help with currency problem.

[skippysarah]

thanks to one of our members I have found the marriage cert. been looking for. (in America)
Westchestergov.com
they won't accept credit cards only US dollars. I emailed the dept. and they wrote back telling me the same but no further info. ??
As I live in the UK have no idea how to pay for the marriage record. can someone help please. thanks. sarah

[paddyscar]

Hi Skippysarah:

If your credit card won't convert the charge, your bank would be able to provide you with a money-order, bank draft or other transfer method in US dollars.

The cost of say $10. US dollars would be about 8 BPS, plus any bank fee. You would then send the transfer through the mail with your request. Then there are services like Pay-Pal which also charge a fee.

Hope this helps,
Frances

[garibaldired]

If it's for a small amount this can be expensive as banks tend to charge quite a lot for the service.
It may be cheaper to send the cash - in dollars - and send it via Airsure at Royal Mail.

Best wishes,
Meg

[skippysarah]

thank you Frances and Meg.
looks like Westchestergov.com are living in the dark ages. !!
all other sites accept credit cards for transactions at no extra cost. (it wouldn't be feasible to pay bank charges etc to send $15.)

I'm now wondering if there is another way to view the marriage cert. ? would Genesreunited be a good place to ask for a 'look up' ?
would really appreciate help. many thanks sarah.

[WilmaM]

The website does say:

Note about Vital Records: Birth, marriage and death records (with the exception of Marriage Records for the time period 1908-1935) are not available at the Westchester County Archives. These records are kept at the local level of government, i.e., by the city or town clerk. Additional information about obtaining vital records is found on Vital Records for Westchester County

When it comes to obtaining a copy of birth, marriage, and death records, however, the quicker way is often to contact the local municipality. Try the Westchester County Clerk's list of local municipalties for contact information for Westchester city, town and village governments.

perhaps the local guys will be a bit more enlightened?

[SarahND]

The local municipality prices are often lower as well


Sarah

[Montrose Budie]

If it's for a small amount this can be expensive as banks tend to charge quite a lot for the service.
It may be cheaper to send the cash - in dollars - and send it via Airsure at Royal Mail.

Best wishes,
Meg

Hi Skippysarah

Based on long experience of this situation, Meg's advice is the low cost route !, apart from PayPal.

'Airsure' costs a few bawbees but much less than the various forms of bank transfer.

[A few months ago I wanted to send SEK800 (Swedish Crowns), ca. £75, to a contact in Sweden who had arranged for us a wreath for a business colleague who had died suddenly, - sadly we couldn't make it to Sweden for the funeral, - although I had the full Swedish bank details of my Swedish contact, The Clydesdale Bank wanted £45 (forty five pounds) for a direct transfer from our Clydesdale bank account to our contact's Swedish bank a/c.

A very good mate of mine has several decades of experience via bank employment of such international transfers, and informs me that the real cost is just a few pence.

OK, the data has to be input on a computer in Clydesdale's Glasgow HQ by an employee, - say 15 minutes {and that's being very generous} at, say £40/hr {also generous!}, so a £10 cost there, leaving a £35 profit on the transaction for the bank!

It doesn't even end there, as, if you look at the exchange rate that a bank will use for such a transaction, including arranging a bank draft and similar, you will find that the exchange rate is very much in the bank's favour.

OK, only a few points, but as the Scots saying goes, mony a mickle macks a muckle.

I don't mind paying for a service, but I do object to getting ripped off ! ]


A wee tip, - wrap the banknotes in kitchen foil, as this defeats any thief along the way who can access an X-ray image of the package and use it to steal a package containing banknotes.


Over the last approaching 30 years, my experience is that the best and most economic current method of international currency transfer is PayPal, but Ah hae ma doots if Westchester County Archives have a PayPal account !

mb

[trish1]

Hi Sarah

Sadly the last time I sent 10 pounds wrapped in foil to the UK it never arrived - which was somewhat disappointing. I had done it a few times in the past, so was expecting it to be OK.

There are some services around like this one - which may be able to help.
http://www.shipito.com/shop-pricing - NB I DO NOT KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT THIS PARTICULAR SITE/BUSINESS - IT CAME UP IN GOOGLE but I am in no way recommending it - They will shop for you in the US. I do have family members who have used a similar service for purchasing items that the stores will not ship outside of the US - but I don't know if they will pay with other than credit cards.

There may also be 3rd party genealogy groups who would purchase for you - but no doubt add a substantial fee. Another suggestion - I had a similar problem with a group in London - I sent an email explaining my payment problem - and some time later I received the information at no charge.

Trish

[Currie]

Hello Trish,

Wouldn’t wrapping things in foil to block inspection by X Ray machines raise suspicions among security personnel about bombs and other nasties?

They may have confiscated the money to go towards the cost of the machine.

All the best,
Alan

[skippysarah]

SarahND
have replied to your PM but it appears to be stuck in the Outbox.??
regards skippy