Well as it turned out yesterday that my bank are greedy ass wipes, I set about looking for a cheaper way to do checks. I am still looking for a new bank but for smaller checks, or if I cant get a currency account, this one keeps coming up.
You post them US $ checks, they post you a UK £ check (they claimed in an email to me to do it the next day!). They charge £1.20 per batch of however many you send, but make their money of the exchange rate. I think Nationwides was $1.90 to the £ yesterday and this company give $1.80. But, depending on what you pay in bank fees, it can work out cheaper for lower value checks. My maths is shit but I think its around the $80 - $100 mark.
Also forgot to say, If anyone is interested post here or pm. Im sending them a $111 check so If anyone gives a shit, let me know and Ill post if the money clears in my bank ok.
[QUOTE=marcjacob;16081]charge £1.20 per batch of however many you send, but make their money of the exchange rate. I think Nationwides was $1.90 to the £ yesterday and this company give $1.80.
[/QUOTE]
check the exchange rates
"To sell United States Dollars for Sterling= 2.3 (to exchange $'s to £’s)
To buy United States Dollars with Sterling = 1.80 (to exchange £’s to $'s) "
Your check is in dollars so you are selling dollars. You’ll pay 2.30 dollars for every pound, not 1.80
Exchange rate of 2.3$ to the £1 - very poor but might work out cheaper for v small checks, worth doing the sums first.
I have one Bank that will accept paper checks on my behalf, and deposit them into my account. Smaller US Banks do that routinely, and you use your Bank card to withdraw from any ATM (or swipe at POS or pay bills online).
This one is simply because I want the money and Im fucked if Im giving the theiveing bastards at Yorkshire Bank $28. So as Im waiting for a new account to be opened I figured Id do it. Besides Im not certian Im welcome in Yorkshire Bank anymore. I guess most people know what im like by now, and lets just say I lost my temper a bit…
I actually need to speak to my Mum who is great at maths, she can work out what value of checks will be better going to a bank and which value is better going to this firm. Mums have their uses LOL
I know the feeling. The whole check issue here in the UK is getting worse and worse. For each batch of checks I often end up paying around $200-$300 just in fees. No matter what I try, more checks at the same time, less bigger checks etc etc… It still costs a great deal here.
Then of course when I get a bounced check, like the one from Crave Media this week, they charge me $30!
I was under the impression that Americans still had a love affair with checks. I know in the UK many stores are now refusing to take them. They cant die quick enough for me, but for many sponsors who dont offer epass, its still the only viable option.
If you guys earn enough that the check cashing fees alone are $300, I hope you’ll start driving traffic to my studios on AEBN and my titles on Amazon.com . (And my pay sites around the bend).
I’d get to London in a heartbeat with that extra cash from that horsepower!
I think the problem is that many webmasters spread sales across multiple sposnors (not keeping all their eggs in one basket) and so they wont spend $30 on a wire. If the sponsor doesnt do epass, or the affiliate doesnt use epass/trust epass, then check is the only option left.
Also for Americans who still love checks, its a nice easy way to get your money. I remember Intense Cash Mark saying he couldnt understand why some sponsors dont do checks, as he would much prefer to recieve a check and bank it. I also heard that Federal Law requires US banks to pay the money straight in and not keep our money like thieving British banks do. If that was the case here, probably we would all like checks too.
Though $30 for a wire transfer seems a bit steep. Especially when you have to pay to receive a wire transfer from abroad here (even on the currency account).
No, US Banks typically hold checks for 3-10 business days.
Some Banks have MICR readers at the Teller windows. (MICR readers are like Credit Card POS swipe boxes, that read the magnetic ink routing and account numbers on the bottom of a check, to see if the Maker is on their black list of known rubber writers.)
Of the check passes the MICR lookup, funds can become available dame day or next day, if you otherwise have a good standing with your Bank.
UK/European webmasters should get to be pals with one or more American webmasters, or maybe an Atty like Chad, to Bank your checks in an account here with your name on it, so you can then use the debit card at your ATM, POS, or to pay bills online.
[QUOTE=nickbaer;16257]UK/European webmasters should get to be pals with one or more American webmasters, or maybe an Atty like Chad, to Bank your checks in an account here with your name on it, so you can then use the debit card at your ATM, POS, or to pay bills online.
I’d volunteer, but I am headed your way.[/QUOTE]
You could probably get them mailed direct to the bank.
and my titles on