Warning for UK tourists who are making currency exchange mistake

Tourists have been urged to buy cash and exchange currency “in person”. It comes after Travel FX proved to be too slow to refund £1,500 after Singapore dollars failed to show.

Writing into the Guardian’s consumer affairs section, The Guardian reader wrote in to say: “I ordered £1,500-worth of Singapore dollars from Travel FX on 5 July. The money was taken out of my account and delivery was supposed to be the next day by Royal Mail.

“The money never arrived and Travel FX insisted that, as it was with Royal Mail, it was out of its hands. I was forced to buy another £1,500 from a different provider.

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“Travel FX insists that I must wait for Royal Mail to investigate and that I will only get a refund if Royal Mail concludes it was at fault and repays Travel FX.”

They added: “When I complained about the delay, Travel FX told me patience would be the most economical solution for me.”

After intervention from the Guardian, Travel FX issued a response to the national newspaper.

“Unfortunately, Royal Mail’s investigation in this instance has taken longer than usual, which we agree is frustrating for the customer and for us,” a spokesperson said.

It was able to refund you within three days of the Guardian stepping in. But the newspaper’s consumer champion urged travellers and holidaymakers to buy cash “in person.”

One reader replied: “”patience would be the most economical solution” At that point the red-mist would have descended.”

A second said: “And for the millionth time, a company doing something blatantly illegal secure in the knowledge that because it is a company nobody will lift a finger to hold it to account.

“All people can do is go out of their way to have as few interactions with business as possible.”