Sending money to Russia

[BTalley 0]

What would be the fastest and easiest way for me to send a little money to Svetlana?

She must purchase a separate ticket for her dog on her flight to USA, a "short-term" French visa (to retrieve the dog in Paris and take him to his connecting flight in USA) and a crate for the dog.

This is a burden on her, and I would like to help.

[Fedup 0]

What would be the fastest and easiest way for me to send a little money to Svetlana?

She must purchase a separate ticket for her dog on her flight to USA, a "short-term" French visa (to retrieve the dog in Paris and take him to his connecting flight in USA) and a crate for the dog.

This is a burden on her, and I would like to help.

If she has a bank account there in a decent bank you can wire money. Did it numerous times with no problems. But she will have to check with her bank for any limits/restrictions and get a wire info.

Or Western Union, expensive, but works.

Or you can FedEx her an ATM card.. works too.

[tanyaru 3]

What would be the fastest and easiest way for me to send a little money to Svetlana?

She must purchase a separate ticket for her dog on her flight to USA, a "short-term" French visa (to retrieve the dog in Paris and take him to his connecting flight in USA) and a crate for the dog.

This is a burden on her, and I would like to help.

MoneyGram or WesternUnion would be the fastest. It is a good fee for the speed though.

[Chuckles 0]

I would recommend the bank to bank wire transfer if it is available.

[akdiver 3]

What would be the fastest and easiest way for me to send a little money to Svetlana?

Western Union.

Put the requisite amount of cash in an envelope and send it DHL.

Put your ATM card in an envelop and send it DHL, and when she gets it, call her and give her the PIN for it.

[mendeleev 68]

If its a one-time deal and transaction fees of 20-30% don't bother you, use Western Union.

If you need to get her (or her family) money over time, DHL her a ATM card.

[Brad and Vika 129]

Why not buy her the ticket from the airline directly?

Edited September 6, 2008 by Brad and Vika

[slim 1,525]

I did a mix of the above things.

I bought the ticket directly from the airline and she picked it up at the local office and then I sent her some spending money via Western Union (If I remember correctly it was like $36 to send her $500) which she also picked up at the local office.

Security and availability is the biggest concern in a case like this. I sent her a traveler's check one time for her birthday and it took her like two months to find a place that was willing to cash it. (Like the Visa commercials, "In the Russian Far East, they don't take American Express.") You're going to get killed on the fees with any transaction but the good thing about using Western Union over shipping or even the bank is it's a pretty easy thing to do over there. Bank transfers of "large" amounts of cash aren't usually done through banks in some places. Western Union does it every day.

Do what you can from this end with the tickets and dog transport, etc. and then get her some cash for misc. expenses. Should cover her just fine.

[Neonred 3,564]

Western Union is probably the most expensive way to send money. The rates at MoneyGram are better. I did some bank wire transfers and was surprised because my transfers had to go through three different banks (a bank in NY, a bank in Moscow, then to her bank) and each bank charged a fee on top of the $25 fee I paid at my bank.

[akdiver 3]

Poster didn't mention any concern about cost...just what is fastest and easiest (which generally maximizes cost).

FWIW, we sent my wife's parents an ATM card. If we want to give them money, we just make a deposit and they can withdraw it over there. Fee is 1% of the amount withdrawn, with no other charges. Get great currency conversation rate and very low fee. I don't see how it can get any cheaper. However, it's not the fastest and easiest thing to do - until they actually HAVE the ATM card of course.

[Brad and Vika 129]

I did the ATM card thing also. I opened a free checking account that gives 5 free ATM transaction per month anywhere. I can move money into the account as necessary, even by phone. I do have to put up with a call occasionally where the bank asks "Do you know your account is being accessed in Ukraine?". I used to explain that this was the purpose of the account, stupidly thinking that the rep was making a note in the system somewhere. Now I just say "Yep, thanks".

[slim 1,525]

great currency conversation rate

I like to get a good rate when talking with my money too.

[Turboguy 6]

I agree with NeonRed that Moneygram is the best way to go in this situation. Far cheaper than Western Union and very comparable service. It sounds like a one time thing and if it was going to be a regular situation like sending money to the inlaws every month than a debit card is the way to go but you do need to check with the bank. Some banks won't allow transactions from Russia. I opened an account especially for that only to find out the bank I used had a rule no transactions in Russia.

I don't think the suggestion of sending cash DHL was a good option. It sounds risky to me. Russia is not the most trustworty place.

[akdiver 3]

I don't think the suggestion of sending cash DHL was a good option. It sounds risky to me. Russia is not the most trustworty place.

Again, the OP didn't express any concern about security or cost - merely speed and convenience.

[zhenia and brent 0]

What would be the fastest and easiest way for me to send a little money to Svetlana?

She must purchase a separate ticket for her dog on her flight to USA, a "short-term" French visa (to retrieve the dog in Paris and take him to his connecting flight in USA) and a crate for the dog.

This is a burden on her, and I would like to help.

I always sent via MONEYGRAM http://www.moneygram.com/index.htm costs $9.98 to send to a person internationally. Western union costs 25.00. MoneyGram is just as effective and has a lot of locations around the world. Or, give her a debit card or credit card (new one) then activate it from your bank after she has it in her hands.