Moneycorp Answers about currency exchange

Buying a property abroad is often the realisation of a personal dream and probably represents one of the greatest expenses of your life. As part of the purchase process, you will inevitably need to transfer a sterling sum into another currency in order to pay for your property. This vital element of the purchase process - one that is often overlooked - can make a huge difference to the price, in sterling, that you will have to pay for your dream home.

Exchange rates change constantly and 10% fluctuations in a relatively short space of time are not uncommon. This could effectively increase, by 10% or more, the sterling amount that you will have to pay.

There are various organisations that can convert your sterling into whichever currency you need. Specialist currency dealers will normally offer you a better rate of exchange than your bank and provide a more personalised service. Foreign exchange companies like Moneycorp often offer a proactive service to their clients, using their expertise to monitor exchange rates on the clients' behalf in order to achieve the best possible rate of exchange

If you ask your bank to send the money you should expect them to charge you for doing so. The local bank may also make a substantial charge for receiving the money. A reputable currency trader may well be able to reduce those overseas charges substantially by sending the money via a cheaper route.

Your currency can be delivered any time within two years at an exchange rate fixed at the time of purchase. This is called 'forward buying' and it will help you secure an exchange rate at an advantageous level even if you do not have all your sterling available to transfer at the time of purchase. Forward buying removes the risk of adverse currency movements that could lead to the sterling value of your overseas property increasing between the time of signing and the contract and the actual payment.

FAQs

These are a selection of the questions most often asked about Moneycorp.

Why should I use Moneycorp as opposed to my bank?

Staff at your high street bank possess neither the expertise nor the market information to either offer you competitive exchange rates or monitor the currency markets on your behalf to help you get the best deal.

How does Moneycorp save me money?

Firstly, by offering better rates of exchange than the banks when you need to trade and secondly by ensuring that you trade at the most favourable time. The purpose is always to get you more currency for your Sterling.

It all sounds complicated. Will I understand how it works?

Our team of experts will explain everything in jargon free terms and ensure that you understand how everything works before you make any trading decisions. Our aim is to save you money, not to confuse you with market terminology.

Is dealing with Moneycorp going to be time consuming?

Definitely not. Opening a Trading Facility takes only a few minutes and then everything else can be dealt with instantly over the telephone. The money that you will save will be worth a few extra minutes.

What is the minimum amount that I can transact?

Usually we require a minimum transaction of £5,000, but we have facilities within the group to handle smaller amounts. The minimum monthly amount that you can send under our Regular Payment Plan is £250. We can even deliver your holiday money to your home or office.

How do I set up an account with Moneycorp?

We will open a trading facility for you as soon as we receive your completed Trading Agreement. This will enable us to immediately start monitoring the markets on your behalf. Trading Agreements are available from a member of our team or you can open a trading facility online.

How long do transfers take?

This depends on where in the world you are sending funds. Usually, transfers to Western Europe and the US are same day. Further east takes two days. Your Moneycorp Account Executive will advise you

How much will this cost me?

Moneycorp charges no commission fees. The only cost will be a £15 telegraphic transfer fee.

Will foreign exchange dealers offer advice about market conditions and rates?

Currency FX dealers are not regulated to give advice but many will provide you with information about prevailing market trends and currency movements. However, remember that no one can predict the markets with absolute certainty. You will have to make your own decision about when to buy currency, but market knowledge and experience imparted by your currency dealer will hopefully make that decision easier! Further information can be found at www.moneycorp.com where you can peruse the latest currency charts as well as sign up to receive daily or weekly market updates.

If I take out an Overseas Mortgage and have to make payments from the UK how can I do this?

Moneycorp provides a Regular Payment Plan to assist those clients that need to make regular overseas payments. Such payments might include overseas mortgage payments or transfers of UK pension payments or any other regular transfers.The Regular Payment Plan offers you three easy options to make your payments. Whichever option you choose, you will always receive an excellent rate of exchange and enjoy the convenience of making payments by Direct Debit as opposed to arranging individual payments through your bank.

Option 1

Fix the Sterling amount that you transfer each month.With this option the currency amount that you receive in your overseas bank will vary according to the rate of exchange at the time of each transfer.

Option 2

Fix the currency amount that you receive.Know exactly how much currency you will receive in your overseas bank account, with the Sterling amount debited from your UK account varying according to the exchange rate at the time of each transfer.

