Hotrodder wrote: ↑Thu Oct 24, 2024 6:50 pmXE was one of the five I have tried to register with yesterday and today. In fact it was the only one I was completely successful in doing so. I forget now exactly why but I had to close the account without using it. Another one, called Optimal Currency looked like it was going to work but after several attempts was unable to log in after setting up the account. Even after their agent in UK contacted me with special links to try I couldn't get on board with them. Another dead end. If Wise can't be cracked I will have to go back to bank transfers that will cost a bundle, even for small amounts.
I decided to look into doing the transfers myself using bank to bank IBAN numbers. The Nationwide start point was pretty much easy, just like I did when sending to Wise as an intermediary. Nationwide will do the conversion and gets their fee by offering not quite so good an exchange rate. Not a deal killer. But when entering the details of my French bank the IBAN number is not enough. They also want a Sort Code. The six figure code that identifies banks in UK, ie. xx-xx-xx. My French bank doesn't appear to have one. Not in my account details, or on my R.I.B. or on my cheques. Game over.
On my headstone it will say: Please switch off mobile phones. I'm trying to get some sleep.
Hotrodder wrote: ↑Sat Oct 26, 2024 8:19 pm
I decided to look into doing the transfers myself using bank to bank IBAN numbers. The Nationwide start point was pretty much easy, just like I did when sending to Wise as an intermediary. Nationwide will do the conversion and gets their fee by offering not quite so good an exchange rate. Not a deal killer. But when entering the details of my French bank the IBAN number is not enough. They also want a Sort Code. The six figure code that identifies banks in UK, ie. xx-xx-xx. My French bank doesn't appear to have one. Not in my account details, or on my R.I.B. or on my cheques. Game over.
Are you sure that isn't the Swift number - i.e. CMCIFR2A
In an effort to retain what's left of my sanity I decided to try a straight bank to bank transfer using the IBAN numbers. Lots of boxes to fill in but it wasn't rocket science and they didn't need a photo of my inside leg measurement. It will take two days instead of just a few seconds and the cost (if La Banque Postale doesn't whack me for receiving it) imposed by Nationwide is £15. Five times what Wise was charging. This shoud draw a line under this crisis.
I have sent off a stack of email correspondence concerning this fiasco to the Financial Ombudsman Service just for the hell of it, not even expecting a reply.
Mrs. HR is still struggling with her bank to make the same sort of transaction but their online form won't accept the French IBAN numbers. Ho hum.
On my headstone it will say: Please switch off mobile phones. I'm trying to get some sleep.
Just had a call from Optimal Currency, they want a copy of my passport and a utility bill, however much easier for me than, taking on a smartphone, which I now have but not much of a clue. Lets hope the rates are good and speedy.
Yes. Hope it works out for you. I think it looked good when I tried. Mrs. HR battled on with it again today and finally managed to get a direct transfer from her UK bank. Again it was a hassle with online forms not accepting French bank numbers. Had to speak to the prophet Mohammed on the bank helpline who was very patient and eventually got the job done. So now we are both playing the waiting game to see if/when our banks here receive the money.
Meanwhile, after 15 emails I got signed up with TorFX but will have to wait until next month to see if it actually works. Hopefully it will work out cheaper.
On my headstone it will say: Please switch off mobile phones. I'm trying to get some sleep.
It is an absolute pain in the RS seeing as Tansferwise are giving 1.20 at the moment, the others don't seem to want to tell you their rate until as HR says you sign your life away. I got a bit confused earlier and thought it was HR who had signed with Optimal, I now see it was Wilbro, I wonder what the attitude is from these currency converters as to the likes of us old gits transferring a grand or so over a month, hardly big business for them but I suppose it soon adds up.
Optimal are fine with us transferring a grand or so a time. I got just under 1.2 this morning in a £1200 transfer with Optimal. It's in the bank as I write this.
I opened an Optimal account around 3 months ago but haven't used it, and just received a call asking if they can help in any way. They seem very keen so maybe I will give them a go soon.
Drop in for a natter about anything French related.
