kate84 wrote:Thanks underh20! It all sounds very complicated...
I don't think I'd be able to wire money from BOC then, because I don't get tax receipts... and I get paid in cash, not by direct deposit... so changing rmb to gbp at the bank would be...unlikely i guess.
how about changing money using those guys with the bags that hang around outside? is that really sketchy? i take it they won't want to see tax receipts.
i guess western union is looking to be the most useable way to get my money home.
a friend of mine mentioned a post office in xujiahui that can wire money to a foreign bank account for like 90rmb or something. have you heard of this?
and i don't really understand the bankers draft thing. wouldn't i need a bank of china UK account to get one? or can i get one from my bank of china account here, then send it to my UK account? i look on the bank of china UK website but couldn't find much about it...
thanks again for your help!
Even with Western Union and getting a BOC demand draft, you still need the documentation mentioned to first exchange your RMB into GBP.
The post office you mentioned is a Western Union agent. Most post offices are and so are most branches of Agricultural Bank of China.
With a bankers draft you don't need an account in BOC UK. You can cash the check in any bank in the UK subject to whatever national check clearing rules you have there. In the US, for example, there is a hold for up to 5 days while the check is clearing.
The black market money changers can be a viable option, but there is some risk involved. You can mitigate the risk of getting counterfeit currency, but there is a chance -- probably quite slim -- that the police catch you and then you have a big problem. Maybe someone here can recommend a reputable black market contact for you.
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