Hi all
Didn't use the envelope to send letter in the end, 'cos I kind of like things done yesterday, so I emailed them this morning.
They could not have been more helpful! The kind gentleman who wrote back suggested they would accept Sterling if I added enough to cover the conversion to Euro, and he said that he would forward the message to their management, as it expressed very clearly a problem experienced by many of their overseas correspondents.
I'm very impressed: they responded quickly, suggested a solution to the issue and are clearly aware that this is a problem for many people. Full marks!
Best wishes
Lesley
National Archives, Eire, and their payment options
Moderator: Global Moderators
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Hugo
- Posts: 135
- Joined: Fri Mar 28, 2008 3:36 pm
- Location: Ayrshire, Scotland
I would have sent a cheque with the amount clearly stating euros; they would have waited untill the cheque cleared before sending the certs.
There is no problem (in theory) in using euros anywhere in the eurozone. The problem is if you are trying to pay using a cheque and there is not enough time for the cheque to clear. Many shops in Spain will not accept cheques because of this time problem.
The reason I said 'in theory' is that shops will often refuse high denomination (500 euro) notes because of forgeries, if they do not know you. This is not a major problem because the Banks will take them.
Hugo
There is no problem (in theory) in using euros anywhere in the eurozone. The problem is if you are trying to pay using a cheque and there is not enough time for the cheque to clear. Many shops in Spain will not accept cheques because of this time problem.
The reason I said 'in theory' is that shops will often refuse high denomination (500 euro) notes because of forgeries, if they do not know you. This is not a major problem because the Banks will take them.
Hugo
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LesleyB
- Posts: 8184
- Joined: Fri Mar 18, 2005 12:18 am
- Location: Scotland
Hi Hugo
...I speak as someone who once wrote out a Sterling cheque in Italy for an amount of Lire (a long time before the Euro existed). My bank was not very impressed and it took a lot of sorting out!
Best wishes
Lesley
As far as I'm aware, it is not possible to fill in a Sterling cheque stating that the currently used is anything else other than Sterling.I would have sent a cheque with the amount clearly stating euros; they would have waited untill the cheque cleared before sending the certs.
...I speak as someone who once wrote out a Sterling cheque in Italy for an amount of Lire (a long time before the Euro existed). My bank was not very impressed and it took a lot of sorting out!
Best wishes
Lesley
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Hugo
- Posts: 135
- Joined: Fri Mar 28, 2008 3:36 pm
- Location: Ayrshire, Scotland
Hi Lesley,
I have had recent experience for several years as Treasurer of an expat society in Spain. All membership fees etc were paid in euros; many of our members regularly used UK banks and cheques when they were in Spain; there was never any trouble, as far as I know.
I suspect there was confusion about legality and the bank's convenience.
A cheque is simply an instruction to pay. Providing the necessary information is included then then the format and size are immaterial.
It is understandable that banks dislike non-routine instructions to pay because they do not fit into their normal handling procedures.
However, remember that you are the customer.
Hugo
I have had recent experience for several years as Treasurer of an expat society in Spain. All membership fees etc were paid in euros; many of our members regularly used UK banks and cheques when they were in Spain; there was never any trouble, as far as I know.
I suspect there was confusion about legality and the bank's convenience.
A cheque is simply an instruction to pay. Providing the necessary information is included then then the format and size are immaterial.
It is understandable that banks dislike non-routine instructions to pay because they do not fit into their normal handling procedures.
However, remember that you are the customer.
Hugo
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Susan
- Posts: 85
- Joined: Mon Aug 28, 2006 1:03 am
- Location: Montrose, Scotland
Hugo
Lesley is correct - a sterling cheque can only be used to pay an amount in sterling.
At work we have cheque books for our sterlings accounts, euro accounts and USD accounts, these all show quite clearly the currency to be used and trying to alter these cheques in any way to try and make them pay any other currency would invalidate the cheque.
However a sterling cheque can be banked in an account which is in a currency other than sterling, therefore a person or organisation holding a euro account should be able to bank a sterling cheque and will receive the equivalent value in euros - less any charges for conversion.
Susan.
Lesley is correct - a sterling cheque can only be used to pay an amount in sterling.
At work we have cheque books for our sterlings accounts, euro accounts and USD accounts, these all show quite clearly the currency to be used and trying to alter these cheques in any way to try and make them pay any other currency would invalidate the cheque.
However a sterling cheque can be banked in an account which is in a currency other than sterling, therefore a person or organisation holding a euro account should be able to bank a sterling cheque and will receive the equivalent value in euros - less any charges for conversion.
Susan.