Sending money to the Philippines

[BJZags 17]

I use a debit card from my credit union. It cost $1 per transaction, but is limitted to about $75 (PHP 4000) per transaction by the operator of the ATM.

If you do this, make sure that the debit card is on either the PLUS or CIRRUS network.

With my card, it takes a minute to shift money from 1 account to the other, seemingly. But in reality, it is not available to withdraw until the end of the business day at the credit union.

Not that it matters much. I keep about $450 in that account, and she rarely goes through 100 in a week. It can be very cheap to live in the Philippines.

It's about time we see your "brand" of wisdom on VJ!

[Rob and Melinda 0]

You have already had this reply but let me just add to it that I have used Xoom for months now to send mony to Melinda and It works great. A word of advice though. I used to send the money to her BPI bank account and it takes 3-5 days to get in her account. Now I just send it for pick up at a PCI branch and she gets it in 2 hours.

Rob and Melinda

[griffin 7]

i still say xoom.com is the BEST!

[Rob&Marife 0]

You have had a lot of advice and how to send but I have to say xoom is the way to go as well. We have used it for months now and it works great. If you are using your credit card it is like an on line charge and not a cash advance. Lately we have started transferring directly from my checking to her bank account and it only costs about $3.50 but it does take longer. We have just planned ahead for the regular remittance we just do it on the 1st and 15th when I get paid and I do start the process 5 days prior to those dates. This time it only took 2 days but that is usually not the case.

Our now current solution to all of this is I have opened up a second checking account in my name. I can’t put her on it yet because she doesn’t have a passport yet. I am taking the ATM card to her next month when I go to visit and then each transaction will be free because my bank refunds all ATM fees up to $20 a month world wide. Unfortunately not anyone can use my bank because it is USAA which is for US military only. If you are in the reserves or National Guard I highly recommend them. I have had no problems with them now for over 8 years and have never felt more personal service. They have also beaten any interest rate when it comes to loans.

Good luck!

[Jasman0717 9]

Before getting Claudeth an ATM card from my credit union I always used Western Union without any problems. Maybe it was the debit card, I always used a credit card. It is kind of expensive and they also jip you on the conversion rate. With the ATM card I only pay $1.50 for her, now her family, to withdraw funds and the conversion rates are very good. Good luck

[flipicaneze 20]

I've already met my fiancee in person and started the K1 Visa process. I left her some money before coming back to the states but I need to send more to her.

I used Western Union Online once already sending about $100 USD as a test, which worked out perfectly. So then I go to send a $500 and they denied it. So I tried again with $100 USD, maybe the 500 was too high, but they continue to deny it. Very wierd. They want me to show up in person with the cash but Im trying to do this from the internet wity my Master credit/debit card.

So I do a google search and I find several companies/websites that offer similar services of transerfering money world wide, some specifically dealing with just Philippines.

Anyone else sending money to their fiancee by doing it online? If so which website/company would be recomended? For best, fastest, secure way of doing this? I want least hassel too but I understand the hassel is for fraud purposes.

Please advis, thanks.

Online credit card fruad is really running rampant right now so this is a cautious attempt to thwart it. I used to send money WU online, but I found out I was getting ripped. $27 for just a $200 and it kept going up from there. Then I went to what we have in our area, The Currency Exchange, and they send up to $1000 for $12. That was the actual reason I got off my lazy butt and started using the The Currency Exchange. And now that I think about it, I was too rejected for $600.

Also they should have the same deal for any grocery store with a Western Union.

[missingmylove 0]

im from philippines and my man send money to me thru www.xoom.com

ready to pick up in just 1-2 hour. xoom is much much lower rate compared to western union

[kirk and Jenny 0]

This is what works best for me. I send money by check about 6 weeks in advance. All services I have dealt with charge much money, that can be used in better ways. The sending of the check, does not cost anything.

[woodgc 0]

If any bank machines in the area it is best and cheapest if you have USAA as a credit union they reimbures up to 25USD?? / month in bank machine charges and that is for overseas banks as well as US bank machine transactions

Plus getting use to a bank card lets them learn alittle about how it will be in the USA and at the same time it makes for good emergency cash acess.

Good Luck