Western Union, Moneygram, RIAENVIA or another.

expatriate says on Apr 24, 2005, 13:59:

Paypal Send them a Paypal card and the ATM fee is only $1. I'm also in the process of opening an account with Affinity Bank in California. Their ATM fee is 0.
Send your family to Bancolombia where they can get 400,000 pesos for one ATM fee.

If you are young, skilled, and intelligent, you might want to seriously consider leaving the US now, while you still can.

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Bill1243 says on Apr 24, 2005, 14:22:

The ATM route is the best,....make sure it is a plain ATM and not one with a Visa or MC symbol on it. My credit union allows the first five for free per month.

It is the best way to go by far.

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Jack Smith says on Apr 24, 2005, 14:25:

Paypal card? How do you get that? My ATM fees went up from $3 to $6 with Wells Fargo is 400,000 still the maximum for any Bancolombia Bank? Thx!

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Dan says on Apr 24, 2005, 14:34:

Now that is high fees. I've seen people discussing this before and Wells Fargo came up as being something to stay away from. I've heard they charge for Everything under the Sun. 400,000 pesos is the max normally I've seen it with BanColombia. Other banks do 300,000 or 200,000. For Paypal, go to www.paypal.com and register if you havn't before. They have an ATM/Debt card that you can draw funds from your PayPal account. You first apply for your own card. They say the first card must be in the account holders name (yours).You need to wait until you get the card and activate it. You can then, afterwards, apply for a second card with whatever name you want, activate it, then send it to whomever you got it for.

God Bless America!

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Dan says on Apr 24, 2005, 14:35:

also PayPal has the Master Card logo on it too.

God Bless America!

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2retirensa says on Apr 24, 2005, 14:58:

Bancocolombia is still 400,000 as of 4 days ago. All others I used were 300,000. I didn't see many Bancocolombias where I was. Union Planters/ Regions charged $1.50 atm fee. ,I had several problems with Union Planters, and had to call US twice to get $$. One problem is they count Sat. and Sun. as ONE day and didn't tell me. You have to wait 24 hours between transactions, they do not have an international # to call, and all morning when I called I got a recording they were all busy, leave a # and they would call me back. I called before I left, talked to EVERYONE, made sure it was documented where I was etc. Her comment was "but you're in a foreign country and I didn't think you should be getting this much $$". Stupid was the niciest word that came to mind. It was a nightmare! I dumped my BofA acct. for them!!American Express charges $2.50 plus a 2% foreign exchage charge.
I'm looking into the Paypal- sounds better than this.
Maureen

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expatriate says on Apr 24, 2005, 15:39:

More about Paypal Besides the ATM fee of only $1, you can transfer money around between your bank accounts for free. There is a charge for moving money around between Paypal accounts, though. You can get the Paypal ATM card after you have been registered for 60 days.
One disadvantage to Paypal is that it sometimes can be sporadic in getting cash out of the ATMs. If you have a problem getting cash at your usual bank one day, go to Conavi, it works every time.

If you are young, skilled, and intelligent, you might want to seriously consider leaving the US now, while you still can.

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elkins888 says on Apr 25, 2005, 07:11:

Etrade Bank - No fee I have lived outside the U.S. for years and have always used E at trade securities and Etrade bank to access my money. I have a securities account which is also linked to my checking account. This allows me to move money from my securites account to my checking or vs versa. I pay no fee’s and my account can be checked online. Any questions I have are handled via e-mail. My retirement check is direct deposited into my checking account monthly which eliminates the bank fee’s.

I currently live in Panama which uses the U.S. dollar. No fee is charged by either Panama or E*trade. I used my ATM checking account card in Costa Rica and received a good exchange rate, again no fee’s. I had the same experience in the Philippines last year during my visit.

The Colombia ATM’s may or may not charge a fee. Remember, this is a “checking account ATM card” and not the normal visa card with protection. I for this reason keep a minimal amount in the account. I also have a regular Visa credit card for purchases which I pay online from my checking account. Again, No fee.

E-Trade Bank
www.etradebank.com

E-Trade offers an attractive array of banking services, but at a cost. Checking accounts are free if you set up direct deposit; otherwise, if you have less than $2,000 you'll pay a $5 monthly charge. Likewise, online bill paying is free only if you meet the $2,000 minimum; it costs $6.95 per month otherwise. With one of the largest networks of ATMs nationwide, you can get cash for no fee at more than 15,000 ATMs, although you'll pay ATM operator fees. Quick transfers to and from E-Trade Securities and from other institutions are a fast way to move money. Plus it has some cool extras like a register that lets you categorize expenses and a seven-day projected balance feature that takes into account things like scheduled payments and deposits. Among Internet-only banks, however, the interest rates are pretty low.

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jediknight says on Apr 25, 2005, 08:00:

delgado travel in nyc if the atm route doesn't work for you this is an alternative, this is what i use, they are quick, they charge 3% and they pay very close to the current rate if your family recieves it in pesos. here are some offices

14 EAST 39TH STREET
New York NY 10017
Tel.(212) 370-1400
Fax:(212) 689-7839

37-86 BROADWAY
New York NY 10036
Tel.(212) 568-9300
Fax:(212) 568-5058

79-08 ROOSEVELT AVENUE
Jackson Hts NY 11372
Tel.(718) 426-0500

103-19 ROOSEVELT AVE.
Corona NY 11368
Tel.(718) 205-7700
Fax:(718) 205-4678

37-14 BROADWAY AVE
Astoria NY 11103
Tel.(718) 545-9200
Fax:718) 278-8369

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bogota says on Apr 26, 2005, 22:53:

$500.000 at Banco Davivienda Jack,

Use the ATM at Banco Davivienda, they allow you $500.000 for each withdrawel.

