Regarding sending a euro Travelers Cheque -- I've done that numerous times, and all those who have received them have assured me that there is NO charge for them to deposit them in their own bank account. There would be a charge if it was in US dollars. So the only cost of doing that is the cost at AAA or your bank for the rate they sell it to you for. But for a small amount, it's probably less than getting a good rate and then having a $20 or greater fee tacked on.

NeoPatrick: But there have also been quite a few posts from European Fodorites who say their banks do charge to deposit € TCs. Maybe it depends on the bank and/or country??

I am among those who have recommnded www.xe.com/fx. I use my account to send money to relatives in the UK and I've also used it to pay a deposit for a B&B in London that didn't accept credit cards.

XE takes money directly from my checking account by electronic transfer, issues a bank draft in the currency of my choice, and mails the draft directly to the recipient of my choice. The exchange rate is only slightly higher than the international rate on the day the transaction is initated and there are no other fees. For security purposes it takes a little time and effort to set up an account, but things go quickly and smoothly after that. For faster service I could choose a wire transfer through XE, but there would be an extra fee for that.

Clifton,
I also recently paid fees for my irish citezenship ;-)

just for future reference (although perhaps no more fees to pay except for perhaps passport!) Bank of America can and WILL get you a bank draft drawn on and Irish bank...they have a branch in Dublin...your local bank in the US can order it and they take the funds directly out of your account and send you the bank draft in Euros (or to your local branch if you need it faster), listing the Dublin Bank of America ad the issuing bank

Thanks for all the additional replies. Sorry I hadn't gotten back to the board yesterday. I think we're going to go with the lowest tech solution on this one and just mail it. The registered letter is a good idea GSteed, I think we'll do that. We just don't want her to have to do any signing up for stuff or running around town to get what she's owed and on reflection, the amount just isn't worth worrying over while it's in the mail.

CasaDelCipresso - NOW you tell me. lol. Congratulations on getting your citizenship papers too. I've sent off for the passport, but didn't need an Irish draft for that. Just USD up to the consolate here like my wife does when she renews hers. Passport is muchhhh easier.

Clifton-- you stated >>We just don't want her to have to do any signing up for stuff or running around town to get what she's owed<<. You probably should had include that caveat on your original post....you asked for advice and then end up with a rationale that pretty much says that there wasn't a good reason to ask....way to waste people's time...

Viajero2, I should have. I'm human and am capable of not realizing how much would be involved in finding a money order in this case, as I thought that was really the answer to me original question. I also have a spouse who provided additional opinion on the subject. Sometimes, life can just change on you.

My humblest of apologies for the mental strain you must have suffered in providing your two word answer and my hopes that your family did not go unfed for lack of the time that you lost.

NeoPatrick,

It appears that north of France the recipient of a check in euros must pay a fee to deposit the check in his/her account. The B&B we used in Brussels was reluctant to accept a check from a French bank until she decided that she could send it to her father in France and use the money while she was vacationing there. In Germany checks are also non-existent and fees are similarly imposed for cashing one, according to my Berliner cousin. When it comes to checks, the EU is not unified.

This is just a question regarding the last post which I've been wondering.

If checks are nonexistent in Germany, how do people pay bills, such as utility bills, taxes, etc.? Do people have to go in person all the time to some counter/outlet where they have to pay all these kind of fees with cash? That would be very inconvenient and some people who are working couldn't do that very well during their work hours. It would waste a lot of time, also. It also would be burdensome for people who couldn't get around that well for mobility reasons, age, etc.

Even though some electronic transactions have gotten more common, where I live, you still cannot pay most of these kind of bills with a credit card--if it is allowed, they charge you an extra fee, of course. Some of them can be made as direct electronic transactions from your checking account where I live, but many people who wouldn't have a computer or just are leery of that (allowing direct access to checking accounts, which I guess wouldn't exist if Germany doesn't have checking) or are not up with technology. My elderly parents never would have been able to set that up or figure it out, that's for sure.

I can't imagine my bank charging me a fee to deposit a check made out to me in US dollars into my own US account. I'd look for another bank in that case. I realize that some things are different in Europe, but it really is hard to imagine that a bank charges someone to deposit (not cash) a check written in their own currency.

Meanwhile, Michael, your "north of France" didn't apply to Amsterdam, where I was also assured that I could send or give them euro traveler's checks and their bank would not charge any fee at all for depositing them which would be at full face value. But they were quick to point out there would be a fee if they were in dollars.

> If checks are nonexistent in Germany, how do people pay bills, such as utility bills, taxes, etc.?

Everything is paid by transfer (Überweisung). For recurring payments you would set it up for automatic withdrawal. For non-recurring payments, the traditional way would to fill out a transfer form at the bank. Some billers would also send a preprinted form (with their account information). Nowadays of course, it can all be done online. At least some companies (e.g., Amazon) will let you pay by transfer for online purchases. Also of note is that it's far less common for people to have a real credit card. (Debit cards are very common.)

Paul

I recently had to pay some parking tickets I received while in France...so had a similar problem.

I bought an American Express travelers check in Euros and mailed that to the Cannes traffic people.

It seems to have worked.

Good Luck.

Clifton-- I accept your apology; don't let it happen again.