From: Gordon 
Newsgroups: uk.finance
Subject: Re: Post Office dupes public
Date: Tue, 5 Sep 2006 19:59:18 +0100

"tim (back at home)"  wrote
>
>"Al Deveron"  wrote in message
>news:11qof21o6okcgujad63iinbtcvs76msb00@4ax.com...
>>
>> After joining the end of the queue (outside, in the street) at my
>> local post office, I prepared myself for a long wait in line, and
>> eventually reached the front door, to be greeted by a large banner
>> that read. "Foreign Currency at 0% commission!" (or words to that
>> effect). That might fool a lot of people (which I am sure is what was
>> intended). Most people don't realise, of course, that they DO charge
>> commission: they get it by selling currency at an inflated exchange
>> rate. So would you say this advertisement contravenes fair trading
>> standards?
>
>No.
>
>ForEx commission is usually based upon a min and max
>charge.  for people changing amounts smaller than the
>minimum, no commission is a good deal (over the
>competition).
>
I always buy foreign currency at the PO, usually fairly small amounts, 
and all Forex's naturally have different buying/selling prices, often 
plus commission, which usually means a minimum charge, which is the rub, 
if you only want small amounts.   So you have to compare price for 
price.

I find it easier to send some US or Australian dollars in a birthday 
card for my grandchildren, rather than expensive parcels.
-- 
Gordon Harris