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Miguel says on Apr 26, 2005, 23:19:

Pesos or Dollars When using Western Union to send money to Colombia, in which currency to you specify it to be received?

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2retirensa says on Apr 27, 2005, 04:40:

Banco Davivienda There seem to be quite a few in Cali as well as several in Armenia. Actually all over Colo. Are they Cirrus? And is it $500 or 500,000 cop?

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bogota says on Apr 27, 2005, 08:13:

Banco Davivienda 2retirensa,

Yes, they are on the Cirrus network. You can receive the daily limit your bank allows at $500.000 Pesos per tranaction instead of the normal $300.000 - $400.000.

You will find them throughout Colombia.

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Miguel says on Apr 27, 2005, 08:21:

Mario, thanks... It's a rip for sure, but when you need same day service, it works...next time I'll send pesos.

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Jack Smith says on Apr 27, 2005, 20:19:

We send pesos They get pesos and have been going to davivienda for Riaenvia.

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N2Aquatix says on Apr 28, 2005, 10:52:

I'm Baffled I sent my novia two western union transfers during a period when her ATM card was messed up. I sent the money from the website, they paid it out in pesos, and all we got charged was the western union fee. This thread really has me baffled. She did not go to a bank to receive the transfer. It was a different kind of western union location like some kind of shop or something. As far as I know, they gave her all of it because the amount she quoted me was exactly what the western union website said she would get. Did we just get lucky???

Jay

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N2Aquatix says on Apr 28, 2005, 12:16:

Exchange Rate Yeah, the exchange rate thing sucks but I had no choice. She needed the money and we were running out of time. Thankfully the bank was able to get her ATM card working again. She went and withdrew some money from my account yesterday and it worked fine. Whew!!! ;) As an added note, the exchange rate in Barranquilla is even worse than that. When I was down there last November it was $1=1800 COP, while in Bogota it was over 2000 COP!!! Explain that one to me.

Jay

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N2Aquatix says on Apr 28, 2005, 13:12:

First Timer Yeah, that was my first time down there and I was very unprepared for some of those issues. I was more concerned with the official threat level of the country, which turned out to be extremely exaggerated. This time I will deal with the financials in a much different manner. Probably just use plastic for most everything.

Jay

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Jack Smith says on Apr 28, 2005, 16:19:

Avoid Western Union........ However you do it avoid Western Union if you can.

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lpdiver says on Apr 29, 2005, 05:05:

Tinto I just check pout money gram on the internet and it seems a bit shaky to me. In their own words they give an exchange rate but don't guarentee it. They state that it can vary widely from locale to locale and their charge is twenty dollars. Is their a way to get a better rate that I am not aware of?

I use WU a bit and to send $200.00 US they charge me $10.00 and they payout is printed on my receipt.

T

"cook some rice!"

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N2Aquatix says on Apr 29, 2005, 08:25:

Pretty Easy Yeah, WU online is actually pretty easy and the E/R is guaranteed. I'd have to say that I'm very grateful for their services because my fiancee had to have an operation and we were running out of options. I sent it, she got it, the doc did his thing and now she's all better.

Jay

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lpdiver says on Apr 29, 2005, 10:15:

Western Union's rate seems to be a bit below Moneygrams; but they have an office near my house.4,000 pesos on a 200 dollar transfer isn't worth the gas in my case. I am looking into finding out what the rate on atm cards is. Our problem is that Sonson doesn't have any of the offices. An ATM card would safe us a lot I think.

T

"cook some rice!"

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Dan says on Apr 29, 2005, 10:32:

lpdiver ATM cards use the TRM rate. On El Tiempo website, it shows todays as Dólar (TRM): $2.344,87

Then you end up paying what ever fees for the bank(s).

God Bless America!

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N2Aquatix says on Apr 29, 2005, 10:40:

ATM Yes, ATM is definitely the way to go. You have to check with your bank though to be sure that the card will work in South America. I know that sounds crazy but I've heard that some of them don't work down there. The one I gave my girl works fine, at least now that they fixed whatever was wrong with it. It costs me about $5 in total bank fees each time she uses it, which is usually once a week, so it's fairly quick and painless. Plus there'a an ATM right around the block from her house so all she has to do is get her four brothers to walk down there with her. ;)

Jay

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lpdiver says on Apr 29, 2005, 10:59:

If that is the case Then the increase in the cambio will pay for the ATM usage fee which is less than WU or MG charges.

T

"cook some rice!"

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Jack Smith says on Apr 29, 2005, 12:54:

RIAENVIA I still believe that RIAENVIA, based in California, is cheaper than Money Gram or Western Union. Money Gram is cheaper than Western Union if you use that money saver card they will give you.

There is a post above about Delgado Travel in New York which if true that they charge just 3% sounds really good. Someone also talked about opening an account with AFFINTY BANK in California and they emailed me and said that the first 5 transactions per month are free. (Check out their website!)
Davivienda also allows 500,000 per withdrawl instead of BancColombia's
limit of 400,000. These seem to be the best options depending on what you wish to do? THX!

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