Sending money to Russia since Crimea situation?

[AdamA 0]

Hey folks,

We have been sending small amounts of money to my MIL on a Walmart/GreenDot money card. It's a 'student pack' so there are two cards with the same #. It has worked well for the last 3 years.

Now it won't work since the US blocked a Russian bank. Not sure if it's Russia retaliating or other banks being careful, but they won't let her withdraw money. They can see balance, and charge for the privilege, but she can't withdraw. Called GreenDot and all they said was ty other banks. Did that and it didn't work.

Any ideas that are still easy? Western Union would probably work, but it's a hassle since neither of us have a convenient Western Union.

Thanks!

Adam

[Texasav8r 183]

Hey folks,

We have been sending small amounts of money to my MIL on a Walmart/GreenDot money card. It's a 'student pack' so there are two cards with the same #. It has worked well for the last 3 years.

Now it won't work since the US blocked a Russian bank. Not sure if it's Russia retaliating or other banks being careful, but they won't let her withdraw money. They can see balance, and charge for the privilege, but she can't withdraw. Called GreenDot and all they said was ty other banks. Did that and it didn't work.

Any ideas that are still easy? Western Union would probably work, but it's a hassle since neither of us have a convenient Western Union.

Thanks!

Adam

Try Moneygram. I have used it before and the funds can be picked up at several different locations. You can coordinate beforehand where to send it with your MIL and also check to see if the site will allow pickup of funds. It is also cheaper than Western Union. They distribute funds in USD but she can exchange it of course and the funds are available seconds after you click "SEND".

https://www.moneygram.com/wps/portal/moneygramonline/home/sendmoney/

Edited April 15, 2014 by Texasav8r

[eekee 182]

Seems like it's probably Walmart's bank blocking it. I use a US ATM card all the time with no problems. I would also suggest money gram though; you can send it all Walmart and she can pick it up at Sberbank.

[Texasav8r 183]

The great thing about Moneygram is you can send it from your PC without leaving the house....very convenient.

[vbtwo 54]

Use either MoneyGram of Western Union. You can send from their sites without ever leaving the house (do not use a credit card, it's considered a cash withdrawal and you will be charged for the privilege, use a bank debit card).

There should be MoneyGram or Western Union locations all over Russia where they can receive the money (try the local banks).

[eekee 182]

I wouldn't use Western Union because you have to pay a percentage, whereas Moneygram's fee is a flat $7.

[vbtwo 54]

I wouldn't use Western Union because you have to pay a percentage, whereas Moneygram's fee is a flat $7.

Is this at a retail location? From checking their site they charge different fees depending on the amount you want to send (some sort of percentage scale).

[Brian&Larissa 73]

I use Western Union and send directly from my computer. I use my debit card and I have never had an issue inside Ukraine. I just checked MoneyGram and the costs are the same to where I send in Ukraine.

[eekee 182]

Is this at a retail location? From checking their site they charge different fees depending on the amount you want to send (some sort of percentage scale).

Yes, this is at Walmart. An ATM ate my bank card, so for a while I was getting lots of money sent. Unless it's changed since February, it's a flat fee from Walmart.

[1HappyGuy 45]

Hey folks,

We have been sending small amounts of money to my MIL on a Walmart/GreenDot money card. It's a 'student pack' so there are two cards with the same #. It has worked well for the last 3 years.

Now it won't work since the US blocked a Russian bank. Not sure if it's Russia retaliating or other banks being careful, but they won't let her withdraw money. They can see balance, and charge for the privilege, but she can't withdraw. Called GreenDot and all they said was ty other banks. Did that and it didn't work.

Any ideas that are still easy? Western Union would probably work, but it's a hassle since neither of us have a convenient Western Union.

Thanks!

Adam

I have been using Western Union for years and it seems to have gotten cheaper. I sent $600 to my brother in law in Ukraine for $24 for the money in minutes service. He had to search for a bank that would accept in when he was in Odessa shortly after the invasion of Crimea. His money from Russia and credit cards no longer work and he was desperate. The whole credit card thing is intended to put a crimp on Russian uses throughout the world but Western Union still works as it represents real money to the bank. You should check the Western Union website for locations near you. I use the local Safeway market.

[mendeleev 68]

The ATM card my step-son has still works fine. He's in Novosibirsk.

Edited April 19, 2014 by mendeleev

[RodIllinois 2]

Russia is probably much easier than Crimea itself. The last time I sent money by MoneyGram to my fiancee (4/14/2014) who lives in Simferopol, it took her 7 hours to find a bank that still accepted MoneyGram. It was a Ukrainian bank and they told her April 15th was their last day in business there.

I sent an online inquiry on 4/15/2014 to MoneyGram about all their listed locations in Simferopol closing or already being closed. They have not responded, but now if you try to do a MoneyGram locations search on Simferopol or Sevastopol it says it is an unrecognized location. At least that's progress and they are indirectly admitting that they are no longer operating there.

I also sent an inquiry to Western Union the same day. But they have neither responded nor have they updated their list for Simferopol. It still shows some Ukrainian banks there that are now permanently closed. But there are a couple of Russian-based banks listed which are probably still open and might still be operating with Western Union.

The big question is if those Russian banks are open, do you specify the receiving country as Ukraine or Russia?

[vbtwo 54]

The big question is if those Russian banks are open, do you specify the receiving country as Ukraine or Russia?

Heh, that's a good question. Western Union in the US should recognize Crimea as Ukraine as per US laws, and Russian banks there will recognize it as Russia as per Russian law. Does it even make a difference what country you specify it as? Will they decline to give you money if you specified the wrong country if you have the transfer number, and sender info, and receiver ID matches?

[rotcu 0]

Hey everybody!

Any updates or any news about that topic. It would be really helpful for me to learn if currently it is possible to send money to Crimea.

Thanks,