Best way to send $2000

[Darnell 8,479]

Yeah, the still do transactions to the Philippines.

WU cost me $12 a transaction. Would really like that she had a bank account, but they require you to have so much in the account or you get penalized...it's looking like Xoom or WU is the only options I've got.

Thanks!

Ya, WU charges me 14 bucks for 2K to China, I have no issue about it, been sending monies a lot recently. I love the 'instant access' for her, usually send out around 10 PM at my fav 24 hour shop.

We've also been thinking about just a big wire transfer, as it's the same cost for me regardless of the amount, so it makes sense to wire 30K at a time.

Edited July 4, 2011 by Darnell

[tallcoolone 102]

You can open a Wells Fargo acct in USA and they will send money to a bank in Philippines (PNI or BDO) for like $4 per transaction.

You can send it to an account at the bank or just send it to the bank and let reciever pick up money

Just another option......

[VJ-MilesAway 0]

Hello All,

About half of my fiancee's parent's house burned down and I want to send some money to help them. They don't have a bank account and I don't think they have proper IDs to open one. It's going to cost around $2000 to repair the house and replace what they lost.

What would be the best way to send the money? I don't really want to use Western Union. Would FedEx be safe enough? Any other suggestions?

Thanks in advance!

Brian

Try to ask them if they have relative or trusted friend who has a valid ID's so you can send it to them but make sure your fiancee is there also to get the money.. XOOM is the cheapest way to send money online but the exchange rate is too low compared to others, only $5.99 transfer fee, but if it's your first time, then it is FREE! I hope this helps you... and they will be okay.

[DavenRoxy 1,073]

You can open a Wells Fargo acct in USA and they will send money to a bank in Philippines (PNI or BDO) for like $4 per transaction.

You can send it to an account at the bank or just send it to the bank and let reciever pick up money

Just another option......

Or you can get an account with USAA, and she can withdraw php at an ATM any time she wants. And USAA refunds the 250php fee for every transaction, so it becomes free.

Someone else mentioned getting the XOOM money in cash... might be doable at a bank, probably not at a Lhuiller. But it's a good idea, cuz XOOM gives you an exchange rate 1php lower than current going rates.

[SuperDuper! 230]

This is a Philippines specific issue, not Chinese. Pffft! WU remains overly expensive without exception.

Everyone has a favorite way to send cash to the PI, and many take it fervently personal that THEIRS is the BEST way.

With Xoom, they have FREE code promotions several times per year. So even after the first free send, you have a chance to send free again and again.

The OP said his girl did NOT currently have an open bank acct. So sending bank-to-bank is not currently an option.

Xoom is the favorite of this household after painfully analyzing all other alternatives in the financial banking institution universe.

YMMV.

[Dean_De 61]

I have tried all the services - western union, money gram BUT XOOM is way the best its super easy - I do it online and I dont have to wait in any annoying lines - I have used it many times now and its flawless. Your fiance can pick up the money at major banks like BPI or BDO in phils - i think it only costs 6 bucks to send 2000 USD. Its totally safe on the US side no hassles. I registered with xoom and the money comes right out of my checking. Website is really easy and very clear. Literally it takes me 3 minutes to send wth xoom from online. Check it out for yourself, I just found it last year, its relatively new because they advertise on the phils GMA news website.

and no i dont work for xoom. hehehe.. best of luck!

sorry to disagree but i me and my fiancee had recently been a victim of xoom paying out money to somebody. this is a real experience I just have with xoom july 2. they have a bad customer service and is so slow in doing investigation.

[Dean_De 61]

XOOM, hands down. Cheapest, and VERY fast. Local pickup, and they send a XOOM I.D. # in an email, then your fiancee goes to a local BPI, BDO, C. Lhuiller or M. Lhuiller with an ID, fills out a form with the XOOM I.D. you email her, and she has the PHP. Have used it, it works great.

Of course, if you are not in a hurry, giving your Fiancee an ATM card drawing on your bank is better, but this will work quickly for you.

Xoom may sound cheap as to service fee. but their exchange rate is less than 1php+ what is current. Which just means they still have the same service fee with Western union, they just split it to both the sender and reciever. Plus, With my current bad experience with Xoom, just this July 2, 2011. Where I got notification from my email that my remittance was paid off..I don't anymore think they are really secured. They promised to do the investigation w/n 48 hours, but sad to say its been 3 days in a row but still got no result. Talked to their customer service representatives but could hardly understand what they are saying. You ask them few genral question they could not properly address you. I don't recommend XOOM as per experience I have had!

[Dean_De 61]

Thanks! It's looking like Xoom might be the way to go, definitely cheaper than WU.

