We're off to 'the Continent' for a holiday soon. So, today was the day I planned to tick "Get Euros" off my list.
My last experience buying "Travel Money", as it's called, taught me that online is better than in bank. That time, I'd checked the rate online at my bank's website and then toddled off to my local branch to buy my Euros. On my way home, after doing some calculations in my head - never been good at maths - it hit me I'd paid a lot more than the online rate. After some investigation, I learned that using the person at the bank costs a lot, and I stress A LOT more than ordering online where the bank incurs the added cost of home delivery. Hard to believe, I know, but there you go.
Being an old dog that can learn new tricks, this morning, I went back to the website. I filled in the order form, which takes some time. Then went through the confirmations only to have the site tell me the order could not be processed. I tried again. Same response. The computer said, "No."
I called the helpline offered. After entering my birthday, sort code and account number, I couldn't remember the telephone banking PIN we chose 5 months ago and never used. After a few wrong guesses, the pressure was really on because the computerised voice told me if I hung up I'd be locked out and then went back to demanding the correct numbers. Eventually, I got it right and reached a human.
