Sending documents and then potentially sending a good bit of money monthy

[flicks1998 1,044]

1 hour ago, Stevephoto said:

Thanks. I knew That USPS passed it off. It's good know that the other options do not. We DID get mail about Joan's visa a long time ago, so the postal service does work--oh wait, her family got the letter about a year AFTER she was here and we were married! Never mind! 😉

As @Hank_ said above, FedEx does switch over to 2GO once in the Philippines, but there is no delay.  Whatever time FedEx in the US says it will be delivered, it generally will be.  Unlike @top_secretmail that appears to have gone through the last typhoon   

 

 

[Stevephoto 230]

46 minutes ago, flicks1998 said:

As @Hank_ said above, FedEx does switch over to 2GO once in the Philippines, but there is no delay.  Whatever time FedEx in the US says it will be delivered, it generally will be.  Unlike @top_secretmail that appears to have gone through the last typhoon   

 

 

Yah, 2GO seems pretty reliable too. Looks like we have 3 good options. Maraming salamat again everyone!

[Stevephoto 230]

1 hour ago, top_secret said:

Our most recent experience with UPS was less than satisfactory.  Everything did get there.  "Express " service was 12 days.  It disappeared into a black hole in Shenzhen for about 6 of those days despite daily UPS cargo flights from Shenzen to Clark. 

 

This is what was shipped.

 

What was received differed significantly.

 

 

 

Disappointing for someone it was only documents with no value.

 

UGH. I hope the documents were at least safe when they did arrive. Looks like we are down to 2 choices! Sorry about your experience, but thanks for sharing.

[RO_AH 1,659]

3 hours ago, Stevephoto said:

Good to know. I was under a different impression. We are on Oahu. Last I checked, LBC put things on a ship (put that was for packages and a while ago). Mahalo!

In that case go check them out. I mostly go to Kam Hwy location and they do, do air freight now.

[Pack88 4]

I concur with what most have written here.  I just sent a pkgof documents  (5lbs<) vis FEDDEX for 68.00 US door to door 6 days.    They have a 5-9 day rate about $10.00 cheaper.  I used Parcel Monkey to arrange it!

[Cyberfx1024 7,980]

On 10/10/2021 at 11:56 PM, Stevephoto said:

Salamat to you both. I thought DHL passed the package off to "those who shall not be named" once it gets to the Phils, but we will look into it. 2.5 is better than UPS from what I have seen. Interesting about WU online. Will also look at that. 'Preciate the input.

No, they go direct to the province. You are thinking of the USPS not DHL. I have used DHL earlier this year to send to Mindanao and it took about 10 days with relatively no issues at all. I choose them because they have more regional/provincial offices. 

[Cyberfx1024 7,980]

On 10/11/2021 at 1:53 PM, Stevephoto said:

Good to know. I was under a different impression. We are on Oahu. Last I checked, LBC put things on a ship (put that was for packages and a while ago). Mahalo!

LBC does have a rapid shipment option for air freight. We used them a few times when we lived in Los Angeles with no issues 

[Stevephoto 230]

Thanks again everyone!

[Stevephoto 230]

UPDATE: We chose FedEx/2Go. Dropped the packet off at a Fedex shipping store in town on Wednesday October 20 with a promised delivery date of October 27th. Tracked the package and saw a delay in China. Shocked to wake up to a message from our sister this morning with photos of the delivered documents!  3-days and $88.00! Go FedEx!

[Stevephoto 230]

Update part two:FedEx as you know was superb. Transferring the money....not so much. There has been a glitch between WU and our bank that has caused many headaches and remains unresolved after at least 20 phone calls over 4 days. A visit to our bank tomorrow for a bank to bank wire "SHOULD" take care of it--albeit more costly. Stay tuned (Dang, is NO PART of this entire process easy--OK, scratch that question!)

[Stevephoto 230]

Sooo...here we still are "simply" trying to spend OUR money. Western Union has been a complete and total nightmare (no Halloween pun intended). I know Wise is a good option, but my I am old fashioned (or just old) but I don't know that I feel safe putting my bank account information into an app/company I don't really know (which is  dumb because other companies have it for direct deposits and withdrawals). Am I just being paranoid over nothing?

[Adventine 3,196]

Too bad Western Union didn't work out at all. Maybe the account got flagged for suspected fraud. This can happen, especially if you suddenly send a huge amount for the first time.

 

You can try sending small amounts through Wise until you're more comfortable with the service. The largest amount we've sent so far in a single transaction was USD 4,000, and it went through with no issues. This was in 2020.

[Stevephoto 230]

7 hours ago, Adventine said:

Too bad Western Union didn't work out at all. Maybe the account got flagged for suspected fraud. This can happen, especially if you suddenly send a huge amount for the first time.

 

You can try sending small amounts through Wise until you're more comfortable with the service. The largest amount we've sent so far in a single transaction was USD 4,000, and it went through with no issues. This was in 2020.

Thank you, but I answered every question they asked (including the anti-fraud questionnaire--which I actually appreciated) but their excuses changed with every phone call (26 calls between me, WU and my bank) AND some transfers went through. WU claims my bank declined (most) of my transfers.  Bank says they did not and have no reason to block the transfers.Funny how they were happy to offer phone or in-store services for a MUCH higher fee  (so much for the fraud idea!) My recommendation : AVOID WU! Unfortunately a trial with Wise is not feasible because this may be a time sensitive opportunity. Perhaps later *when* this goes through!

 

Transferwise became Wise early in 2021 and the reviews since the change have been awful. We are resigned to paying a LOT more with our bank, but are at a loss for how to pay for the building of the houses *when* this goes through. Salamat kaibigan!

Edited November 1, 2021 by Stevephoto
More information

[Adventine 3,196]

That's too bad. Hope you get things resolved soon!

[Dave Knapp 47]

I have been in the Philippines since early 2016 and have sent tens of thousands of dollars over here.  If you are considering a company like WU, Wise, or Xoom, look not only at their fees but the exchange rate as well.  I think you will find out you are paying big for that transaction.  If your receiving party can open a USD account at a local bank, and that account can receive wire transfers from the US ( PNB is who I have used), then you will save money in the process.  If you are are transferring small amounts, Like $1,000, it wont matter, but is you're up towards $10K or higher, you will save a bunch. IMHO.

Edited November 2, 2021 by Dave Knapp
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