THOMAS
Cook has dropped its fee for travellers who want to change major European
currency back to Sterling.
The
high-street agency has taken the move in preparation for the introduction of
the Euro next year.
Commercial
Director Mike Beaumont said: “We estimate around £120 million in notes and
coins is being kept by people who may be unaware that they will only be able to
spend Euros from March next year. Very often people keep a few Pesetas or Lira
just in case they ever return to that country, but many people are not aware
that they won’t be able to use them after February 2002.”
The free
exchange offer applies to notes from Austria, Belgium, Finland, France,
Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Portugal or Spain.
Coins cannot be exchanged, but Thomas Cook will collect them for the Children
in Need charity.
The agency
normally charges 2% to change foreign currency back to sterling with a minimum
charge of £3.