Paying cheque into foreign account

[Autumnchill]

Can't find the answer via Google so hoping the collective brain of Mumsnet can help!

We have a semi-professional sportsperson stay with us every year, last year he was from South Africa. They're employed by the local sports club for the season and pay tax and NI.

We've just received a cheque for him from HMRC with a rebate and he's sent me his bank details but I don't know how to go about paying it in. The bank is Absa and I bank with First Direct.

How do I do it?

[dementedpixie]

What currency is it in?

[dementedpixie]

I don't think you can physically pay it in from here to a foreign account. Is the cheque made out in his name?

[Autumnchill]

It's from HMRC so £. He closed his UK account when he went home. Previous years our guests have been with Barclays or Lloyd's so no issue when they've had a rebate, we just called into the bank.

[dementedpixie]

Do they have UK branches? Does he have a sterling account?

[TwoBlueFish]

You need to send the cheque to him and he’ll need to pay it into his bank.

I’ve recently paid in a US$ cheque into my UK bank account, had to mail it to them, took a few days to clear and they charged £10.

[Autumnchill]

It's in his name so we can't cash it and send him the money

[PrincessForADay]

You'll need to forward it by courier to him as it will need to be paid into Absa. It will depend on his T&C whether they accept Sterling cheques & if so any charges that apply

[AuditAngel]

You need to know who he banks with, to be able to pay a cheque in, not who the issuing bank is,

[Autumnchill]

The banks Asba so not UK.

I'm thinking I'm just going to have to post it to SA for him to pay in

[Autumnchill]

@AuditAngel, I know the bank and was hoping perhaps someone like the Post Office had the facility to assist

[Autumnchill]

Thank you @PrincessForADay.

Think I'll get him to check first before I post it.

[Fanthorpe]

www.absa.co.za/business/international-banking/explore-international-payments/

Any use?

[Fanthorpe]

Check with him but I wouldn’t post it to SA, it won’t reach him.

[dementedpixie]

Looks like their might be branches in London. Maybe ring and ask their advice

[Autumnchill]

@Fanthorpe thanks, I looked on their page but could only find electronic transfers.

Think it's definitely going to have to be posted. I'll message him tomorrow 😊

[dementedpixie]

*there
www.absa.co.za/find-us/

[Autumnchill]

@dementedpixie thank you, missed they had a UK office. I'll email them tomorrow and ask

[Autumnchill]

You'll be surprised there isn't a branch in Cleethorpes 😁

[dementedpixie]

In the absence of a UK account then I think your only option is to send it to him.

[Fanthorpe]

I think if you can find a partner bank in the U.K. they can make a SWIFT payment via Transferwise. They make the exchange as well. There is a fee.

[PlanDeRaccordement]

HMRC can do bank transfer to his account. I’d destroy the check and have him call HMRC.
Since he doesn’t have a £ account in U.K. anymore, they’d transfer it to his £ account with a money exchanger like World first or mineycorp.

[Autumnchill]

I tried to get him to do it via The Gateway when he got the first letter but in true bloke style he left it too long so after 14 days they issued the cheque. Would have been so much easier! I doubt I'd be able to get him to ring HMRC. Probably cost him as much as his rebate 😁

[GeorgieTheGorgeousGoat]

Shouldn’t this be his job to sort out? Don’t see why you’re lumbered with fixing it.

[Autumnchill]

He was a very nice guest so no problem trying to help him if I can.