Sending Money to Vietnam

[PeterFB 0]

Hi Vjers

After using Xoom.com to send money to Vietnam for over a year and a half, I've stopped using them for several reasons:

1. Poor customer service, if you need them, they only answer emails with "canned" answers that don't address your problem. If you call them they don't answer the phone....... After repeated calls (I'm persisitant) , and waiting for over 2 hours on hold, I get "canned" answers from them. In other words, no customer support!!

2. They take your money and "play" with it for several days before sending to the country where it's suppose to go. For example, they will debit my bank account within 2 business days but not deliver the money for over a week after the money has been debited. Their online status shows that transaction is "in processing"....... In other words they take all the transactions in process (Think MILLIONS!!!) and use your money to make short term loans to businesses to make them more money.......

3. The hidden fee of a lower currency exchange rate, ie USD to VND is around $1=1600VND, they use a rate of $1=1588VND.

4. I've found a better service....

If you open a WAMU (Washington Mutual Bank) online checking account (and saving if you want, it's also a good deal no min balance and over 3% interest). The online checking account is free of monthly fees, supplies free checks, cash back on using their debit/credit card upt to $250 a year and FREE OUTGOING WIRE TRANSFERS INCLUDING INTERNATIONAL WIRE TRANSFERS. There is possible exchange rate fees and other fees at the bank you send the money to. In Thi's case, TechComBank (according to her family) doesn't charge any fees for receiving the wire and gives a higher exchange rate than XOOM but they have keep $20 in their account at the bank. So that's what we're doing now instead of XOOM .

If everything works out like it should, this seems like the perpect way to send money!!!

Peter and Thi

I-129F Sent : 2007-05-26

I-129F NOA1 : 2007-06-11

I-129F RFE(s) :

RFE Reply(s) :

I-129F NOA2 : 2007-10-26

Touched: 2007-11-02

NVC Recieved: 2007-11-16

Consulate recieved ??????

Packet 3 sent 2007-12-11

Packet 3 received 2007-12-24

Packet 3 returned 2007-12-28

Packet 4 sent 2008-1-14

Email Reply with Interview Date 2008-1-23

Interview Date 2008-2-27

Passed Interview 2008-02-27

Visa Pick Up Date 2008-3-05

Received Visa 2008-2-29 (called to pick up earlier)

POE 2008-3-05 Los Angeles

Wedding 2008-4-26

[Teacher Mark 53]

Interesting. Please let us know how it works out. I'm hesitant with bank initiated wire transfers though.

[payxibka 10,044]

What about simple ATM machines?

Edited June 12, 2008 by fwaguy

[Jack & Xuan 0]

That was my thought. I was just going to leave an ATM card on an account I have here in my city. When I wanted to send money I would just deposit money into the account and tell them they could withdraw however much it is. There will be an ATM fee and international fee of a total of $3 for the bank I use myself. For now though when I have needed to send Xuan any money we just use Western Union. It gives receipts of who from and who to and it has that information on the web site too. It does cost more but the quick access to money and receipt are worth it to me.

Just a thought

[Robert & Van 0]

My First Time I sent Any Money I went threw My Credit Union 30.00 Transfer Fee.

then at Vans bank a 2% Fee. i sent 1000.00 to her and it cost about 50.00.

Then I went to a Local Vietnamese Market and They charge 2.00 per 100.00 sent. And they got it to Van Within 48 hours.

[CoolHand2x2y2z 0]

I have always used International Wires through my bank. They smack me pretty hard, $40, for each time and then the bank in Vietnam takes another chunk. However, it has always been pretty efficient for me and my wife.

[STL_HCMC 0]

We've been using MoneyGram through Wal-Mart and it is very effective and cost efficient. I believe it is around $9.50 for each $500 USD sent.

We fill out the form, make payment and the money is available within minutes, without any fees on the receiving end.

Link: Wal-Mart MoneyGram

Link: MoneyGram Worldwide Locator

STL_HCMC

Edited June 13, 2008 by STL_HCMC

[Teacher Mark 53]

That was my thought. I was just going to leave an ATM card on an account I have here in my city. When I wanted to send money I would just deposit money into the account and tell them they could withdraw however much it is. There will be an ATM fee and international fee of a total of $3 for the bank I use myself. For now though when I have needed to send Xuan any money we just use Western Union. It gives receipts of who from and who to and it has that information on the web site too. It does cost more but the quick access to money and receipt are worth it to me.

