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Xoom Money Transfers

Anyone ever try this money transfer to get funds to Colombia. Was checking out their web site. Looks alot cheaper than most others. Like $9.99 on 1K. Looks like they use BBVA/ Banco Davivienda. Seems they have a lot of locations in Cali. Was also wondering how the service is with Davivienda. Any comments would be great. Thanks

By Buongone on Aug 25, 2008, 19:38 in Friendly Talkzone.

Buongone says on Aug 25, 2008, 19:39:

Bump !!

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ColombianoGringo (Moderator) (Trustee board) (☼Travelguide writer) says on Aug 25, 2008, 20:37:

Picking up a money transfer at a bank can be a headache. I had to send a moneygram to a relative and they opted to pick it up at Davivienda. They were generally treated like shit and made to jump through all kinds of hoops including going to a papeleria to get a copy of their cedula. The next time, they went to Carulla and were in and out in a few minutes and only had to show their cedula. Of course, another bank location could be different but you might want to check if they have other non-bank locations.

Yo me como los mocos debajo de la ruana pa que no me pidan.

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Buongone says on Aug 25, 2008, 20:59:

Thanks. As I figured. Another possible Goat Rope.

Ever hear of BB&T? They have a debit card like Ikobo. I use Ikobo most of the time. Then 2nd choice is Cashpin. Looking for other alternatives way to send money in a crunch. Had money hacked from my Emoneygram account. Don't want to use them again. If I can get around that emoneygram.

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ColombianoGringo (Moderator) (Trustee board) (☼Travelguide writer) says on Aug 25, 2008, 21:47:

"Had money hacked from my Emoneygram account."

Damn! How'd that happen?

I did use a service a while back that had an interesting price structure. They had a sliding scale where you'd get a better exchange rate if you paid a slightly larger fee. It worked out to be cheaper than MoneyGram, but I had to drive to an agent and sent it. I have the name at the office and will post it tomorrow. You might bump this thread so I don't forget ;)

However, I got sick of fees and lousy exchange rates so I just sent a debit card to a relative I trust and transfer money into that account when necessary. I use Capital One so there are absolutely no international exchange or transaction fees. I do get hit for a $1.50 ATM on occasion. If I kept a minimum balance of $1,000 they refund the ATM fees, but I only use that account for sending money.

Yo me como los mocos debajo de la ruana pa que no me pidan.

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wabbits says on Aug 25, 2008, 22:25:

a friend once sent me money in guatemala with this service and incredibly it worked.

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Buongone says on Aug 25, 2008, 23:21:

wabbits. Was that the BB&T company?

CG-You got me. I woke up one morning in Cali. Got on the net. There was confirmations coming from Emoneygram. They got 2, at around $2500. I called emoney gram. They said cancel your profile and call your bank. I did both. My bank booked emoneygram for the cost. Said it was an inside job from within emoneygram. Needless to say. Had to cancel my accounts, just 3 days before I beat feet out of Cali. What a wake-up call. Always leave a escape route credit card with a lot of money available on it. Just in case stuff like that happens. It was on Saturday morning. Flew out early Monday morning. Luckily the ATM was there. And worked.

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Buongone says on Aug 25, 2008, 23:22:

Bump

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tabla says on Aug 26, 2008, 00:30:

I was using Moneygram from UK because they had a special offer to Colombia -- half price. That made it half the price of Fedex. You just nominate the city, and they can collect at any agent. There are loads in Medellin, for example. The problem I had was trying to find a way to send money to smaller towns. I believe Servientrega can do it to some but never got anywhere trying to understand how to do it. Can anyone explain?

I also write for the archive.

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tabla says on Aug 26, 2008, 00:36:

By the way, I now use a Nationwide Flex card, because the transaction fee is zero. I notice Abbey now also have one. Have to get the cash from an ATM. What happens is: someone in Medellin holds the card for me. They get the cash from the ATM and pay it into my gf's bancolombia account. She can then withdraw it in her pueblo using her cash card. I control the situation by limiting the funds in my Nationwide account to what I want her to have. Some complications have arisen, however.

