There's an astounding lack of published information online about the foreign exchange rates available to punters in Dublin, in fact the only published data I could find were the An Post rates. I was curious how competitive these rates were, in particular with the launch of the new PostFX prepaid currency card, so I did a little shopping around. In order of value for €1000:
Bank: Foreign Exchange Office, Corner Henry Street & O'Connell Street
Sell US$: 1.275
Buy US$: 1.3695
Commission: None
€1000 gets you: $1275.00
Bank: Foreign Exchange Office, Corner Eden Quay & O'Connell Street
Sell US$: 1.2725
Buy US$: 1.3718
Commission: None
€1000 gets you: $1272.50
Bank: Permanent TSB
Sell US$: 1.2766
Buy US$: 1.3362
Commission: 1%, maximum €6.25
€1000 gets you: $1268.62
Bank: An Post
Sell US$: 1.2664
Buy US$: 1.3448
Commission: None
€1000 gets you: $1266.4
Bank: Ulster Bank
Sell US$: 1.2679
Buy US$: 1.3457
Commission: 1%, maximum €2.54
€1000 gets you: $1264.68
Bank: AIB
Sell US$: 1.2706
Buy US$: 1.3464
Commission: 1%, maximum €6.35
€1000 gets you: $1262.53
Bank: Bank of Ireland
Sell US$: 1.268
Buy US$: 1.3332
Commission: 1$, maximum €6.35
€1000 gets you: $1259.95
Wednesday, June 26, 2013
Wednesday, May 15, 2013
Teach a man to phish
I've just been told by Ulster Bank that if someone called me and identifies themselves as Ulster Bank, then "everything is fine", they are, and I should start giving over personal details.
What?
I wrote a cheque that was being lodged, and somebody called to verify this. Private number, first question was for my date of birth. I asked of some way to verify that it was actually Ulster Bank, and all the operator kept saying was that it was Ulster Bank in Belfast, bemused that I didn't implicitly trust him.
I get the feeling he's had someone like me before, so offered to give me a phone number that I could call back so I'd be more comfortable - except that phone number was a direct line, and I had no way of verifying it was Ulster Bank either. Not a hope, buddy. He just didn't understand how this was a security problem - he told me I should be satisfied when the person on the end of this number answered as Ulster Bank - as if it would be impossible for an accomplice to do exactly this. His final suggestion was that I call my branch (fine) and he would verify with them later.
And so I did, bar from the fact that my branch had no idea how to deal with my approval for the withdrawal. The cheque bounced. I get a call from the branch suggesting I have the recipient re-lodge the cheque, and I ask him for advice - what should I have done?
His answer: "If the caller tells you they are Ulster Bank in Belfast, then everything is fine, you can talk to them". I give up.
What?
I wrote a cheque that was being lodged, and somebody called to verify this. Private number, first question was for my date of birth. I asked of some way to verify that it was actually Ulster Bank, and all the operator kept saying was that it was Ulster Bank in Belfast, bemused that I didn't implicitly trust him.
I get the feeling he's had someone like me before, so offered to give me a phone number that I could call back so I'd be more comfortable - except that phone number was a direct line, and I had no way of verifying it was Ulster Bank either. Not a hope, buddy. He just didn't understand how this was a security problem - he told me I should be satisfied when the person on the end of this number answered as Ulster Bank - as if it would be impossible for an accomplice to do exactly this. His final suggestion was that I call my branch (fine) and he would verify with them later.
And so I did, bar from the fact that my branch had no idea how to deal with my approval for the withdrawal. The cheque bounced. I get a call from the branch suggesting I have the recipient re-lodge the cheque, and I ask him for advice - what should I have done?
His answer: "If the caller tells you they are Ulster Bank in Belfast, then everything is fine, you can talk to them". I give up.
Wednesday, September 15, 2010
SophieJS - My Dissertation
I've just completed by M.Sc. in Computer Science (Networks and Distributed Systems) at Trinity College Dublin. Part of the program involves a research dissertation, which is presented in poster form to industry by the students. This happened today. For posterity, if nothing else, this is the poster I presented:
This poster is also available as PDF on the TCD Computer Science site. A full copy of the dissertation has also been published as a TCD technical report for a more thorough look at the work I undertook.
This poster is also available as PDF on the TCD Computer Science site. A full copy of the dissertation has also been published as a TCD technical report for a more thorough look at the work I undertook.
Monday, July 12, 2010
Insurance Quotes
I recently got a renewal from Axa to the tune of €3000, and decided it was time to start shopping around. I should point out that Axa incorrectly removed my no claim's bonus, and it has been reinstated since, but here's the result of my search nonetheless.
I'm a 22 year old male, living on the northside of Dublin, with 3 years of a full licence without any claims. I drive a 1.4L 2006 Mazda 3, which has a value around the €7000 mark. In all cases, I chose the default excess, and added windscreen cover if it wasn't already included. I'm also adding my mother onto the insurance, and neither of us have any penalty points.
I should be clear that these insurers offer differing benefits, and as such cannot be compared like for like, unless you're looking for the cheapest comprehensive insurance with windscreen cover, as I am. Some include breakdown assist, contents cover, fire brigade charges and any number of other benefits. This is strictly a comparison (with default excess values) for my requirements.
I should be clear that these insurers offer differing benefits, and as such cannot be compared like for like, unless you're looking for the cheapest comprehensive insurance with windscreen cover, as I am. Some include breakdown assist, contents cover, fire brigade charges and any number of other benefits. This is strictly a comparison (with default excess values) for my requirements.
- NoNonsense: €768
- Allianz: €842
- Axa: €880 (and the ability to drive other's cars third-party)
- 123.ie: €1091
- Quinn: €1146
- FBD: €1151
- Insure.ie: €1186
- Bestquote: €1195
- Hibernian: €1234
- Zurich: €1556
- Tesco: €1631 (€1281 for the basic package without windscreen cover, but not available as an individual add-on)
And I'm still shopping around. Huge improvement on a 3k premium though!
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