Just a thought

Jack in Whiteland there is are 2 Pilot Travel Centers and in Seymour there is a Travel Center of America. Western Union has a special program called Direct Connect. You call 877.984.0473 and give them the information. They will then give you an 8 (or maybe 10) digit code. You then take the cash (and it must be cash, as stupid as that is these days) to either travel center (to my knowledge only Pilot and T/A participate) and pay them. It is only a $6 fee for up to $300 I think. It is cheaper than the regular Western Union service. If you do it make sure and ask if you can get a gold card. That way you just give them your number every time and they pull up the information.

[Daniel-Sang 0]

i've been using Western Union, they are great

[Tom99 0]

How long does it take them to receive it in Vietnam, also which town does your fiancee live?

Thanks

[Rodney n. 0]

easiest way i have found to send money is to go to a local vietnamese jewelery store. they only charge me $4 per $100 to send it and they receive same day in vn. also good place to get best deals on phone cards to vn.

rodney

[J & Q 0]

Hi Vjers

After using Xoom.com to send money to Vietnam for over a year and a half, I've stopped using them for several reasons:

1. Poor customer service, if you need them, they only answer emails with "canned" answers that don't address your problem. If you call them they don't answer the phone....... After repeated calls (I'm persisitant) , and waiting for over 2 hours on hold, I get "canned" answers from them. In other words, no customer support!!

2. They take your money and "play" with it for several days before sending to the country where it's suppose to go. For example, they will debit my bank account within 2 business days but not deliver the money for over a week after the money has been debited. Their online status shows that transaction is "in processing"....... In other words they take all the transactions in process (Think MILLIONS!!!) and use your money to make short term loans to businesses to make them more money.......

3. The hidden fee of a lower currency exchange rate, ie USD to VND is around $1=1600VND, they use a rate of $1=1588VND.

4. I've found a better service....

If you open a WAMU (Washington Mutual Bank) online checking account (and saving if you want, it's also a good deal no min balance and over 3% interest). The online checking account is free of monthly fees, supplies free checks, cash back on using their debit/credit card upt to $250 a year and FREE OUTGOING WIRE TRANSFERS INCLUDING INTERNATIONAL WIRE TRANSFERS. There is possible exchange rate fees and other fees at the bank you send the money to. In Thi's case, TechComBank (according to her family) doesn't charge any fees for receiving the wire and gives a higher exchange rate than XOOM but they have keep $20 in their account at the bank. So that's what we're doing now instead of XOOM .

If everything works out like it should, this seems like the perpect way to send money!!!

Peter and Thi

I-129F Sent : 2007-05-26

I-129F NOA1 : 2007-06-11

I-129F RFE(s) :

RFE Reply(s) :

I-129F NOA2 : 2007-10-26

Touched: 2007-11-02

NVC Recieved: 2007-11-16

Consulate recieved ??????

Packet 3 sent 2007-12-11

Packet 3 received 2007-12-24

Packet 3 returned 2007-12-28

Packet 4 sent 2008-1-14

Email Reply with Interview Date 2008-1-23

Interview Date 2008-2-27

Passed Interview 2008-02-27

Visa Pick Up Date 2008-3-05

Received Visa 2008-2-29 (called to pick up earlier)

POE 2008-3-05 Los Angeles

Wedding 2008-4-26

I found Western Union to be pretty reliable though they have recently raised their rates on money transfers. I tried to have my fiancée open up an account so that I could transfer funds from my account to hers but for whatever reason every Vietnamese person that I speak with are opposed to the banks. I am not sure why this is. I would think that it would be a more secure means of exchanging currency than at the local jewelry store.

[Teacher Mark 53]

Hi Vjers

After using Xoom.com to send money to Vietnam for over a year and a half, I've stopped using them for several reasons:

1. Poor customer service, if you need them, they only answer emails with "canned" answers that don't address your problem. If you call them they don't answer the phone....... After repeated calls (I'm persisitant) , and waiting for over 2 hours on hold, I get "canned" answers from them. In other words, no customer support!!

2. They take your money and "play" with it for several days before sending to the country where it's suppose to go. For example, they will debit my bank account within 2 business days but not deliver the money for over a week after the money has been debited. Their online status shows that transaction is "in processing"....... In other words they take all the transactions in process (Think MILLIONS!!!) and use your money to make short term loans to businesses to make them more money.......

