Link to US website (http://www.WeBuyEuros.com)

FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions)

GENERAL INFORMATION:

Are Euro Coin Exchange and webuyeuros.co.uk the same business?
Absolutely. Euro Coin Exchange is our international trading name and 'webuyeuros.co.uk' is our website address (because it's easy to remember). Don't be confused by sites with minor variations on our trading name. If you are not on 'webuyeuros.co.uk' or 'webuyeuros.com' (our US website), you are not dealing with Euro Coin Exchange.

Do you charge any fees to exchange my coins and banknotes?
No. We never have done and never will. Euro Coin Exchange imposes no hidden fees, no surprise charges and no other expenses. We exchange euro coins and notes on a flat rate basis to make it really easy to calculate how much you will receive for your euros. Please note however that if you indicate PayPal as your preferred payment method, PayPal will charge you a ‘recipient’ fee (currently 3.4% + £0.20). Euro Coin Exchange has no control over this fee and does not receive any portion of it or any other compensation. If you opt to receive payment via cheque or via bank transfer to a UK bank, there are no fees.

Is there a minimum amount I can exchange?
Yes – we ask that you exchange at least 5 euros at a time (or the equivalent of £5 in pre-euro notes) unless your currency is being donated to charity, in which case, we will accept any amount. 

Is there a maximum amount I can exchange?
No, there is no maximum. However, if you anticipate entering into a regular business relationship with us or the amount of euros being exchanged in a single transaction is €5,000 or more, we are required under the Money Laundering Regulations to seek proof of your identity and ask that you contact us in advance prior to sending us your euros.

Do I need to send an “even” amount?
No. We will exchange any amount of euro coins and notes (subject to the minimum amount stipulated above).

Do you exchange ALL euro coins?
Yes we do.

Do you accept currencies other than euros?
Yes – we buy pre-euro banknotes from the following countries: Austria (Austrian Schillings), Belgium (Belgian Francs), Germany (German Marks), Ireland (Irish Punts or Pounds), Portugal (Portuguese Escudos) and Spain (Spanish Pesetas). For more information, please visit our rates page. Please note: we do not buy any pre-euro coins.

What exchange rate do you use?
Click here to see our current rates. Owing to currency fluctuations, we may need to adjust our exchange rates from time to time. As a result, the rate you see on our website on the day you send us your coins may be different to the rate displayed on the day we receive your currency. We will apply the rate which appears on our website as of 9am on the day we receive your currency. Deliveries received outside normal business hours will be exchanged at the rate posted on our website at 9am on the next business day.

Why don't you use the same exchange rate as the banks?
Banks deal with instant electronic transfers and/or large quantities of readily transferable paper money. Foreign coins are more expensive to transport and process which is why banks are not interested in them. Coins are also at greater risk of adverse currency fluctuation because of the longer interval between the time we buy them and the time they are repatriated (i.e. physically shipped to a eurozone country). Our customers regularly tell us that we offer the best deal anywhere in the country with unsurpassed customer service. We provide great service and a fair deal, but (regrettably) we can't perform miracles.

How soon will I get paid after I send my coins?
In most cases, we process all coin shipments on the day we receive them. If you request a payment direct to your bank account or to your PayPal account, your payment will be transmitted to you on the same day your coins are processed (generally the same day we receive your coins). If you request payment by cheque, the cheque will be posted either on the same day as your coins are processed or on the following day, depending on the time your coins are processed. If you provide us with an email address, we will send you an email message confirming that your payment is on its way.

What is the quickest way to get paid?
Select 'Bank Transfer' as your preferred payment option. Many high street banks now use the 'Faster Payments' service which is a same day payment service and usually results in the payee's account (i.e. your account) being credited immediately. In practice, 'immediately' can mean anything up to two hours. To date, we have never encountered an instance of a customer being paid via the Faster Payments service and their account not being credited the same day.

I need some help identifying my coins. Where should I look?
The European Central Bank provides a comprehensive list of all euro coins currently in circulation. Click here to view the different coins by country. (Tip: a list of the coins produced by each country/principality within the eurozone can be seen on the right of the page in the link).

