Funds from abroad

[surveyor]

I've started to do some work for a firm in Ireland. Bizarrely they pay me from their head office in the US.

I'm seeing some pretty pricey charges from my bank for the payment into my bank.

Is there any way around this? Anyone know if banks make similar charges for a payment from Ireland (which is what I envisaged)?

[NorthDave]

I'd be trying a different bank. We get funds in from all over and I dont recall any charges. Not sure why your bank would see fit to charge you at all. CHAPS is CHAPS.

[elster]

I get paid in Euros & Stirling. So I have an HSBC euro account and Stirling account. I also have a credit agricole account when I want to keep the money in euros.

If getting paid in a different currency the exchange rate and costs can be a pain so I use currency fair to transfer money.

[LooneyTunes]

Astonishingly the banking system gives the sender the option of deciding who pays the fees for international transfers (sender, recipient, or split).

I'd bet the fees are due in part to them electing to have you bear or split them and/or sending the funds in USD instead of GBP. Either of these amounts to them being ignorant of how the system works or deliberately trying to pull a fast one by letting you bear fees that they should be paying.

You need to remind them that:

1: You must be paid in GBP; and
2: Bank charges must be for their account only (i.e. not yours or split).

Do both of these and you won't get hit with anything above and beyond any normal fees you incur.