One of the challenges in arranging Tossers-on-Tour 2005 has been a requirement for dealing in multiple currencies. In fact, although the Tossers will only be outside the EU for about ½-a-day (when we ride across the bottom of Norway), I've had to deal in:
In particular, it's been the Estonian Kroon that caused me trouble - that's the currency that I have to pay the bill for the Stockholm - Tallinn ferry in.
I troop off to Abbey National (when the Tossers' funds are vaulted) only to be told that they can't produce a Kroon draft.
So then I go to the Halifax where I have another account. No, they can't do Kroon either. They suggest that I go to a 'proper' bank.
I head off to Barclays (where I have no account at all, but it's close to the office). They don't deal in Kroon at all.
So I ring my own current account bank, The Royal Bank of Scotland who tell me they can do a Kroon draft and even quote a rate. However, they ask me to write in with my request. So I write to RBS, transfer some money into my account and sit back awaiting the draft. And wait, and wait, and wait.
On Thurday of last week, nearly 3 weeks since I wrote in, I get a telephone call. It starts off with the usual 20 questions and leads on to 'we can't produce a draft in Estonian Kroon'. Yer what???!!! I'm afraid that the girl on the end of the phone got both barrels!
Today it transpires that they can do a funds transfer if I send them the details of the shipping-line's bank account. I've now done that - let's see what happens now!
Greg
- Sterling
- Swedish Krona
- Estonian Kroon, and
- Euros
In particular, it's been the Estonian Kroon that caused me trouble - that's the currency that I have to pay the bill for the Stockholm - Tallinn ferry in.
I troop off to Abbey National (when the Tossers' funds are vaulted) only to be told that they can't produce a Kroon draft.
So then I go to the Halifax where I have another account. No, they can't do Kroon either. They suggest that I go to a 'proper' bank.
I head off to Barclays (where I have no account at all, but it's close to the office). They don't deal in Kroon at all.
So I ring my own current account bank, The Royal Bank of Scotland who tell me they can do a Kroon draft and even quote a rate. However, they ask me to write in with my request. So I write to RBS, transfer some money into my account and sit back awaiting the draft. And wait, and wait, and wait.
On Thurday of last week, nearly 3 weeks since I wrote in, I get a telephone call. It starts off with the usual 20 questions and leads on to 'we can't produce a draft in Estonian Kroon'. Yer what???!!! I'm afraid that the girl on the end of the phone got both barrels!
Today it transpires that they can do a funds transfer if I send them the details of the shipping-line's bank account. I've now done that - let's see what happens now!
Greg