Message from the Treasurer – July 2009

This message is addressed mainly to overseas members and subscribers. It also applies to persons wishing to buy back issues of publications.

Our bankers have in the past charged us moderate commission fees to handle payments made direct to our bank account using the IBAN system. However, they have taken to deducting excessive handling charges, apparently randomly, since the economic downturn started to bite — in some cases as much as £7 from a membership subscription of £33 (over 20%).

In order that we may maximise your subscriptions to the benefit of the Society, I would ask that you make future payments by one of the following methods.

1. Payment by sterling cheque drawn on a UK bank. This method is prefered as it does not involve any charges, BUT the bank MUST be one within the UK, and I realise that this is not always possible.

2. International Money Order or by Western Union. BUT this method may involve YOU in making additional charges and you are advised to ask about this at the time you make the payment.

3. Probably the simplest way is by credit card via PayPal. PayPal is a well respected and secure system which charges us less than 5% per transaction, and no additional charges are applied to your account other than the normal currency exchange rate (if applicable).

I hope that you will agree that using one of these payment suggestions will maximise the contribution that you make to the benefit of the Society and its objectives.

Thank you for your continued support,

Nick Light (Acting Hon. Treasurer)