Money

[mmgemini]

I've been to the bank in England today to order Rand and Pula.

I can have my Rand no problem.
I'm told by the bank that they're not allowed to import or export Pula, is that so ?

[mazzyjane]

this site might help ?
http://www.pulainfo.hr/en/korisneinfo.asp


:)

[mmgemini]

this site might help ?
http://www.pulainfo.hr/en/korisneinfo.asp


:)

Pula is money, the country is Botswana :D :D

[ROB 110 HICAP]

Maybe a 'soft' currency so they don't trade it internationally/outside its own border. It was the same in Morocco when I went, but there are illegal moeny traders at the border if you deal discretely. I guess take Euros/dollars and exchange when you get there or close to the border.

[mazzyjane]

:D :D :D That is so me...........

[mazzyjane]

ok lol Try this

http://wwp.greenwichmeantime.com/time-zone/africa/botswana/currency.htm


:)

[bvudzichena]

Mike,

I haven't heard this myself, but I've emailed my relationship manager at Nedbank to find out what the story is.

Bring ZAR and USD. That will get you just about anywhere.

Any bank in Bots will change your USD for Pula.

[mmgemini]

Well the plot thickens. :D

I had to go to the post office. They couldn't do it "Try our travel agent next door"

So I went next door.

"Pula" says I.
How much do you want said she. They can get it and only need four days notice.

Now why can't the bank supply ?

[bvudzichena]

I've had an interesting email from Nedbank advising me that I should go to Thomas Cook or Amex for "funny currencies" like Pula, Nam$ or Meticais :eek:

[Marc Lurie]

I've had an interesting email from Nedbank advising me that I should go to Thomas Cook or Amex for "funny currencies" like Pula, Nam$ or Meticais :eek:

Bvudzi and Mike,

It is my experience that large retail banks such as Nedbank are not interested in dealing in the less common currencies. They will deal in $£¥and€, but don't want the nightmare of the others.

In Africa the USD reigns supreme and is even accepted as legal tender in several countries. Any bank or bureau de change in Bots will change your USD or GBP's, although USD is far more common. You can also change Rands in Bots.

ROB 110 HICAP, using black market money dealers in some countries is a sure-fire way to lose a lot of money. I ABSOLUTELY GUARANTEE that if you change money at a Mozambique border post you will loose at least half of your money. The guys at the border are so quick that they confuse you with factors of 10, they count the money while it's doubled over, thereby giving only half of what they counted, and as soon as you hand over the dollars they're off like a rat up a drain pipe. You could end up with 5c in the dollar.

If you ask the locals where they change money (and preferable take a local with you) then you're not likely to get ripped off.

Cheers,
Marc

[mmgemini]

What is even more puzzeling is that both in 2004 and 2005 my bank got my Pula.............

[mmgemini]

Just read a trip reprt on the Overland Forum and they had trouble getting Pula before they left ZA.

Margaret

[El Stiemo]

I've had an interesting email from Nedbank advising me that I should go to Thomas Cook or Amex for "funny currencies" like Pula, Nam$ or Meticais :eek:

OI! What's so funny about the Nam Dollar? ;)

You can pay everything everywhere in Namibia with either Rand or Nam Dollars at 1:1. Botswana does not generally accept Nam Dollars, except at the borders.

Cheers Frank

[Jode]

I've been to the bank in England today to order Rand and Pula.

I can have my Rand no problem.
I'm told by the bank that they're not allowed to import or export Pula, is that so ?
No exchange controls on the Pula, your bank is out of touch.

Cheers.

[mmgemini]

No exchange controls on the Pula, your bank is out of touch.

Cheers.

Sorry Jode the bank isn't out of touch. None of the UK main banks touch Pula. :eek: :eek:

[Jode]

Your bank told you that "they weren't allowed to import or export the Pula". I can only presume that they meant their head office cannot be bothered to carry the cost of importing or exporting the currency - understandable insofar as there is a very limited market for the currency. As noted, the Pula is not bound by currrency restrictions other than those that apply to say the Pound Sterling.

Cheers.

[Henk Coetzee]

I can only presume that they meant their head office cannot be bothered to carry the cost of importing or exporting the currency .



Sounds like everywhere I tried yesterday in Pretoria. I fear I will be at the mercy of the border exchange rate tomorrow.

[mmgemini]

Your bank told you that "they weren't allowed to import or export the Pula". I can only presume that they meant their head office cannot be bothered to carry the cost of importing or exporting the currency - understandable insofar as there is a very limited market for the currency. As noted, the Pula is not bound by currrency restrictions other than those that apply to say the Pound Sterling.

Cheers.

Nail, hammer and head come to mind......:D :D

I called in at the travel agent yesterday, the same one that said "Pula no problem"

OH !! no we can't, there's a postal strike one.

" I don't need it for two weeks" I said

OH in that case there isn't a problem....

They must be used to people asking for currency the day that they travel....

[Jode]

Henk, some RSA companies even refuse to settle Pula debt, insisting that "we can only pay in Rand". Very helpful.

Cheers.

[Henk Coetzee]

Now to report back on the trip and the currency dealings. After having no luck in Pretoria, I tried the banks in Zeerust. FNB do change Rand to Pula, but only for their own customers. On to Standard Bank across the road. "Yes we do that, wait in that queue." Wait..... Wait...... Eventually make it to the front of the queue to be told: no, we don't do that, go to the Cafe across the road. Went across the road and changed at an exchange rate comparable to what all the people who don't do Pula offer.

The problem is really that they don't accept anything but Pula in cash at the border. Once you are across, there are ATMs, credit cards and all sorts of useful things. In Kang, where we stayed over on the way to Nam, everyone seems to accept Rands, Nam Dollars and Pula, so there were no crises.

Henk

[Jode]

I think that's the same at the RSA borders - they only accept ZAR. But I may be wrong - we don't visit all that often - but we certainly USED Rand last time visiting RSA, maybe 'though because we had some spare at home.

Pleased to read that you otherwise had no currency probs.

Cheers.