Cashing International Cheque back in OZ

[albatross710]

During a trip to SIngapore I did some shoping and made the decision to seek the GST refund for goods taken out of the country. After processing fees and various conditions I've ended up with a S$9.45 (~AUD7) cheque in my letterbox yesterday.

I'm open to the most cost effective solution to convert it to something useful.

I bank Westpac which would probably have a $6.50 foreign cheque fee so hardly worth processing it.

Anyone know of a lower cost way of converting it to cash? Can anyone suggest a charity that might be able to use it?

 

[Mal]

Heading back to Singapore anytime soon? Might be a lot less hassle to sort it out over there. Perhaps they'll swap it for cash at the Refunds place.

However, for $7 - I'd probably just file the cheque away and forget about it. But knowing Singaporean efficiency, I wouldn't be surprised to see a replacement cheque turn up in several months noting that you never cashed the original one and it's now expired

 

[albatross710]

Thanks Mal,

I knew it wasn't going to be a happy story at the time I went through the original pain in Singapore. The merchant is happy to cash it when I go back...within 6 months. I did it mainly to understand the system

It is drawn as an A/C Payee Only cheque so I"m not even sure I can send it to a friend in Sing.

It was an interesting process. In the store I used, Mustafa Centre, Little India. Required going to a special desk in the basement of the building.

1. All receipts had to be dated same day on the one one claim
2. Only totals >S$100 could be claimed.
3. GST rate is pretty low anyway...3%?
4. There is a processing fee of about $3 on the gst claim
5. When leaving through Changi had to get it stamped by Customs
6. Mail claim back to Mustafa

I'll just pu tit in the "Singapore" currency envelope in my travel folder and try and use it when I go back on my way through next year :-(

 

[Evan]

Usually you get it put back straight onto your credit card.... takes some weeks though.

GST is 7%
But the refund people take some fee's at the airport so its less than 7% you get back, unlike AU where you get the full amount.

There is 2 groups at the airport... "Global" something, same also as Europe... and some other group.

E