"CL" <flothru@yahoo.com> wrote in message news:e8pup0$e3v$1@nnrp.gol.com...
> John R. Yamamoto-Wilson wrote:
>> What do people here recommend? In the past, I've used the Japanese Post 
>> Office, Lloyds Bank, and some other bank (can't remember which one 
>> offhand).
>>
>> I haven't sent money for a while, but, as I recall it, the handling 
>> charges may be only the tip of the iceberg. More important - especially 
>> if one is sending large amounts - is the exchange rate.
>>
>> If I recall correctly, the post office simply used to check the exchange 
>> rate for that day and convert the money from yen into dollars or whatever 
>> at the going rate, with no percentile or commission. Is that still the 
>> case the case these days? I did a bit of googling, but couldn't seem to 
>> find the info.
>>
>> Lloyds, on the other hand, is currently offering an exchange rate of 
>> 214.46 yen to the pound sterling, whereas http://www.xe.com/ucc/ gives 
>> today's rate as 211.145 yen to the pound. That would add up to a 
>> difference of some 65 pounds sterling ($120) per million yen. Lloyds also 
>> charges a commission of 2000 yen per currency exchange. But then, this 
>> seems to be their exchange rate for cash; it isn't clear from their 
>> website what rate they would apply to an international transfer.
>>
>> Can anyone confirm which method offers the best *overall* value, 
>> including both handling charges and exchange rates?
>
> Check out the following news article and do your own research:
>
> http://www.iht.com/articles/2006/02/24/yourmoney/mtransfer.php
>
> I've recently set up a couple of regular transfers to a couple of accounts 
> through this system but one in a row isn't representative.  On average, it 
> appears to be the cheapest if not the fastest.  As long as you stick with 
> major countries and major banks it gets around a lot of the hassles and 
> the fees.
>
> CL
>
I think it will depend on the amount and regularity of transfers plus the 
recipient e.g. family member v/s business transaction.
>