We want to send some money to my brother in law in Italy, but because it is a surprise for him, we can't ask him for his bank details.
Is there another safe way of doing it?
Squash, could you exchange some money for Euros at the PO (or somewhere else) and send it to him? The only other way I know that's easy is paypal but then I guess you'd have to probe about which email address he uses for it (if at all!)
Sorry I can't be of more help.
Edit: Tsk, forgot that it's too late to post anything abroad now isn't it? Ignore my completely useless reply, LOL! :-[ ;D
I've transferred money with Western Union before. You can do it on their website or at a local agent (we have loads of corner shops and travel agents that do it here - they usually have a sign outside). Then your brother in law can collect it from a local agent near him (not sure if you specify what one when you send). He just needs the codes and ID. That way you would not need bank details and could tell him at the time so it will still be a surprise. :)
Quote from: SamLouise on December 21, 2009, 16:56:30
Squash, could you exchange some money for Euros at the PO (or somewhere else) and send it to him? The only other way I know that's easy is paypal but then I guess you'd have to probe about which email address he uses for it (if at all!)
Sorry I can't be of more help.
Edit: Tsk, forgot that it's too late to post anything abroad now isn't it? Ignore my completely useless reply, LOL! :-[ ;D
It won't matter which email address you use for the paypal, you can send it to an unregistered address and he can add it/register it to collect.... check on Paypal's site for details though as I've only ever done that inside the UK...
chrisc
I believe Western Union is quite expensive :-\ :-\ :-\ :-\
Thanks for the replies :)
Unfortunately, b-i-l does not use a computer, which makes things a bit more difficult.
It doesn't have to be there before Christmas, he is seriously ill and unable to work so we just wanted to help out a bit.
I think Western Union might be the best bet. I'll check out their website and see if there is somewhere near him where it could be collected from.
Thanks again.
Do you know his priest? I'm sure he'd be happy to pass the money on, and you could go into your bank to wire the money to the priest.
What about travellers cheques?
I don't know anything about them though, as I don't go abroad.
Why not ask at the post office, they can transfer funds.
Quote from: Unwashed on December 21, 2009, 18:38:03
Do you know his priest? I'm sure he'd be happy to pass the money on, and you could go into your bank to wire the money to the priest.
This sounds like a good idea, but I don't know who his priest is and if I ask, he will want to know why.
Quote from: PurpleHeather on December 21, 2009, 23:30:37
Why not ask at the post office, they can transfer funds.
I think I would need his bank details wouldn't I? If I tell him what we want to do, he wouldn't let us so it's got to be done without him realising until it's too late.
Quote from: dtw on December 21, 2009, 23:08:14
What about travellers cheques?
I don't know anything about them though, as I don't go abroad.
Thanks for the idea. I do go abroad, but I've never used travellers cheques. Maybe they have to be in the purchaser's name?
Ok then
You pay my fare and I will take it to him.
Otherwise be subversive.
Tell him you he has won something and they came round with the money and left it for you.
Now you can ask for his bank details.
Or tell him that you and he have been left money in a will the solicitor wants his bank details.
You know your brother, what will he believe?
Quote from: PurpleHeather on December 22, 2009, 09:25:18
Ok then
You pay my fare and I will take it to him.
Otherwise be subversive.
Tell him you he has won something and they came round with the money and left it for you.
Now you can ask for his bank details.
Or tell him that you and he have been left money in a will the solicitor wants his bank details.
You know your brother, what will he believe?
LOL, the thought of sending my husband over with the money did actually cross my mind. Using Ryanair would be cheaper than the fee charged by Western Union.
I don't think being subversive would work, he wouldn't believe he had won something or been left money in a will.
who would believe it could be so difficult to give money away!
All I can suggest is that your husband goes to see his brother. This would probably mean more to your brother in law than any money you send.
QuoteAll I can suggest is that your husband goes to see his brother. This would probably mean more to your brother in law than any money you send.
What she said, :)
That just gives me a nice warm feeling ;D
Best of luck Squash, Col
You're right Paulines7, my husband should go and see him.
His brother has been in and out of hospital recently and I suppose my husband thinks that if he suddenly turns up at the hospital to see him, his brother will think my husband has been sent for because he is about to die.
It's a very difficult situation really.
Quote from: Columbus on December 22, 2009, 11:06:58
That just gives me a nice warm feeling ;D
Best of luck Squash, Col
Thank you Col.
Squash. Personally I think the Euros are a good idea. When we went to late husbands niece's wedding in France in June we clubbed together and gave Euros. Admittedly we took them by hand. As they already have their home we thought they could buy something they didn't have already. Easily purchased from Post Office although we found our local C0-Op had a slightly better rate of exchange.
Good luck and best wishes to your B.I.L.
Hi Squash
I checked out the situation with Barclays. I think it's £15 for an International Draft. It's safe enough to send by post because it can only be cashed by the named payee, and you don't need his bank details, just his name. I expect your own bank do a similar thing.
Ed: A Foreign Draft (http://www.natwest.com/personal/travel-international/g2/international-payments/send-money-abroad.ashx) from Nat West is £18.
You could do a moneygram through Cooks the travel agents, give bank in his towns name and a password and you send or phone brother in law the password and he goes to the bank gives password and collects the money, used to send money to Thailand that way.
Hi I use Western Union to send my school fees to Kenya for a child we sponser, About £200 cost about £15 and it is there the next day, Don't use any bank deatils and they get it quite quickjly, Head teacher pickes it up at their local office with ID and a secret word which I telephone accross It has worked well for us for 6 years.
Paypal is excellent for a friend too.
Yoo can also get an International money order and send it straight to their house XX Jeannine
I am going to give up after this one....
http://www.postoffice.co.uk/portal/po/content1?catId=86500737&mediaId=96300777
Everyone -
Thank you so much for all your help. :)
My husband can't get over the fact that I can ask this sort of question on an allotment forum and people will go out of their way to find out the answer.
I'll let you know what we decide after Christmas.
Thanks again.
:)