Carolyn

I just want to warn folks to be careful if they use a particular money changer in Fethiye. He operates from his clothes shop on the opposite side of the road to Gima and a little further down towards the harbour and has the rates on display on a board outside the shop. On the face of it he offers very good rates.Trouble comes when the transaction and a degree of sleight of hand come into play. I nearly got caught a few weeks ago when he said I had given him £20 less than I had. I was on sure ground because I was changing £1200 which I had kept separately and I knew EXACTLY what I had given him. I made him recount which he did relucantly and sure enough...Funnily he "discovered" his mistake after he had re-counted about three notes! I had also done a quick calculation and worked out roughly how much I should be getting in YTL. He got his own back when he short changed my husband to the tune of £9 when he changed £100 afterwards. We happened to mention this to a friend of ours who had a similar experience and knew of others who found themselves short or having something taken away as "commission". I know you should count carefully but believe me, he is so quick. Just be careful!

merlin

Why dont you use a Bank for exchanging money? If someone is offering a better rate than the high street banks its pretty obvious theres something not right.

Merv!

TurkeyPropertyCentre

Yes why dont you use Bank or change office there is few near Gima, sorry to hear that

tonytg

Sorry to hear of your troubles too, But I find that if you change UK £ Travellers cheques (mine give me them for free!) you get a much better rate than you do buying YTL in the UK ie if the rate in the uk was 2.30YTl to £1, I get over 2.40 to £1 and even though there is a charge of around 10YTL for the service you do end up being much better off. I am with KocBank if your wondering (not an advertisement for them, just for the curious....)

Carolyn

You are preaching to the converted! We bank with Oyak but as it happened time was the essence. The queues in the bank are horrendous and the temptation was too great. The PTT too offers good rates, if you are prepared to queue. We have learnt our lesson. I made this post purely as a cautionary note so that others can avoid the same fate.

puma

i have used this same person several times and i have had no problem,maybe because my fella looks like he has gone 12 rounds with mike tyson and is wary ?seriously i do check my money and i know what to expect back in ytl

heidi

Same with me , I use him a lot and have no problem but my husband is Turkish and a friend of the shop owner....who isn't the money changer.

Isn't it sad when I read that back? I don't get ripped off because of my husband? !!!!!!!!
I won't be using him again and I will get hubby to have a word in his ear.

Carolyn

Thanks Heidi. We are passionate about Turkey and have many, many Turkish friends. I would hate to think of anyone forming the wrong opinion about these warm-hearted, kind and generous people because of the greed of one or two.

gtd

Hi Carolyn,sorry about your mishap but you always have to be careful when dealing with money were ever you are in the world.What at first seems like a good deal usually has some hidden dark side.Like Heidi says she used him because her husband knew him,try to change money with people you know and trust.
Try the local bar owners,the ones you frequent the most,most awill try to help or point you towards someone who can.Sorry about the war and peace i tend to ramble sometimes.