On Tuesday 27 January 2009 13:20:18 Firebird wrote: > When wanting to make a purchase abroad, I use travellers cheques in > the currency of the country in question, signed and countersigned. > I've never had any problems and it's worked out cheaper than getting a > sterling cheque drawn up or a bankers draft. > > A Canadian friend sent money to me by International Money Order which > I was able to cash at the post office with no problems.  My bank > didn't know how to deal it the IMO! My experience is that for an amount as small as £14 the charges for an IMO would probably be at least as much again and for some currencies they are no longer available because of government worries over money laundering. In payment for an obituary lookup by staff at a library in Canada last year I sent cash, the only viable option for the small amount in question (£20 iirc). I exchanged the money at the Post Office (no commission) and sent it in Canadian dollars with a covering letter. Of course I agreed this with them via email first. -- Stuart Morgan