I have managed to subscribe before using a credit card, but I am no longer able to do that. I usually use PayPal for transactions like this and it looks from the website as though this option may be available at some time in the future, but for now the only option open to me is sending a "check", which would of course be a "cheque" drawn on a British bank, in sterling.

Would it be very expensive for Able Muse to process such a cheque?

Annie,

I could make an electronic payment on your behalf and you could send me the cheque if you like, rather than having to post it to the States and Alex having to process it. That would surely make life easier all round. What d'ya fink?

Jayne

Yes, it went through ... Thank you, Jayne!

Ann, the 'foreign'-currency check should be fine. I'm not sure how much fees the banks here will charge for, but hopefully, it won't be too greedy a rate. As for Paypal, I had some unpleasant experience with them years ago--how they tend to unceremoniously and unilaterally freeze funds, etc.--and I haven't gone back since. However, that was in their eBay ownership days, and I hear they're now separate again. So, I'll look into it again and see how that works now.

Cheers,
...Alex

Thanks for the offer, Jayne. I'll certainly do that - PM me your address - or could I pay you via PayPal?

Thanks, Alex, but Jayne's way seems easier (especially as I am afraid it will be quite a small sum).

Alex, you might be unpleasantly surprised at the size of the fee that an American bank would extract from a British 'cheque.' I may just have a bad bank, but I've found that the fees are so high, and the paperwork so onerous, that it's just not worth it to try, at least with checks in the £25 range, so I usually ask them to give my prizes to the National Autistic Society in London. Better they should get £25 than I should get £7 after sitting with a bank officer for twenty minutes filling out forms. I would encourage you to give Paypal another go. I've found them easy to work with. (At least in the US, they even allow you to send money without extracting any fee at all if it's not part of a running commercial business). And I'm guessing that the availability of Paypal as an option would encourage contributions from many people who feel comfortable with that form of payment.

Ann,

If Jayne can't, I'm happy to receive money via Paypal and send it on to Alex.

Matt

Thanks, Matt. I'll wait and see what Jayne says, but you're my fallback position if she thinks that'd be easier.

My donation was sent yesterday, Alex. It's a great place, and I'm glad you're in charge.

Annie,

I can receive a payment via Paypal, no problem. I think you have my email address but I'll send you a PM with it, and my postal address, in case you'd rather send me a cheque.
(And thanks for the offer, Matt; I'm sure you're a great guy to fall back on :))

Jayne

Thank you, Mark!

Thanks for the bank fee reality check, Roger! I have a feeling the fees that my bank would charge would be just as out of control as what you describe! So, that's more encouragement to try to make a go of it with Paypal.

And thanks Jayne and Matt for offering to help Ann out with the 'foreign' transaction issues!

Cheers,
...Alex