How to transfer money

It is not weird, that is how Paypal works.  You enter your email and your details on your end (if you want the money to go to a bank or credit card, etc.).  If people want to send you money all they have to know is your email address. 

The email address that people use for his business is not the
same as the email address that I used. It is the same email account, though.

Why don't you get a foreign draft in pounds sterling. You get a cheque drawn on a UK bank made payable to your fiancee.
It usually costs about $20.

Alternatively open an account with a US bank that does international wire transfer

Alternatively open an account with a US bank that does international wire transfer

Thank you. I already have plans to open up a joint account in the US with someone whose bank does that. I will also be providing my fiance with an ATM card from that bank as well.

Really though, if you are looking for a long term solution, Paypal is the easiest way to go.  For example, I have to pay student loans and I will eventually have to do that out of my UK bank account.  Even though my UK and US bank will do wire transfers, it gets expensive so I can do the paypal thing.  

A bit of a thread hijack, but how do you pay student loans with paypal? I am currently paying mine by sending them travelers cheques...paypal would be an end to standing in the line at the Post Office every month!

Any details would be appreciated!

How about travellers checks??? you can go buy them in sterling endorse them to your fiance and tada he goes and puts em in his bank... your bank usually wont charge you for em and since they will already be in sterling his bank will have no problem cashing em...

How about travellers checks??? you can go buy them in sterling endorse them to your fiance and tada he goes and puts em in his bank... your bank usually wont charge you for em and since they will already be in sterling his bank will have no problem cashing em...

That's also a good idea.  I've thought of it.

My bank told me it would take 3-4 weeks to clear a US cashier's cheque into my UK bank acct.  It actually took about 5 days.  You have plenty of time to send him a cheque and give it time to clear the bank. 

Sounds like you have it all figured out though..

I really don't want to move all of my money into another US bank. It is a hassle, and I think it looks suspicious.

Hey, in for a penny: in for a pound   

Seriously, though, I personally think that a good option would be to transfer your money to a real bank - on that can do telegraphic transfers internationally.  I don't think you'd regret it, because this will give you maximum flexibility while you are in the UK.  If you are serious about transferring $30k at this time, then look carefully at the exchange rate cut the financial institution is taking rather than the flat service charge.  I don't think I'd use Paypal for such a large amount.

We've had no trouble doing transfers from PNC bank to Barclays - the money always arrives same day and the fees work out to around $20, split across the two banks.  Saying that, we haven't had any trouble cashing US checks in the UK - money has always been available within about 10 working days.  I don't think this would be a good way to transfer large amounts of money though, because it won't come with such a favorable exchange rate as a TT.

When I moved over here, I asked my US bank (Chevy Chase Bank in VA) about an international wire transfer.  It just seemed like too much of a hastle, so I started using the ATM.  Whenever I need to (I am paid in $ to my US account, so I do this usually twice a month) I go to the ATM at Barklays and withdraw £250 in cash from my US account, then to the teller and deposit it into my UK account.  All I have to pay is the $2 ATM fee from Chevy Chase Bank.

The only drawback is the limit on how much I can withdraw.  I'm limited to $500/day, so depending on the exchange rate it takes 2 or 3 trips to the bank to get the amount of money that I need to deposit.

Aaron

My fiance gets checks from  an American company and they take
8 weeks to clear. He also loses an enormous amount of
money in the transaction. (I don't mean just the exchange
rate, but from additional bank fees.)

It is because his bank and mine are local consumer banks
that don't deal with international business.

Well if you are transferring a large sum - get another account in the USA...one that does international transfers.

OR you could get an account with Barclays or CityBank.  Both of these offer currency accounts (in both $ and £).

Sometimes dealing with two different currencies there will be mild hassles.  It's all part of the adventure!

My fiance gets checks from  an American company and they take
8 weeks to clear. He also loses an enormous amount of
money in the transaction. (I don't mean just the exchange
rate, but from additional bank fees.)

It is because his bank and mine are local consumer banks
that don't deal with international business.

Why doesn't he switch banks?  Seems rather foolish to lose large amounts of money every month.

It's not his regular everyday job. It's a company that has ads on his websites, which he designs in his spare time. They only send him checks a few times a year. If the American checks started coming more frequently and he had a problem, maybe he would change banks.

It's not his regular everyday job. It's a company that has ads on his websites, which he designs in his spare time. They only send him checks a few times a year. If the American checks started coming more frequently and he had a problem, maybe he would change banks.

If you keep making excuses for the advice that is given to you - then why bother asking in the first place? 

There is plenty of good advice in this thread - whether or not you choose to take it is completely up to you.

It's not his regular everyday job. It's a company that has ads on his websites, which he designs in his spare time. They only send him checks a few times a year. If the American checks started coming more frequently and he had a problem, maybe he would change banks.

That seems like another great reason for your switching to a proper bank in the US - so that he can deposit these checks.  That's if your intending to co-mingle your finances...