I have done many "searches" on this subject and the subject of banking in general on this website and a few others, but I'm still not sure I understand.... :lo: What is the best way for me to pay my American bills (such as a student loan repay and a credit card bill) from Spain when I am paid in Euros, and my American bills back home need to be paid in American dollars?? Maybe I need to have this explained to me like I'm a 6 yr old (love that phrase!)...I know I can pay these bills over the internet, but if my Spanish bank account holds euros how can I have my American bills paid in dollars from that account? Please help me figure this out if you have the time, knowledge and/or inclination. Thanks!! :ks:
~Helen<br /><br />It's never too late to be who you might have been.<br />~George Eliot
Posts: 10 | Location: Sacramento (California, USA) | Registered: 05 May 2004
ok, the easiest way would be to not pay them but as that is not an option (at least not for everyone ), your question is a good one.
would ex-pats on this board who still pay bills back in u.s.a. please stand up
personally, for the few bills that i still have back there i send a chack, which usually ends up bouncing all the way back to at least the westernmost point of the inberian peninsula :jeje:
but seriously. Cali-gurl, i would imagine that you will still have a bank account in $$$ dollars back in u.s.a., right? no matter how you look at the situation, if you are going to be paid in �uros and have to pay your bills in u.s. $$$, you will need to convert the � to $. it is not worth opening a $$$ account here in spain as the maintenance is too high and the interest is non-existent so you will simply have to periodically transfer your �uros her to your u.s. account in $. the transfers will cost less if you do them online via your spanish banks online banking system (i recommend "la caixa" for this). then you can simply pay the bills online via your u.s.a. banks online system.
I have been looking for the best way to do what you are trying to do for the past three years.
The only bills that I am now paying in the US are my student loan and the occasional credit card charge when I use my US card here in Spain.
I still maintain a bank account in the US and do one of three things...
1. "Bank by Mom" -- I�ll ask my mother to deposit money in my account and then I�ll send her a Western Union transfer for that same amount.
2. When friends come to visit, I give them money which they deposit for me.
3. When I go to the US, I take a sufficient amount of money to deposit there.
It is a real hassle to do it this way, but is the best way for ME as my bank account is a credit union account and when I do bank transfers, I get hit with two transfer fees instead of one since there must be a receiving bank in the US before the funds arrive in my credit union account.
Explore all your options. Unfortunately, there is no getting around the conversion fees.
I have this same problem with paying bills etc in UK. When I first moved here, I used to transfer money and have to pay about 100 euros commission...... When I go back to the UK I always draw out money using my card for my spanish bank account. They charge a set fee (about 2 euros) and then usually a good rate of commission.
Because I don't go back to the UK loads, I asked the bank for an extra card and gave it to my parents who then draw out money for me and pay it into my UK account.
It works for me in England, but not sure if you can do something similar in The USA or not....
Posts: 7 | Location: Madrid (Yorkshire, UK) | Registered: 10 June 2004
Good answers, particularly the last one by lemoncurd (btw, I love lemon curd, just went to London a couple of weekends ago and came back with three jars, yum! ). I also use a US bank account and checkbook for paying bills over there, I do have to keep in mind that they take a little bit longer to get here and there but some companies will allow you a little extra time for the overseas mailing. Do explore all your options and don't forget to ask your banks or debtors for internet options. Lena
I agree with Chica, I have others take money from here and deposit it there, or take it myself, or do an international transfer. I also agree with other comments, my parents, for example, have another card to my US bank account so that they can do anything over there that I need done in my absence. Then when I use a credit card from the states or have to pay a student loan payment, I just use my online bill payment service from my US account, which writes the check and mails it for me. It's very easy. It's the best idea to keep both a Spanish and an American account open I have found. THey each serve their purpose, paying bills there, phone recharges here, or having people transfer right into your account, etc. Besos, Joy
Posts: 541 | Location: Madrid (but from Boston) | Registered: 16 December 2002
Thank you everyone for giving me some great advice! I will keep my American bank account open when I come to Spain and then open a bank account in Spain as well and transfer money back and forth between the accounts when I need to pay bills online back home. Sounds simple enough.....thanks again! :cheers:
~Helen<br /><br />It's never too late to be who you might have been.<br />~George Eliot
Posts: 10 | Location: Sacramento (California, USA) | Registered: 05 May 2004
), your question is a good one.
:jeje: 
- rent or buy a cell phone from me for your stay in spain, more info at 
- already have a cell phone, get a spanish SIM card for it at 
). 
I will keep my American bank account open when I come to Spain and then open a bank account in Spain as well and transfer money back and forth between the accounts when I need to pay bills online back home. Sounds simple enough.....thanks again!
