Thomas Cook scraps European currency fee

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.