Option 3

Fix the exchange rate for all of your transfers.By fixing the exchange rate, you will know how much in Sterling you will pay and how much currency you will receive in your overseas bank account. This option is available for periods of between 6 and 24 months.

I have heard that some banks charge receiving/ reciept charges. Will I have to pay these?

No. We guarantee that our clients will not pay any bank receipt charges when sending funds abroad*. This guarantee applies regardless of the amount being transferred or to which bank the payment is being made. *Should a client incur such charges, Moneycorp will refund them in full.

Is moneycorp a member of SWIFT?

In a word, yes! Moneycorp is a member of SWIFT (Society for World-wide Interbank Financial Telecommunications), the global platform for instant wiring of domestic and international money transfers. This provides us with increased speed and efficiency as well as more control over your transfers.

What happens next?

Your Moneycorp Account Executive will talk you through all of the options available to you once we have established your individual needs. Any instructions that you give over the phone will be confirmed in writing to you.

Q and A
Q. Where should I buy currency?

You can obviously walk into any high street bank or bureau de change and exchange your currency. This may be convenient for your holidays but for larger amounts of currency it pays to get in touch with a specialist foreign exchange dealer such as Moneycorp. Specialist brokers will almost always offer much more competitive rates than high street banks or tourist outlets, as their overheads are much lower.

Q. What will it cost me?

In general the more money you wish to convert the better the rate. Depending on your bank or broker, there will be a cost to transfer funds of between £15 and £40 per transaction. It's a good idea to compare the total cost of a currency trade as some currency dealers do not charge a transfer fee but more than make up for this difference in the exchange rate that they quote.

Q. How do I purchase currency?

Once you have set up your trading facility with Moneycorp, you will be able to buy currency over the telephone.

Q. Can I hold out for a particular rate?

Yes, you can instruct Moneycorp the moment the rates change to your desired level. Some brokers, such as Moneycorp, can place an order to purchase currency outside London trading hours, which will automatically trigger as soon as your desired rate is achieved. Just make sure you are being realistic about the rate you are looking for and be prepared to wait!

Q. What if the rate is good now, but I don't need to or can't make payment for 3 months?

You can fix an exchange rate for up to two years to make it easier to plan the cost of your currency payments. This is particularly useful if you are buying a new property "off plan". With Moneycorp, forward buying your currency is very straightforward. Simply book an exchange rate and send your dealer a deposit, usually 10% of the contract value. The 90% balance of your currency contract is payable when you wish to have funds transferred overseas.

Q. If I take out an Overseas Mortgage and have to make payments from the UK how can I do this?

Moneycorp provides a Regular Payment Plan to assist those clients that need to make regular overseas payments. Such payments might include overseas mortgage payments or transfers of UK pension payments or any other regular transfers.

The Regular Payment Plan allows you to fix an exchange rate on regular overseas payments for a period of between 6 and 24 months, removing the worry caused by fluctuations in the exchange rate over that period of time. Moneycorp will deduct the payments from your account by Direct Debit each month and transfer your funds directly to the destination account of your nomination.

Q. How do I pay for my currency?

After booking an exchange rate with Moneycorp, you will need to transfer funds to their client account. The easiest and quickest way is by CHAPS or BACS. Bear in mind that any cheque will have to clear before funds can be sent. Once we have received your cleared funds, we will transfer your currency to the account of your choice.

Q. How can I find out current exchange rates?

The Interbank rate can readily be found on the Internet and on Ceefax. Moneycorp's website has live currency charts and you can also view historical exchange rates. Although a useful guide to current market levels, do bear in mind that unless you are trading millions of pounds on a regular basis, you will not receive the Interbank rate for your own transaction! For a live quote on the amount you are looking to exchange, it is best to call Moneycorp.

Q. How long will my funds take to transfer to an overseas bank account?

Moneycorp use Electronic Funds Transfer and can generally get the funds into the destination account a good deal quicker than a high street bank. We have a same-day transfer service to most European countries and North America, and next day for all other destinations. Bear in mind that there is sometimes a short delay in the receiving bank before your account is credited, this can usually be overcome with a "proof of payment" document that we can provide on request.

None of the information contained in this website constitutes, nor should be construed as financial advice. The informaiton is stricly for information purposes only.

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