FYI: identity theft

[Rob O'Donnell]

At 19:43 24/11/2004, Jos Dreesen wrote:


>>I've also had several people from other parts of
>>Europe (I'm in the UK) asking if they can pay
>>directly, all I need to do is provide an IBAN for
>>my account. I've declined up to know (because I
>>have no idea how it works, what scams might lie
>>behind it and - most importantly - what the charges
>>are and who pays them!) and they've all gone on to
>>pay via PayPal.
>
>IBAN is a very good way of transferring money inside Europe.
>EU regulations make it illegal for banks to charge more for IBAN transfers 
>than for transfers inside a country.
>This makes it in fact the cheapest way of transferring money inside Europe.
>I do not know how UK not being in the Euro zones affects this though.

In the UK, you have to ask your bank for an IBAN number, and it might take 
some hunting down somebody who knows what you are on about (try phoning 
their international banking department if you get nowhere) but otherwise it 
works just fine.  At least it has for me receiving money - I've got no idea 
how to send to one!

Rob.