Genealogy Chat

Hi I want to buy some immigration documents from the South Australian Records Office which will cost $27.85 AU, including postage (about £11 in 'our' money!). However, they do not accept credit cards and they will only accept cheques or money orders in Australian dollars. My bank has just informed me they would charge me £10 for a money order! Can anybody suggest a cheaper method? Thanks Lyndsey

Australian bank charges are astrononical and the banks don't seem to be flexible. Last time I had to transfer money (it was proceeds of a will to my daughter) I used a bank transfer. For that you need details of the recipient's bank account. I can't remember how much it cost. What you've been quoted sounds about par for the course.

Hi John No the bank that quoted £10 was my bank here in the UK! From what you say - Australian banks are just as bad then!! Lyndsey

I have only ordered documents from the USA for birth certs & an old will on each I was charged £5-00 commission each time. When I sent money to Canada that was for a small legacy which was a few hundred pounds I was charged £10-00. Which I thought was pretty good. That was for a bank draft. All they wanted to know was to whom it was to be made out for. The bank sent it to me and I posted it to the relevant person or records office. I should think it's more work if you want them to send it. Eve Ps The bank converted the pounds to US or Canadian dollars.

Thanks Eve Thanks for your reply I just called the bank again & asked about bank drafts and been told that the charge for one of them would be £15!!! My next thought was that I might be able to send cash through the post by registered mail or such like, but the Post Office tell me that you're not allowed to send cash through the post to Australia!! Guess if I want the documents bad enough I'll pay the £10 money order fee!! Lyndsey

HI Lyndsey. It was on the 5th April this year that I got the bank Draft to send to Canada. I have the copy in front of me. Commission sterling £10-00. That was for the Hundreds I sent. I don't see any reason why they want to charge you £15-00 for such a small amount. That is pure greed. Regards Eve

It may not be legal but I sent cash! You cannot tell anyone and so you cannot insure it but for a small amount of money it's worth the risk. I did it several times with no problems. Wendy

Thanks everyone for your replies. I'm not ready to give up yet! I have a distant cousin in Australia I'll ask her if she can help out. Failing that I'll send cash and plead ignorance!! Cheers Lyndsey

I sent cash to America for cert--think it was 3 or 4 dollars-got it in Post Office, Ros

I sent cash to America for cert--think it was 3 or 4 dollars-got it in Post Office, Ros

Lyndsay, You could try telegraphic transfer, but you would have to do it bank to bank or try Western Union (they send money orders, my friend uses them to send money to India - of all places from Australia). Annette in OZ

wouldnt an immigration document also be accessable through the national archives? if so you could request digital copy free of charge?

I had the same problem the other way round. Trying to buy 2 £5 wills from UK (I'm in NZ) would have nearly doubled the cost by bank draft. So have sent the cash to a cousin with a covering letter for the Probate Office. She will then send a cheque and the letter on for me. Why oh why, do these Govt Depts not have internet secure sites to be able to pay by bankcard!??? Sylvia

Worth exploring using PayPal UK. This was set up for making online auction payments but recently seems to be used for cash transfer as well. Sent to recipient's email address. Only a deals in a few currencies but Aus dollars is one of them. May not be the answer but given the costs you are facing you should at least take a look. I've been ripped off over the years making payments overseas. High time someone took a serious look at this. Denis.

Thanks everyone. I will be researching all your suggestions over the weekend. Even if I do end up sending cash, it's still useful to know about things about telegraphic transfers etc. for future reference. Thanks again Lyndsey

I thought I would post the result of my investigations just in case others find it useful. Western Union would charge me £12.00 to transfer funds and you can only use Paypal if the recipent has a Paypal account (South Australia Records Office don't). A travel agent tells me that the smallest amount in travellers cheques you can is $50au dollars - but - the smallest amount of Australian currency you can get is $10au. Thanks to everyone for their advice, I'm going for the last option! Cheers Lyndsey Lyndsey