ON MY recent trip to London via Hong Kong, I decided to convert into credit cards £2000 which cost me a fee of £20. This was put into effect on September 3.
After a 24-hour flight and after moving into my hotel, I withdrew £400 with no problems on September 6.
Farce number one: wishing to come home one day early, I was advised by the ticket office of Virgin Atlantic that I would have to pay a fee of £30; ludicrous to say the least.
If Mr Branson had to put up with the thinly padded seats in economy, I feel he should have given all of the passengers in economy a £30 refund.
Farce number two: on returning to Tamworth on September 11, I went to my credit union to convert my English coins and notes.
I was advised by the credit union that they could convert the notes, but not the coins.
The £45 in notes returned $65.84 Australian. The two credit cards’ value was $A1272.81.
They advised me that the funds would be in my account on September 14, less a fee of $30. It is now September 26. I rang Travelex only to be told it takes a long time.
Maybe we are waiting for an interest period (not in my favour, of course).
After all, pensioners have to pay their bills on time.
When I go over to London again in their spring next year, I will take the Aussie dollar and convert it at Heathrow Airport, entering and exiting. Plus I will find another bank that I am sure will hopefully take my interests to heart.
My main reason for going was to locate my mother’s burial site, which I will do next time.
However, I did enjoy my short stay there.
Heaps of photos and souvenirs for family and friends in Tamworth and district.
I also gave most of my coins to family and friends.
GERRY MOODY
TAMWORTH