SHIPPING ADVICE:

What’s the best way to ship my coins?
1. Roll up your coins into coin rolls (see our ‘How to package coins’ video above) or make coin stacks and insert the stacks into plastic coin bags obtainable from any high street bank.
2. Place them in a sturdy padded envelope or box. If using a padded envelope, you may want to pack your coin rolls/bags inside a Ziploc bag or bubble wrap.
3. BE SURE TO INCLUDE YOUR PACKING LIST WITH YOUR SHIPMENT.
4. Write your name and address on the back of the padded envelope/box containing your coins.
5. Mail your package to:

ECE – Processing Centre
PO Box 4201
BRACKNELL
RG42 9NP  

General packaging tips:

  • Please be discreet and avoid writing ‘Euro Coin Exchange’ on the address label. Please use the address exactly as it appears above.
  • PLEASE DO NOT MAIL LOOSE COINS IN A STANDARD ENVELOPE. They can cause the envelope to tear during transit and some or all of your coins may get lost.
  • Insert enough padding around your coins so that they don’t rattle.
  • Seal your package with plenty of tape.
  • Please do not tape your coins to card. The glue from the tape makes the coins difficult to count.

How much will it cost me to send my coins?
If you know the weight of your package, you can look up the postage cost by referring to this Royal Mail price list. For a recorded delivery ('Recorded Signed For'), add £0.77 to the standard first or second class prices for Letters, Large Letters and Packets. Alternatively, take your package along to your nearest Post Office where they will weigh it and advise on the various postage options.

Recorded Signed For or Special Delivery?
Recorded Signed For and Special Delivery both require a signature upon delivery. However, unless you are:

  • sending a valuable quantity of coins/currency
  • wanting guaranteed next day delivery
  • wanting to insure your shipment

consider using Royal Mail's 'Recorded Signed For' service rather than 'Special Delivery'. The Post Office will often try and talk you into buying the more expensive option (Special Delivery) which in our experience is often unnecessary. Recorded Signed For costs an additional £0.77 on top of the standard 1st or 2nd class price of sending a Letter, Large Letter or Packet. You may be wondering 'How much is a valuable quantity of coins?'. This is an entirely subjective decision. In our experience, providing you package your coins/currency securely (we offer a free shipping envelope if you don't have a suitable container), the chances of your shipment not reaching us are remote. So, if proof of delivery is more important than speed of delivery or insuring your shipment, consider Recorded Signed For over Special Delivery. 

Should I insure my shipment?
The choice is yours and the answer depends on how comfortable you feel using regular 1st/2nd/Standard Parcels post. In our experience, provided you package your shipment securely, Royal Mail 1st/2nd/Standard Parcels post is very reliable. The next step up from 1st/2nd class post is recorded delivery ('Recorded Signed For') where a signature is required on delivery. For higher value shipments we strongly recommend using either Special Delivery (insurance included) or Recorded Signed For (insurance not included but signature required on delivery) or a courier service. As an alternative to Royal Mail you may wish to check out the courier comparison website – Parcel2go.

Can I deliver my coins to your office in person?
For security and insurance reasons, we are unable to accept coin deliveries in person. If you have a large amount of currency to exchange (i.e. several thousand euros or equivalent), we offer a free collection service. Please contact us for further details.

I live outside the United Kingdom. Can I receive payment in a currency other than UK pounds (GBP)? 
Yes. You have two options: payment via PayPal (subject to PayPal's ‘recipient fee’ explained above and their applicable exchange rate) or payment via international money transfer. If the payment is in euros to a country in the SEPA zone, there are normally no bank charges. For other international money payment arrangements (which may incur bank charges), please contact us prior to sending us your currency to discuss your requirements.

CONTACT US:

I would feel better if I could speak with a real person before I put my money in the mail. How do I reach you by telephone?
 If you would like to talk to us, you can reach us on our FREEPHONE number: 0800 612 4465. If calling from outside the UK, please dial +44 1344 206226. Our phone lines are open from 9am to 5pm (Monday to Friday, excluding public holidays). Outside of these hours, please feel free to leave a message and a contact number if you would like us to call you back.