Just to let you know my experience as an Ulster Bank customer, with ordering foreign currency with them.
Two weeks ago I phoned up my branch and asked about ordering 12,000 Czech Crowns and the cost. The guy on the phone said they would have to order them in, it would cost approx 430 euro and would be there the following Tuesday. To me that sounded okay as I was flying out on the Friday and the rate they were giving me (27.73) was in line with what you would look up on the internet.
So on Tuesday went down to the branch to collect the money. Sorry was the reply, it’s just arrived and in our safe, can you call back tomorrow. Guess I have to, don’t I.
Called in Wednesday afternoon for the Czech Crowns. It took a bit of time getting the money as I was told that their systems were down and that they would have to phone the dealers at head office for the rate. So after waiting for 15mins (joke you not), got the money but was told that I would have to pay 470 euro ! ! that’s a rate of 25.5
Asked the bank official to go check again as I could not believe this. She came back and said that this was the correct rate. As I was flying out on Friday morning, had no choice but to pay this.
When I got back to work, went on the internet and checked the rates, again saying the same as the previous week, approx 28.
So decided to phone another Ulster Bank branch to confirm the rates, was told systems down could no quote. Then phoned both AIB & BOI, which were giving me rates of 27.6 & 27.9, which was a lot more in line with what I expected.
But the really sickening bit was when I got to Prague, all the different money changers around about were all offering a rate of approx 28
So from my recent experience of Ulster Bank, avoid them for any foreign exchange transactions.
Two weeks ago I phoned up my branch and asked about ordering 12,000 Czech Crowns and the cost. The guy on the phone said they would have to order them in, it would cost approx 430 euro and would be there the following Tuesday. To me that sounded okay as I was flying out on the Friday and the rate they were giving me (27.73) was in line with what you would look up on the internet.
So on Tuesday went down to the branch to collect the money. Sorry was the reply, it’s just arrived and in our safe, can you call back tomorrow. Guess I have to, don’t I.
Called in Wednesday afternoon for the Czech Crowns. It took a bit of time getting the money as I was told that their systems were down and that they would have to phone the dealers at head office for the rate. So after waiting for 15mins (joke you not), got the money but was told that I would have to pay 470 euro ! ! that’s a rate of 25.5
Asked the bank official to go check again as I could not believe this. She came back and said that this was the correct rate. As I was flying out on Friday morning, had no choice but to pay this.
When I got back to work, went on the internet and checked the rates, again saying the same as the previous week, approx 28.
So decided to phone another Ulster Bank branch to confirm the rates, was told systems down could no quote. Then phoned both AIB & BOI, which were giving me rates of 27.6 & 27.9, which was a lot more in line with what I expected.
But the really sickening bit was when I got to Prague, all the different money changers around about were all offering a rate of approx 28
So from my recent experience of Ulster Bank, avoid them for any foreign exchange transactions.