As you already know I am based in Sweden and right now I wonder how I will be able to pay for the dinner at the Catman Do in New York. Anyone has any ideas?

I had a (probably) similar problem kempis. The problems I faced were:[*]a US$ check (from my swiss banks) would cost me at least Sfr 40-50 additional charges.[*]it is too risky to send money[*]I just registered for paypal, but now I have to wait for the next paper-statement of my VISA-credit card (and that will arrive mid-march-2001 only) to 'get' the 4-digit-number 'related' to my 1$ first charge from paypal. That's too late.[*]It wouldn't be fair to ask Catman to 'lend/borrow' me the money, as I noted last year how no-shows did create problems and left a hole in his wallet.

I did find an attending FlyerTalk-friend in the US who (takes the risk and) will include me and Gisela in his check (and I will repay him/her at the event).

[This message has been edited by Rudi (edited 02-13-2001).]

Kempis .. did you not get an email from Catman re Paypal etc? I had same curious message Rudi got about them debiting me a test $US1, then needing to wait for next VISA statement to get some kind of 4 number code off there, but if you phoned VISA to ask, Paypal would get angry etc! We three are all without US check books!

Kempis - why don't I pay for yours and we adjust it on the hockey tickets or whatever? Let me know if that makes it easier for you and I'll fix Catman for three dinners.



------------------
~ Glen ~

Ozstamps
I would really appreciate if you could consider to pay the dinner for me and I will make it up to you as soon as I arrive at Newark.

Depending on the actual price, would it be possible to buy US Travellers' Checks from your local AMEX office? I don't know if they'll only sell you two checks, however...

Rudi sez...

It left more than a $200 (US) hole in my wallet too...

One of the benefits of having an E*TRADE account in the US (they do accept foreign customers) is that they give you a book with American USD checks to write. Pretty nice - I use it pretty often.

I think PayPal is probably your best option kempis. When I first looked at PayPal about a year ago they only accepted members with a US billing address on their credit card (I do have a US billing address on my AMEX - but they only took MC and VISA) but now they seem to accept members from whereever.



------------------
Goldlust

Duplicate

[This message has been edited by Austman (edited 02-13-2001).]

I'm having exactly the same problem. Let's face it, for non-North Americans sending relatively small sums of momey to the USA is a problem.

I think my only practical solution is just to post some cash to Catman.

I'd also be happy to give my credit card number to Catman or the restaurant, similar to what I do for hotels, as a guarantee. But I don't know if a restaurant could charge the card for a no-show the way a hotel can. Does anyone know?

Maybe the restaurant could charge your card now for the dinner and apply it to whatever account Catman might have set up. I guess you would need to fax a copy of the front and back of your card along with some type of photo ID along with your written authorization.

Just a thought.

TW

Maybe the restaurant could charge your card now for the dinner and apply it to whatever account Catman might have set up. I guess you would need to fax a copy of the front and back of your card along with some type of photo ID along with your written authorization.

Just a thought.

TW

Austman. Happy to do the same deal for you as Kempis is doing if you do not wish to bother with the long and rather bizarre PayPal set-up paperwork. I'll just pay Catman for Kempis, Joh, myself and you as a group of four, by the payment deadine and you fix me up in NY.

Tolarian Wind. I think to be fair to Catman, who has spent, and will still spend, an awful lot of time on this, he wants payment to be as hassle free as possible for HIM. If he makes an eventual single payment to restaurant, from monies in his hands WAY before dinner date, he knows it is all 100% accounted for, from EVERY attendee right down to the correct tip. If there were problems in this regard last year, with no-shows who simply did noty cough up their fee, I'd do it exactly the same. Catman has asked that confirmed attendees MUST please have all monies in his hands by February 26th.

I imagine most US based attendees will simply write a $US check, which just does not work for those of us overseas. Austman - Sending cash would be a headache for you and Catman if it got lost, as one of you is $65 out of pocket. Lots of folks trying to use their cards at Restaurant in advance, by faxing details etc, as per Tolarians' suggestion might/would create a paperwork mess for Catman? As no idea if there is a $65 traveller check, but I think only $20/50/100/500 etc?

I did offer an option to consider, for all attendees that wished, to have me debit their credit cards $US65 and absorb the merchant fee as a small donation to the event (I accept all 5 cards as a merchant) and hand a chunk of cash to Catman in March, but that got complicated due to daily $A/$US/Swedish Krona whatever exchange rate movements I guess.

------------------
~ Glen ~



[This message has been edited by ozstamps (edited 02-13-2001).]

Friends, if you have questions about payment, please e-mail me. Thank you.

Aren't postal or bank money orders available overseas in US$ relatively cheaply. My bank charges C$2.50 for this service, but waives these charges for those having full service accounts. Canada Post charges about the same fee. Just don't make it payable to CATMAN, or Mark may have problems at his bank.

The North American banking (account) system seems to be out of another long forgotten world from a European point of view. We usually transfer money from one account to another within two / three working days - looong before online banking. So we aren't used to "money - order stuff" anymore i.E. it has become that unusual, that it is quite expensive to use ... and takes way too much time.