Moving money about... advice please!

[bazzanoid]

Hi all!

I'm moving money around in preparation for our upcoming holiday - I'm with Barclays and will be shifting close about £3k from my account to DW's account at another bank (lower fees for USA withdrawals, plus that's her money, suppose i'd better let her have it ). Anyone know what ID i'd need to arrange a same-day transfer in-branch? i can't get to the bank very often (working 6 days a week) so i don't want to waste a trip going to find out what i need then another one to actually do it!!!

Secondly, I'm withdrawing £4k for myself, most of which I'll be sticking onto my pre-pay mastercard (safe, protected, handy, can withdraw as normal at banks etc), but i'll probably take a grand of it and get it changed over to USD - any recommendations of how much i should get in cash, how much in cheques?

Ta!

Barry

 

[Claire L]

IS your account set up for interent banking? It may be an idea if you aren't able to get to the bank easily. I can't remember the last time I went to a bank! But if you do go into your bank then a passport is always the best form of ID or photocard driving licence.

As for USD I usually only get a max of £250 in USD as that is the max amount of cash my insurance covers and the rest is in TC's and the obviously any over spend/big purchases go on the CC.

Claire

 

[Claire L]

Barclays online banking.

HTH

Claire

 

[Boss Hogg]

I'm with Claire on this, definitely use online banking. You actually get a better timescale using this, in as much as you can send money up until 7pm (I think) and it will still be sent that day. You need to leave yourself 3 days for the money to arrive (send Monday, arrive Wednesday). If you're not already a member of online banking, you can request it on the site - you just need your debit card.

When going in to cash money I would take 2 forms of id with you. As Claire said, you cannot go wrong with driving licence or passport and I would make sure you have a least a credit card with you as well.

You say that around £3k going into your pre-pay mastercard - can this also be done via online banking? If it is a credit card then you should be able to send money to it electronically, just check the back of a statement for the Bank details and away you go.

That then simply leaves you needing the cash. Personally, I would use someone like Marks and Spencer for example where you can order online or over the 'phone, and they seem to have pretty good rates - M&S travel money this way you have totally avoided your need to go into the Bank and hopefully you'll not lose the will to live!

Personally, I wouldn't bother with t/chqs as I am not a big fan of them. Naturally, if you lose the cash then you're stuck - simple answer is don't lose it in the first place

 

[bazzanoid]

Ta for the advice - i would do it online but thanks to previous employment troubles and subsequent debts I'm stuck with a no-frills basic account - seems barclays only give online access to those with at least a delta debit card

i'll definitely consider M&S for the money.

 

[Claire L]

May be worth speaking to them to see if they will allow a debit card as you are eligible for a credit card. I cannot see why they wouldn't let you have a debit card, after all with a debit card you can only spend what is in the account!

Claire

 

[Boss Hogg]

barclays only give online access to those with at least a delta debit card

Have you got an Visa Electron card with your Barclays account? If so, then you can order online banking. If not might be worth asking for an Electron card.

I cannot see why they wouldn't let you have a debit card, after all with a debit card you can only spend what is in the account!

The issue with the debit card will probably be the fact that it also doubles as a cheque guarantee card. Albeit an Electron card does not, although it is a debit card.

 

[Laurafoster]

You cant transfer that amount of money online at Barclays in one day, you would have to do it in a couple of transactions.

To withdraw that amount of money at a branch you would need 2 forms of ID, 1 being your card and another being a driving licence/passport.

On the bank account issue, it was a government requirement that banks had to offer a "standard" account that everybody was allowed. I believe that once you have had the account open with the bank for a while - so that they can see how much money goes in and out etc they can usually then upgrade it so would be worth asking - for atleast a electron account!