[Monga]

My bank is no longer allowing transactions on Westernunion.com - this is a huge inconvenience. I need to send money overseas to my parents on a regular basis and I don't always remember during normal business hours. Are there any other alternatives?

[Miranda]

I've never used this before, but what about:

~http://www.xoom.com

EDIT: Looks like they might not be so reliable anymore. Maybe if it was 2 years ago, but I see they've been getting some complaints now.

http://www.complaintsboard.com/complaints/...om-c137134.html
http://www.complaintsboard.com/complaints/...om-c249140.html

[kar522]

I think you can use Western Union @ WalMart B&M @ the service desk. Do they have currency exchanges in CA? Or maybe one of those Cash Stores like Check Into Cash has some sort of service. Could you set them up with a PayPal account?

This post has been edited by kar522: 11-2-09, 10:03am

[Monga]

The problem is that I don't always remember to make the transfer during regular business hours. Going to Walmart is a 12 mile trip to a bad area or a 20 mile trip to a safe area... Paypal is dirt cheap for transfers but I'm afraid my parents won't know how to access the funds. I just don't want to inconvenience them. Depositing directly into their own bank would be the best alternative but I'm still trying to find out how to do that without them being charged any fees....

[kar522]

Truck stops are open 24/7, and every one I've visited lately had Western Union available...the lots are well lit, there's lots of folks about...

[Monga]

Oy vey.... I don't think I want to go to a truck stop in the middle of the night with a wad of cash.... but thanks anyway!!

[captainjrl]

Do your parents have a bank account? If so you should check to see if your bank has the ability to link to external accounts. If so then you would just need to get the routing number and account number from your parents and then ACH push the money to them.

[JCS]

Do your parents have a bank account? If so you should check to see if your bank has the ability to link to external accounts. If so then you would just need to get the routing number and account number from your parents and then ACH push the money to them.

A friend of mine recently tried to do this and was told that with out of country banks the amount has to be fairly large, the minimum was a few thousand I think.

[Monga]

Well, my parents found out that their bank would charge them an $80.00 fee to receive about $800.00. I think I'll have to go to Wal-Mart from now on!!!