3. The hidden fee of a lower currency exchange rate, ie USD to VND is around $1=1600VND, they use a rate of $1=1588VND.

4. I've found a better service....

If you open a WAMU (Washington Mutual Bank) online checking account (and saving if you want, it's also a good deal no min balance and over 3% interest). The online checking account is free of monthly fees, supplies free checks, cash back on using their debit/credit card upt to $250 a year and FREE OUTGOING WIRE TRANSFERS INCLUDING INTERNATIONAL WIRE TRANSFERS. There is possible exchange rate fees and other fees at the bank you send the money to. In Thi's case, TechComBank (according to her family) doesn't charge any fees for receiving the wire and gives a higher exchange rate than XOOM but they have keep $20 in their account at the bank. So that's what we're doing now instead of XOOM .

If everything works out like it should, this seems like the perpect way to send money!!!

Peter and Thi

I-129F Sent : 2007-05-26

I-129F NOA1 : 2007-06-11

I-129F RFE(s) :

RFE Reply(s) :

I-129F NOA2 : 2007-10-26

Touched: 2007-11-02

NVC Recieved: 2007-11-16

Consulate recieved ??????

Packet 3 sent 2007-12-11

Packet 3 received 2007-12-24

Packet 3 returned 2007-12-28

Packet 4 sent 2008-1-14

Email Reply with Interview Date 2008-1-23

Interview Date 2008-2-27

Passed Interview 2008-02-27

Visa Pick Up Date 2008-3-05

Received Visa 2008-2-29 (called to pick up earlier)

POE 2008-3-05 Los Angeles

Wedding 2008-4-26

I found Western Union to be pretty reliable though they have recently raised their rates on money transfers. I tried to have my fiancée open up an account so that I could transfer funds from my account to hers but for whatever reason every Vietnamese person that I speak with are opposed to the banks. I am not sure why this is. I would think that it would be a more secure means of exchanging currency than at the local jewelry store.

I noticed that too (about th banks). Are you in NYC?

[Jack & Xuan 0]

This may sound like a stupid question but do you live in Indiana? I would love to meet up with others that are or have gone through this process and I only know of one person.

That was my thought. I was just going to leave an ATM card on an account I have here in my city. When I wanted to send money I would just deposit money into the account and tell them they could withdraw however much it is. There will be an ATM fee and international fee of a total of $3 for the bank I use myself. For now though when I have needed to send Xuan any money we just use Western Union. It gives receipts of who from and who to and it has that information on the web site too. It does cost more but the quick access to money and receipt are worth it to me.

Just a thought

Jack in Whiteland there is are 2 Pilot Travel Centers and in Seymour there is a Travel Center of America. Western Union has a special program called Direct Connect. You call 877.984.0473 and give them the information. They will then give you an 8 (or maybe 10) digit code. You then take the cash (and it must be cash, as stupid as that is these days) to either travel center (to my knowledge only Pilot and T/A participate) and pay them. It is only a $6 fee for up to $300 I think. It is cheaper than the regular Western Union service. If you do it make sure and ask if you can get a gold card. That way you just give them your number every time and they pull up the information.

[Teacher Mark 53]

This may sound like a stupid question but do you live in Indiana? I would love to meet up with others that are or have gone through this process and I only know of one person.

That was my thought. I was just going to leave an ATM card on an account I have here in my city. When I wanted to send money I would just deposit money into the account and tell them they could withdraw however much it is. There will be an ATM fee and international fee of a total of $3 for the bank I use myself. For now though when I have needed to send Xuan any money we just use Western Union. It gives receipts of who from and who to and it has that information on the web site too. It does cost more but the quick access to money and receipt are worth it to me.

Just a thought

Jack in Whiteland there is are 2 Pilot Travel Centers and in Seymour there is a Travel Center of America. Western Union has a special program called Direct Connect. You call 877.984.0473 and give them the information. They will then give you an 8 (or maybe 10) digit code. You then take the cash (and it must be cash, as stupid as that is these days) to either travel center (to my knowledge only Pilot and T/A participate) and pay them. It is only a $6 fee for up to $300 I think. It is cheaper than the regular Western Union service. If you do it make sure and ask if you can get a gold card. That way you just give them your number every time and they pull up the information.

No, I'm a Trucker in the Entertainment Industry. I'm getting ready to go out with the "Warped Tour". It's a bunch of punk/alternative bands. We will be in Noblesville, IN on July 31st. It's above Indy, so it's a little ways away from you. That's as close as I'll be all summer if they leave me on the tour. Sometimes things change here. It's hard to make plans. If you want to make the drive though I'll gladly meet up. I just met Melrose Plant and his wife Mai at a Flying J truck stop the other night. It was pretty cool.