - It's actually the other way round - Debt in Germany need to be paid to me in UK and it needs to be done by Friday, but thanks anyway.

I don't think any banks will take EUR1000 as they are not legal tender! The Highest denomination Euro note is 500. You're not confusing this with DM are you?

If you do find somewhere that accepts them then let me know and I'll get busy with photoshop and a good colour printer..

I do remember that when the Euro first appeared, someone paid at a petrol station, using a 500 note that he made by photocopying a picture of one he saw in Bild... :doh:

Right enough, there are no €1000 notes, just went to ECB and convinced myself..

That's what happens when you never even see €500 notes, cause nobody accepts them.

As I remember, I wanted €4000 cash from the Bank to buy a used car, and they had trouble finding enough €200 notes.

Looks like being more of a wad :$

Hmmm - I remember now...It was D'marks - Doh! :$

Seen plenty of €500s around though.

Sorted it! Expensive though but fast and secure. Arrived with Western Union within two hours of being sent.
Cost...well, you work it out...

€2,000 sent

£1,335 Sterling arrived in UK :doh:

Oh and the cash my mother sent "international signed for" 2 weeks ago from Berlin was shoved through the door yesterday with the normal post - No signature required and no sign of any signature required sticker ever being stuck on it.
According to the receipt though she was charged for Einschreiben International.

Thanks a bunch Deutsche Post

Better late than never!!

what's the current exchange rate? cos that sounds about the right sum to me...

Sounds like it cost you about £60 then. The rate as of right now is about £1= Eur 1.43109

If I had seen this post earlier I could have sent you a route to Spain without paying that much in tolls