Think million times before using XOOM not unless you are prepared when worst comes to worst like what we have experienced. My fiancee sent me a remittance just this July 2. I was thinking of getting the money the next day since I still have to go somewhere. But unluckily, I recieved an email saying that the money was paid off. I have to wake my fiancee early in the morning to tell him that someone took the money. He called XOOM but was so disappointed in dealing with those customer service representative you could hardly understand what they are saying and who doesn't know how to address our concern. He contacted his bank to make a stop payment. and wrote XOOM. They promised to make an investigation w/n 48 hours but up 3 days passed and they had not resolved the case. I am not here to just say bad thing about XOOM out of a personal agenda..but telling you my recent experience. The rest is yours to decide Sorry about what happened with your in-laws.

[SuperDuper! 230]

Again, for some reason, the vehicle for sending $$ is VERY personal, and people take pride in the way they send, and make it a part of who they are. Xoom, WU, ATM, PayPal, bank-to-bank, and using street money changers.... Everyone has a strong opinion, but that does not mean there is ONE best way to send money. THERE IS NOT ONE BEST WAY. Each person has to find the best way for them.

[DavenRoxy 1,073]

Think million times before using XOOM not unless you are prepared when worst comes to worst like what we have experienced. My fiancee sent me a remittance just this July 2. I was thinking of getting the money the next day since I still have to go somewhere. But unluckily, I recieved an email saying that the money was paid off. I have to wake my fiancee early in the morning to tell him that someone took the money. He called XOOM but was so disappointed in dealing with those customer service representative you could hardly understand what they are saying and who doesn't know how to address our concern. He contacted his bank to make a stop payment. and wrote XOOM. They promised to make an investigation w/n 48 hours but up 3 days passed and they had not resolved the case. I am not here to just say bad thing about XOOM out of a personal agenda..but telling you my recent experience. The rest is yours to decide Sorry about what happened with your in-laws.

Sorry to hear about this, but honestly, I don't think it's XOOM's fault, more likely the institution wherever the money was picked up. How could someone pick up YOUR money without YOUR ID# that XOOM emailed you? IDK... shouldn't be possible, but obviously it happened to you.

And you make a good point about the exchange rate for Xoom, never really thought about it. Sending $2,000 @ 42php exchange rate means the receiver gets 2,000php less... and that is about $46.50 difference. So make sure you get USD from XOOM in the PI, then go out on the street and exchange it yourself, or use WU.

[Dean_De 61]

Sorry to hear about this, but honestly, I don't think it's XOOM's fault, more likely the institution wherever the money was picked up. How could someone pick up YOUR money without YOUR ID# that XOOM emailed you? IDK... shouldn't be possible, but obviously it happened to you.

And you make a good point about the exchange rate for Xoom, never really thought about it. Sending $2,000 @ 42php exchange rate means the receiver gets 2,000php less... and that is about $46.50 difference. So make sure you get USD from XOOM in the PI, then go out on the street and exchange it yourself, or use WU.

The service fee when you send in dollar is different from sending it in peso. The service charge is higher when you send it in US dollar.

[Dean_De 61]

Sorry to hear about this, but honestly, I don't think it's XOOM's fault, more likely the institution wherever the money was picked up. How could someone pick up YOUR money without YOUR ID# that XOOM emailed you? IDK... shouldn't be possible, but obviously it happened to you.

And you make a good point about the exchange rate for Xoom, never really thought about it. Sending $2,000 @ 42php exchange rate means the receiver gets 2,000php less... and that is about $46.50 difference. So make sure you get USD from XOOM in the PI, then go out on the street and exchange it yourself, or use WU.

Oh, it is their agent here in the Philippines that were inefficient. Who did not use the proper security measure to make sure the money is really given to the right receiver. That's what we disputed with XOOM, we asked them to send us proof of disbursement which means I have my signature should be affixed there and the proper identification of who got it. Somebody needs to be liable of whatever happens so that this wont happen again. The bad thing with XOOM is that they should keep their promise to resolve the case w/n 48 hours. Every minute that may pass, the person involve can do something to keep themselves be prepared to get out of the mess. It doesn't take time to scan and email those proof of disbursement, yet, they can't do it. They are inefficient too when it comes to resolving customer problems.

[Adam & May 4]

Banks (for xoom), western union, money gram they all need two valid ID's.

1. Your Fiancé / Wife has a passport

2. She couldn't get a passport without valid ID's, correct?

3.then u can send the money to your wife/ fiancé (unless she is with you now)

If she has sibliing who is 18 or so and still in school surely he/she has a school ID and have them get a Postal ID ( takes an hour) for 250 pesos.

Does your wife/fiancé has a friend she trusts, with valid ID's?

Don't risk your money to thru unsure way.

Good luck!

Adam & May

[∞♥ 17]

Thanks for all of the input!

[DavenRoxy 1,073]

Thanks for all of the input!

Ok, now I have re-thought my thinking. WU is the cheaper way to go!

to send WU via an agent (i.e. in person), the fee for $2,000 is only 31. On the internet, the fee is like $130. (OUCH!!) Also, if you have a friend in the military, often it is cheaper with a Military ID than for you. So I don't think I will be using XOOM anymore... ouch on the fees that XOOM makes by just changing at a 1PHP lower rate!