$ rate on the High Street

[Guest]

We have a Sun Trust bank account so the bulk of our spending money is done on their debit card. However, we do like some notes - handy for mall purchases, small tips and road tolls etc. So this morning I go into our town centre (Harrow) and research the various rates available.

Post Office - 1.54 -trouble was they'd had a power cut so couldn't sell anything -not even stamps!
Barclays Bank - 1.5283 - not brilliant.
Currency Exchange Corp - 1.56
M&S 1.5408 - 2nd in list
Metro Bank - 1.5030 - Abysmal!

So you can guess where I went. 1.56 is even better than Fairfx are offering right now. Like to go locally as I can get the denominations I want rather than what the mail-out companies dole out.

What I want to know is why there are such differences? Over 5 cents from worst to best.

[Bullpeppar]

I'm sure we have all found this but why do banks offer the worst rate of all institutions? I have always found this hard to believe.

[Mr Tom Morrow]

Originally Posted by Bullpeppar

I'm sure we have all found this but why do banks offer the worst rate of all institutions? I have always found this hard to believe.

See more...

The same reason they offer the worst savings rates, ISA rates, Fixed Term Bonds rates. Oh and yes the worst Mortgage rates as well.
And they wonder why we dont use them!

[Gally1968]

$1.55 at Coop Travel if you pre order online today. They always seem to be up there with the best rates available on the high street.

[ali-s]

I just got $1.554 with Sainsburys, fraction extra for being a nectar card holder.

[Scott family]

I just got $1.555 today at a pawnbrokers. Always seem to get good rates there

[arkv1lla]

We always use thomasexchangeglobal we've never found a better cash rate

Sandra

[Flowertot]

I bought from thomas Cook today, when I asked at first she said 1.42! When I questioned that she had 1.55 in the window she said it was only for cash passports. I declined as I wanted cash. She then very quickly said - oh I can give you our internet rate of 1.55. So I bought them, but why didn't she say that in the first place. It really annoys me that I feel they are trying to con you, especially if it was someone who didn't know to challenge them.😞

[stevekath]

I got the last of our spends today at M&S for$1.5408. Not bad compared to the last few weeks as we only got $1.49 for most of ours. Knew I should have waited but to cheer me up we're down to single digits today

[hornetgirl]

John Lewis (Trewins for Geoffa lol) had 1.56 today too.