Paying from abroad: pounds, euros or dollars

How to choose: use the currency your money is in

If you are in the USA or Europe, the simplest rule is to choose the currency your money is already in. Pay a dollar quote from a dollar account, or a euro quote from a euro account, and nothing needs converting, so there is no exchange rate to worry about. Some providers still charge for international payments, so it is worth checking with yours.

• Paying from a US account or card: US dollars are usually the natural choice.
• Paying from a euro account or card, in Italy or anywhere else in the euro area: choose euros.
• Paying from a UK account: if you live in the USA or Europe but pay from a sterling account, choose pounds.
• Holding several currencies: if your account or card holds pounds, euros or dollars side by side, choose one you already hold.
• Money in another currency: if your account is in Swedish kronor or Norwegian kroner, for example, none of the three will match it. Whichever you choose, your bank converts it, so ask your provider which of the three costs less to pay in.

When your bank converts the currency

If the quote is in a currency that is not your account’s own, for example pounds or euros paid from a Swedish krona or Norwegian krone account, or pounds paid from a US dollar card, your card issuer or bank usually does the conversion. It sets the exchange rate, and many providers add a charge for foreign-currency payments, often called a foreign transaction fee or a currency conversion fee.

• Rates differ between providers. Some use a rate close to the market rate; others add a margin.
• Fees differ too. Some cards charge nothing for foreign-currency payments, some charge a percentage, and some banks charge a fixed fee for international transfers.
• Your statement shows the result. The exact amount in your own currency may not be known until the payment is processed.
• Your provider has the answer. Because fees depend on your bank or card, it is worth checking with them before you pay, especially for a larger order.

Your quote is fixed, but exchange rates move

Once you approve your quote, the amount is fixed in the currency you chose. What can change, if you pay from an account in a different currency, is what that amount costs you in your own money, because exchange rates move every day. If you work out the figure when the quote arrives and then pay a week later, it may be slightly different, up or down. That is normal, and outside anyone’s control. If you want to know the figure precisely, check it on the day you pay rather than the day the quote arrives. Card statements often show the original amount alongside the converted amount, which helps you see the rate you were given.

This is another reason to choose the currency your money is already in, where you can: the amount on your quote is then the amount you pay, apart from any charges your own provider makes.

More generally, whenever you pay a business abroad by card and are offered the choice of being charged in your own currency rather than theirs, the rate is set by whoever makes the offer. Compare it with your bank’s before you choose; the option that looks simpler is not always the cheaper one.

Taxes and import charges

Import charges do not come as a separate bill. Every outfit is shipped from Pakistan, and parcels from abroad are normally subject to import duties, taxes or courier handling fees in the destination country, including the UK. The rules are set by that country, not by us, but with us you do not pay them on arrival: your written quote includes delivery to your address and any import duties, taxes and customs or courier fees, in the same currency as the rest of the quote, so there is nothing extra to pay when your parcel arrives. If a courier ever asks you for payment on delivery, contact us before paying anything.

Our region pages explain the basics for the UK, the USA, Italy and the rest of Europe. For customs in more depth, see ordering from Europe: customs, delivery and paying or ordering from the USA.

A quick checklist before you pay

Our guide to what to look for in your written quote explains the rest of the quote. When you are ready, the stitching quote form is where every order begins, and the custom stitching service shows what we make. Before you pay:

• If you are in the USA or Europe, choose US dollars, euros or pounds, ideally the currency your account is in, and tell us when you ask for a quote.
• Read the quote and check the total and its currency, including the delivery and import charges it covers.
• Follow the payment instructions in the quote.
• If you are paying from an account in a different currency, check your card or bank’s exchange rate and foreign-currency fees.
• Keep a copy of the quote and your payment confirmation.
• Remember that delivery and any import duties, taxes and courier fees are already in the total, so there is nothing extra to pay when your parcel arrives.