I also write for the archive.

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kat1 (Moderator) (Trustee board) (☼Travelguide writer) says on Aug 26, 2008, 00:54:

i have been using xoom, but for small amount of money (the maximum £400) and i think the service have been great, no hassle on the other side, they usually pick it up from Davivienda or BBVA, and arrive very quickly.

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Buongone says on Aug 26, 2008, 01:04:

kat1, Thanks. That amount is small. My novia has a very limited time during the day to go to a bank. Gets 1 hr off from the University, for lunch. Kind of makes it hard to go to a bank and stand in line. Ever hear of BB&T. Kinda like a debit card?

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panthdave says on Aug 26, 2008, 02:47:

Still use moneygram and like the service...but don't do money transfers that much...because I fly back and forth....Moneygram is quick online and have had no problems on the receiving end rather pay the small fee for no problems....but hearing somebody hacked a online moneygram account is scary...

panthdave Miami

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Saltador says on Aug 26, 2008, 03:31:

I used to use xoom, until I looked at the exchange rate they were giving me, It seems that is where they were making their money, since the "fee" was so small.
As established on here many times, if you are going to send money on a regular basis, give the recipient a no fee debit card in which you control the account here in the US.

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myheartisinbogota says on Aug 26, 2008, 04:37:

It seems like my debit card charges 2.50 and 1.50 for ATM transactions in Bogota. They only let you withdrawl about 300k pesos. Western Union isn't much more expensive and you can send dollars so they do not ding you on the exchange rate. Any thoughts out there on a more cost effective way?

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viajero123 (☼Travelguide writer) says on Aug 26, 2008, 05:07:

Open a Capital One bank/money market account and get a Capital One ATM card charging no fees for withdrawals and hit the Davivienda or Citibank ATMs, they let you withdraw at least 500k each time, and up to 3 or 4 times per day.

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GregYohn says on Aug 26, 2008, 05:10:

Hola!

It beats Western Union, if you do not need the money immediately!

12VOIP.com gives free calls to Colombia.Greg

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ColombianoGringo (Moderator) (Trustee board) (☼Travelguide writer) says on Aug 26, 2008, 07:06:

"Western Union isn't much more expensive and you can send dollars so they do not ding you on the exchange rate"

Actually, the transfer services make money on the exchange rates. They will typically give you 30 to 50 pesos below the dollars current market value, whereas a good bank like Capital One will give you the correct exchange and won't charge transaction fees beyond the $1.50 ATM fee.

Yo me como los mocos debajo de la ruana pa que no me pidan.

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CascadeBob says on Aug 26, 2008, 08:35:

tabla - a Nationwide Flex card? What is that exactly.

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tabla says on Aug 26, 2008, 13:08:

In UK Nationwide Building Society has a current account called a Flex account. You can get a debit card on that account, and if you use it abroad at ATM's there is no fee. Also the exchange rate tends to be good. Also no fee for any foreign use of the card.

They also have a credit card. I have seen references to it also having no fees, but when I used mine, I was charged a fee. Have given up on trying to find the definitive answer on that one.

Abbey now offers a credit card called a Zero card if I recall. Again no fees. But there is an annual fee of 12 pounds.

I also write for the archive.

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CascadeBob says on Aug 26, 2008, 14:02:

OK, thanks tabla. Guess that doesn't help us Yanks much.

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Buongone says on Aug 27, 2008, 00:04:

I have found Ikobo works good. They have a debit card. Not to expensive fees, and good exchange rates. Use at any ATM.

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el_scouser says on Aug 28, 2008, 07:41:

Titan Intercontinental - My girlfriend's mum always sends money to her from Miami using this company. You should be able to send money from any part of the states - she says its really cheap and instant.

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