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.

Yes. Try Netbank.com. Another VJ'er with his wife in Philippines recommended it to me. I have yet to open an account but he swears by it. What you do is open a simple checking account and ask for a regular ATM cash card. Once you receive the card, you FedEx it to your fiancee in the PH, but don't activate until she receives it. The account is under your name and your name is on the card, however, you can simply transfer funds from your regular bank into this account and then she can withdraw from your NetBank account using the ATM Card you FedEx to her. Joel says there aren't any fees.

Here's his profile. You can PM for details:

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/index.php?showuser=6533

Here's my PM to him about it:

Thanks for that idea. I thought about sending her an ATM card where I could just add money here to it and she can take it out over there. Now I know exactly how to do that. Its good for long term, but...

Is there any way that I can send her money in the next few days? What would be the best way?

Appreciate all advise, thanks.

Yes. Try Xoom. Here's the website. I've used them before. Their fees are cheaper than Western Union.

https://www.xoom.com/


Good Luck!

I used a service called xoom which is much cheaper than Western Union and can be done online, it was simple to use, I used it a few times. I went back to Western Union because they had a promotion in my area where alot of filipinos live that only cost me $12 to send any amount up to $800 but that promotion is over now so I switched to sending the money through a filipino shipping company called Johnny Cargo they only charge $7 to send any amount of money to my fiance bank account.

You can try as well as www.luckymoney.com, This company is great you can as well deposit to your relatives bank account or the money will be delivered at your relatives house. I've been their #1 customer since 2000.


JunCeL

Hi Raven,
John sends me money regularly (to my PNB savings account) through any PNB branch/outlet in Texas (even on Saturdays and Sundays) and only pays $9. I receive the money the following day.

[quote name='FMerz' date='Aug 1 2006, 05:44 PM' post='348664']
[quote name='Raven' post='348607' date='Aug 1 2006, 08:23 PM']
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.
[/quote]



I agree with Lucky Money- fast, reliable, and very efficient. Been their customer for 9 years I think. I also send money online thru Western Union, it's quick but the exchange rate is lower than Lucky Money. I've tried sending thru Xoom also, but it took a week before my sister got the money.

For 2 years I sent money over Westernunion. I don't know why they denied $500. I have sent as much as $2400 for a medical emergency although that had to be done over the phone rather than online. On my last trip I just gave her a ATM card from my bank. They only charge a $2 ATM fee and the exchange rate is the same as the official rate. Works very good for her.

I agree with Lucky Money- fast, reliable, and very efficient. Been their customer for 9 years I think. Your recepient will received it in 24 hours. I also send money online thru Western Union, it's quick but the exchange rate is lower than Lucky Money. I've tried sending thru Xoom also, but it took a week before my sister got the money.

I would suggest you get her a debit card on a new savings account, tied together with yours. Send it to her fedex.

Why pay ongoing transfer fee's? I just get online, move money from one account to another and Done!!!

In an emergency, you can have cash available to her in less than a minute. Can any other method do that?

Net cost, 1$ per transaction.

In the short term, you could use one of the other suggestions above.

Hi,
I sent my wife a debit card to my savings acct. She just goes to an ATM machine and gets what I tell her. It only cost a couple of bucks.
Works great and there's no waiting. Western union was way expensive.
Mike & Lorna

Netbank. No international ATM withdrawl fee. I just transfer money from my account to a second account I setup for my wife and she can usually get the money immediately. Everything is totally free and I have checked the exchange rate she was getting a couple times and it was reasonable.

I don't know why anyone would do anything else. This is so easy and free. Only problem is getting the card there. I left mine there when I went over but you could send it Fedex.

Money gram is the best and cheaper than Western union by far. They have excellent services too.

Go to www.moneygram.com

We have used western union, be carefull using your credit card as it will post as a cash advance, more fees from the cc company and you will most likely be paying a much higher interest rate on the cash advance and they might apply all payments to lower rate balances first.

We either use western union, emergencies or

Remithome.com they charge a $10 flate rate and deliver it to the house. The only drawback is that it takes 3 to 5 days.

Mike and Luvy

How is Moneygram the best if Netbank is free and you don't even have to leave your house?

don't try to use your credit card with Moneygram, it can take forever to be available.

So it's totally free when she withdraws money? No ATM transaction fee period?

Yeah right, is anything free in this world!!

There is a catch, that would be the exchange rate...You will get banged up there. Big-time!!!!

Again, send your SO an ATM card, if you bank online, you can transfer money in seconds. Withdrawal fees vary, but it is much cheaper than Western Union.

I pay $1 per withdrawal, maximum USD400 per day. If you need to send more in one day, well, that is another story.

Last time I checked the exchange it was 52+. I didn't compare it to the regular exchange rate but I'm sure it's pretty close. Much better than $20 for WU. Bank of America was charging me $7.50 fee each time.

*** update ***
She got 1000 yesterday for $19.44. The forex says P52/$1 so I paid about $.77 for the transaction.

I'm not sure of the limit. The visa check card is $750 here in the US. I assume it's the same in the Philippines. Just have to make many, many withdrawls of P4000 (the limit in my wife's town).

You might check your credit card that youre using. I had that problem once. Although I had plenty of credit available, I had already maxed out the cash advance limit and couldn't send anything on Western Union until I paid it off. Check that or try a different card if you have one.

I use PNB web remit, door to door delivery. Its $10.00 and after using them for a little while you can send $500 a time.

I did a wire transfer from my bank to hers. It was secure, cheaper than Western Union but sounds like there are better ways.

try remithome.com

http://www.remithome.com/remithome/html/faq.htm

you can send more then $500. I have a friend that sent a lot of money thru PNB back to the Philippines.

Yeah other servicess of PNB let you send more. i was talking about daily limit for door to door

From PNB website

Is there a limit on the amount of remittance transaction?
Currently, there is a maximum limit of $500.00 per transaction. We are still in the process of evaluating the risks associated for online remittance hence the limit.

If you need to remit more than $500 you can initiate another transaction or you may visit one of our branches (see http://www.pnbrci.com for nearest branch).

i use www.xoom.com the money usually gets there in about 30mins and the fee is cheaper than westernunion

We used xoom when she was there and when we send money to her Mom we still use xoom.

I've used Visabuxx for my gal. The set-up fee is $12 and than it's $3 per transaction no matter how much you put into her account. Nice thing about it is the fact there is no wait-time for the money to be in her account once the initial linking of your account to the buxx card is established:
http://www.visabuxx.com/

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!

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

i still say xoom.com is the BEST!

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!

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

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.

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

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.

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