The end of the money drama

[wiseheart]

Well, it seems things are sorted out. But boy, it wasn't easy.

First, Mum valiantly got to the other end of the city - and let me tell you, Budapest is one hell of a big city - to find the address. To our surprise, it was an actual, legal Ltd. Even the phone number was correct, for all that a gardening shop had answered the calls from a different connection on the day before. Anyway, Mum of course didn't take the money with her first, just to be on the safe side. Talked to the guy in the place and called me to tell me that we should go back as soon as I got off work.

When we met, she'd already talked to the guy on the phone again, and it turned out that he wouldn't exchange the old notes for new ones, only buy them... below worth, of course, and with a fee attached. We discussed for a while if we should actually do it, but then decided that yes, we should. Despite the money loss, this was the easiest and cleanest way to deal with the situation.

So we returned to the Ltd. Mum has also taken with her a bunch of old 200 Ft coins, the ones that had been out of circulation for more than ten years, because the guy had told her that he would buy them, too, and there wasn't anything we could have done with them anyway. So we thought that if he bought them for their actual original value, that would almost cover our losses on the other end.

It turns out, he bought them a lot better. We got three times the money for them than we had hoped for, and so we not only have the losses due to the fee and stuff covered, but also the losses caused by the fact that we'd bought our 20-pound notes for 25 per cent more five years ago than they would actually cost today, due to the differences in the change rates. 5 years ago, we had to pay over 400 Ft for one pound. Today, it would be between 306 and 310 Ft, depending on the course of the day.

So, it was a nice surprise, and now Mum will have the time to hunt for change shops where she can buy our travel money again, for a reasonable price. I don't doubt that she'll find the best ones. She's tough and resourceful, and being retired, she has the time to go around and look.

Comments

[aviv-b.livejournal.com]

Ah that's nice to hear. You wouldn't think it would be so difficult to exchange old money, would you?

[wiseheart.livejournal.com]

Ridiculous, isn't it? John Hart would have had his field day with the situation, considering that for him the only consolation for the unpleasentness of life is... money!

[solanpolarn.livejournal.com]

I am very pleased to hear you got the money issue sorted, and in such a successful manner. Your Mum sounds like a really awesome woman!

[wiseheart.livejournal.com]

Yep, my Mum is fairly unbelievable, at her age, and considering what he's gone through. One can't help but admire her. Even thouogh she tends to squeeze the toothpaste tube in the middle. ;)

[rcfinch.livejournal.com]

You know, this is precisely the kind of thing my mother would have done in a similar situation. Must have been something in the air back then when they made them. And of course they had worse to deal with in WWII. Anyway, I'm glad it worked out so well!

[wiseheart.livejournal.com]

Yep, we could all learn from our mums a lot when it comes to crisis management, couldn't we?

[glitterboy1.livejournal.com]

Good news - your Mum did a great job! I was worried when I saw that the guy was going to buy them at below face value, but it sounds as though it worked out really well in the end, and it's so good to have the problem solved and off your mind.

[wiseheart.livejournal.com]

Yep, it's certainly a relief. And this was the fastest, cleanest solution. Still, thanks for your offer to help with the problem.

[glitterboy1.livejournal.com]

You're welcome! It would have been absolutely fine to do that, but I'm glad, for the sake of reducing hassle for you, that we didn't have to do it!

[lhun-dweller.livejournal.com]

Go, Mum! Care and persistence paid off. Well done! (And I assume more properly converted cash means more shinies for your collection in the future??? [evil grin])

[wiseheart.livejournal.com]

I wish! Unfortunately, we're going to have about ten minutes of free time each day on the journey, mostly after dinner, when everything has already closed - but I'll see what I can do.

I really, really hope that I might find the first couple of Tom Baker's Dr. Who episodes on DVD - the ones featuring Harry Sullivan. But the chance is a slim one at best. Still, that won't stop me from trying. ;)

[artemis10002000]

Great for you! I'm so glad you got it all sorted out.