Overseas Money Transfer.

[artelagro]

Just a wee warning for other novices.
I have just made my first overseas purchase of accordion parts and have fallen into one of the money traps. It was an Ebay purchase (Euro 30.00) from Germany and the seller didn’t offer Paypal payments.
I contacted the seller who gave me his bank details and a shipping cost of Euro 17.00 making an invoice total of Euro 47.00. I made the on-line payment for this amount and Halifax Bank of Scotland charged me a further £9.50 for their efforts!
Two days later the seller contacted me to say I had underpaid him by Euro 6.50 which was his local bank charge. Better than HBOS but still an unexpected surprise.
What to do now because I had already made my payment. If I make a further money transfer of Euro 6.50 my bank want to charge me a further £9.50 then the seller’s bank will round it off by adding another Euro 6.50.
Why are bankers rich and us old fogeys poor?

 

[TomBR]

Bad luck, sorry to hear about that. It seems that in Germany Ebay don't, (because they can't,) make sellers accept Paypal. I know there are issues around that, but it certainly makes things harder on straightforward transactions.
In your case I'd be inclined to post a small packet containing Euro cash.
Tom

 

[Glenn]

Methinks I see advantage in the euro.


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[TomBR]

Methinks I see advantage in the euro.
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In this particular circumstance, yes. A wider reply would be political and inappropriate on an accordion forum!

 

[Anyanka]

Because of the extortionate bank charges for foreign payments, I used an exchange service - UKForex - when I bought my Amati via a Swiss auction site. It was a little cheaper at this end, but also meant that the correct amount of money arrived in the seller's account, in the right currency.

When buying from Germany, I rely on my brother to help me out, whom I then repay via good old PayPal ... but that's not a service I can offer to others!

 

[smdc66]

Two days later the seller contacted me to say I had underpaid him by Euro 6.50 which was his local bank charge. Better than HBOS but still an unexpected surprise.
What to do now because I had already made my payment. If I make a further money transfer of Euro 6.50 my bank want to charge me a further £9.50 then the seller’s bank will round it off by adding another Euro 6.50.
Why are bankers rich and us old fogeys poor?

problem is communication with a seller abroad is difficult, impossible at times and also you have the laws of the land to contend with

seems unless it was made clear about a customer paying for the seller to accept funds ! it is not a underpayment !- it is merely a charge his bank makes to accept payment and its a business cost - id be interested to know what payment options he offers

hbos charge is reasonable at 9.50 as barclays eg charges £20

check out other payment options to avoid charges eg ask at your bank and post office etc - got to be a way to send approx 6.50 thats cheaper than approx £16

i would appeal to to the seller s goodwill if he has any and see if he would reconsider , i foresee a negative feedback which could be mentioned and is justifiable

if you had known you was underpaying :roll: :!: - you could have made one payment and paid one charge

 

[Soulsaver]

I don't buy from abroad if possible (freight, duty, tax, exchange, risk damage, loss etc) but when I have, I always used PayPal for the cover against loss, damage, not as described, fraud.
But lesson learned, I'll resolve to find out all these additional costs before committing to a bid or BIN... even with paypal.

 

[redeen]

I purchased many items fron Germany wiyh no problems.
From 2015 all European Union memberstates will accept SEPA payment,thei means fee 0.38€.
This year I purchased from UK,fee was 5.70€,this may caused UK used own currency,not EUR.