money transfer service to Philippines

[tetandsol 0]

Hi,

I just sent money with Xoom from my bank in US to my bank in the Philippines in 45 minutes for only $4.99. They asked if I could recommend someone who also sends money so I thought of people here visa journey. If you try Xoom, we each get a $15 eGift Card after your first money transfer.

Please click on this link so they know I recommended you:

http://refer.xoom.com/a/clk/zJbFd

Thanks.

[DavenRoxy 1,073]

Find a bank that refunds ATM fees. There are a bunch out there. Get an ATM card, mail it to the PI, and let them withdraw cash from it. Get your money back at the end of the month. So $$$ transfer at the going daily rate, no sending fees, and ATM fees are reimbursed. Simple!

[DavenRoxy 1,073]

Also, for those who think WF is such a good idea... their exchange rate for $250.01-$1,000 is 42.863. Current rate is 43.74, so .877 php diff. Send $1,000, and this becomes 877 php at 43.74, or $20.05 lost to exchange rate on top of the $6 they charged you to send it. $26.05 to send $1000. WU doesn't seem QUITE as bad as before, but both are much worse than the AMT concept.

[DaveE 178]

I always use Remithome. I never worried about the fees just reliable service. I have never had a problem in over five years using them. They charge a flat rate of $10 for a transfer; so small transfers are not really cost effective.

When you sign up the first transfer is free, and every tenth transfer is free.

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

Wife uses Moneygram - $9 fee and she sends in dollars. The dollars can be exchanged at most malls for the best rate.

[Dogwood_Poet 16]

I have used a PayPal debit card from my account, you can request a second card, so I got one in her mother's name for them to use. But now they have started charging an 'out of country' charge of 200-250 PHP per transaction, so it is not as good a deal.

The good thing about PayPal is you can just put enough money in the account they need to prevent any danger of a lost card.

Plus PayPal allows for fee-free transfers to your account if you mark it 'to family' and use a bank account for the transfer so we can transfer money from my wife's PayPal to my account and have the money available in minutes.

[DavenRoxy 1,073]

I have used a PayPal debit card from my account

Sounds good, I like PayPal. But can you use it at a bank like an ATM, and withdraw php against it?

[Greenbaum 12,259]

For few years I used Xoom but like others, got that letter that said "good luck but we don't want your business and don't try calling us because we don't have to explain" letter. So I found another company called Transfast https://www.transfast.com/ and like Xoom the charge $4.99 for a transaction. They were always great and the money was in the Phil within hours for her to pickup.

Then when Wachovia bank was swallowed by Wells Fargo, I now use their service and it is in my Fiancee's bank account within 10 min for her use. I wouldn't leave home without my Wells Fargo.

[Dogwood_Poet 16]

Sounds good, I like PayPal. But can you use it at a bank like an ATM, and withdraw php against it?

Yes, you can even reset the pin from the PayPal website.

I ordered the card and once I received it & activated it, I mailed it to the Philippines.

Once it got there I could reset the pin to whatever they wanted

PayPal doesn't charge ATM fees unless that has changed lately, but you still have to pay the 'out of country' fee at the ATM in the Philippines.