Sending Money from US to Canada

[DandT14 272]

Sorry if this is a dumb question, but I'm going to ask it anyway.

I need to send money to someone in Canada. What's the best way?

I can write a personal check, but will they have any issues depositing it into their Canadian bank account? What about a money order (I hate them, but I'll use one if I have to.) How will the money conversion work?

I might be able to paypal the person, but I need to send more than the monthly paypal limit. I've never done a Western Union thing, so I don't know how difficult that would be for me or them. I also don't know how readily available Western Union is in their part of Canada.

Any help/opinions?

[katchoo12 8]

Sorry if this is a dumb question, but I'm going to ask it anyway.

I need to send money to someone in Canada. What's the best way?

I can write a personal check, but will they have any issues depositing it into their Canadian bank account? What about a money order (I hate them, but I'll use one if I have to.) How will the money conversion work?

I might be able to paypal the person, but I need to send more than the monthly paypal limit. I've never done a Western Union thing, so I don't know how difficult that would be for me or them. I also don't know how readily available Western Union is in their part of Canada.

Any help/opinions?

Wire transfer

[Brandi n Michael 8]

Only cheap way is money order via mail ($1.99 at post office up to $1000. 7-11 .99 up to $500) takes about 1-2weeks to arrive. Everything else there are fees on both sides. Western union is expensive, wire transfer both sides get nailed with fees.

Good luck!

Edited September 9, 2012 by Brandi n Michael

[Krikit 1,164]

Just send them a cheque. Canadian banks are equipped to, and know how to, deal with foreign currency transactions. There will be no service fees..... it's the same as if you were depositing a Canadian currency cheque. Also, there will be the usual hold on the funds until the cheque clears.

You can check the daily exchange rates online. For example, if they are depositing to TD CanadaTrust their daily rate is available on their website.

Edited September 9, 2012 by Krikit

[Canadiandggal 49]

Western union or moneygram.

Western union isnt that bad in fees (obviously not great but if you go in and do next day it shouldnt be too bad). You could send them a personal check but it will likely take 1 week to deposit or more, however you could get them to ask there bank prior to find out exact time line.

Moneygram tends to be run out of post offices and western union usually has tons of locations.

You can go on either site and find their canadian locations.

www.westernunion.ca or moneygram.ca

[Krikit 1,164]

Only cheap way is money order via mail ($1.99 at post office up to $1000. 7-11 .99 up to $500) takes about 1-2weeks to arrive. Everything else there are fees on both sides. Western union is expensive, wire transfer both sides get nailed with fees.

No offense, but the above, bolded, statements aren't quite correct. Personal cheques deposited in Canada have no fees attached. Wire transfers from certain banks also have no transfer fees/service charges. For example, a wire transfer from a TD Bank here in the US has no cost if transferred to a TD CanadaTrust in Canada.

[DandT14 272]

Thanks for all the help.

I'm pretty sure their account is at the Bank of Montreal, if that makes a difference.

I'd rather send a personal check, if it's not going to be a problem. They won't mind waiting for the check to clear. I just wasn't sure how the bank would handle a US check written on US funds. But, I guess they know that it's, for example, $600 US Dollars? They'll just convert it to Canadian when it's deposited?

[Flames9_RN 358]

Thanks for all the help.

I'm pretty sure their account is at the Bank of Montreal, if that makes a difference.

I'd rather send a personal check, if it's not going to be a problem. They won't mind waiting for the check to clear. I just wasn't sure how the bank would handle a US check written on US funds. But, I guess they know that it's, for example, $600 US Dollars? They'll just convert it to Canadian when it's deposited?

I would just call the Cdn bank and make sure there are no fees and how long they put a hold on it!. Not all banks are the same.

[CDAgirlMI 51]

I just wasn't sure how the bank would handle a US check written on US funds. But, I guess they know that it's, for example, $600 US Dollars? They'll just convert it to Canadian when it's deposited?

The receiver can keep the $$ in US dollars if its a US cheque. Or they can exchange it into Canadian.

[Ms Hogan 295]

I've never had problems depositing U.S. checks into my Canadian bank account. I've done it in person with a teller and also through the bank machine. When depositing at the bank machine I would just put the amount of the check and then the bank would correct the amount of funds in my account the next day based on the exchange rate once they saw it was a U.S. check.

It sounds like you're sending a large sum so the only advice I would add is to make sure you send it in a way that requires a signature when it is received... FedEx or UPS etc.

[DandT14 272]

Thanks! That helps a lot.

[bsd058 296]

I send by wire transfer from my bank every month to my wife's bank account in America to help her while she waits for me to get there. It costs $35/transaction for me. It may not be cheap but it happens immediately. I call her to see when the money reaches her and it usually takes about 30 seconds for her to get it. I never go through Western Union anymore. They are too inconvenient for me. It's so easy once you have it set up at your bank.

[Flames9_RN 358]

There are a few ways with customhouse(now owned by western union) to send $$$$. 1 is EFT which is free, but ti takes 3-4 Buisiness days! I belive there is another method that is free and much quicker!! Im never in a hurry, so have never inquired about it. And they have a wire service which is instant, but of course costs $$. I prefer to keep my $$$ and not just give it away,lol $35 buys lot of coffee and beer!!

[CarolinaGirl 2]

I also use custom house (owned by western union). I used to mail a certified check every month and pay the $10 fee for it and now I just go online and get a much better exchange rate than with my bank. It takes a few days, but like PP said... I'd rather plan ahead by a few days than pay a fee, and since I'm sending money every month it's easy enough to know when to do it. If it's a one time deal though it may not be worth the effort to figure it out.