posted on September 18, 2000 11:46:55 AM
Wellllll.... I know this has been discussed here before and I didnt' think to pay attention back then, of course.
My Japanese bidder's MO is giving me grief. He sent a Pink money order that says "Japan International Postal Money Order" on top. I assumed this would be problem free, especially since he has a decent feedback rating (over 60) so I figured he'd done this before and would know what to send. I didn't specify anything since he's the more experienced ones with international deals.
So, I took it to my Credit Union and they said it'd have to be sent through "collections" (whatever that means) and there'd be a $20 fee!
<sigh>
I guess next I should try a regular bank? Or should I go to the Post Office? What do I do? I don't really want to have to write the bidder and ask for more money.. he bid over $100 for this book plus paid $20 for shipping and now this. I don't want to delay shipment either but I frankly don't have the $20 to ship it out of pocket until I get this cleared up. I'm not sure what to do. The only account I have locally is the C.U. account. I have an x.com acct. but that's not local, obviously.
posted on September 18, 2000 12:33:31 PM
I, too, am a credit union customer, and normally, I'm very happy with its services. However, when I tried to deposit a non-US check, they gave me some song-and-dance about how they were "not a full-service bank" and they had to charge me a $15 fee to collect the funds from this check.
My solution was to go out and find a bank that wouldn't charge me fees to deposit non-US checks. Now I have two banking accounts and I am very happy.
(Well, three, if you count X.com!)
El
"The customer may not always be right, but she is always the customer."
posted on September 18, 2000 12:37:23 PM
sorry for my newbieness ;p....what is a credit union? what is the difference from a bank? why not just use a bank?
posted on September 18, 2000 12:53:10 PM
Sheri, Take it straight to the post office. I had one last week, no problems at all cashing at the post office.
posted on September 18, 2000 05:02:24 PM
tc61380
A credit union is usually run by big businesses for their employees and families only. It handles their retirement funds, savings accounts, checking accounts, and so on. Large ones will have a morgage department and other finacial needs.
They do not handle foreign funds and other things that commercial banks will do.
posted on September 18, 2000 05:55:01 PM
This is not a problem BlackCoffee.
Japanese postal money orders are as good as cash. Bring it to a local post office. They will cash it. If it's made out to you, you'll have to produce identification. If it's made out to a business, you'll have to produce your business license. And thank your Japanese customer for doing the right thing, you are correct, the bidder is more experienced.
posted on September 18, 2000 06:05:42 PM
As long as the international postal money order is in U.S. dollars, the post office can cash it. Some smaller post offices can't do it though, and you will have to find a larger, full-service branch. The up side is that there is no fee for cashing them.
posted on September 18, 2000 07:30:12 PM
It's not just a credit union thing- a lot of banks charge $20.00 fees for cashing foreign payments. My boyfriend's bank does.
And they are absolutely correct- just take the postal money orders to the post office to get your cash.
posted on September 18, 2000 09:57:05 PM
Take it to the post office. I was told at mine that Japan & Canada are two countries whose *postal* money orders they will cash with no problem, as long as the amount is made out in US dollars.
posted on September 18, 2000 11:38:21 PM
I took mine to a bank and was not charged at all. Good to know that I can take it to the post office and cash it!
