Sending money from Russia to USA

[Omega82]

A female friend of mine in Russia will send me $150 which she owes me.  She was between jobs and I let her borrow it.  This woman and I are and have always been strictly friends.  She was also an excellent tour guide and saved me a lot of taxi money since she knows how to take the metro and trains.  Her help has been extremely valuable.  I imagine she will send it via Western Union.  Does anyone know if there are any issues with this due to the sanctions against Russia?  Also, dealing with western union has been a rather unpleasant experience.  any ideas? 

[msmob]

MoneyGram, PayPal ...the latter has a USD facility.

One of you will lose in the exchange rate process.(

Much easier to get money into Russia than get it out...

[GQBlues]

A female friend of mine in Russia will send me $150 which she owes me.  She was between jobs and I let her borrow it.  This woman and I are and have always been strictly friends.  She was also an excellent tour guide and saved me a lot of taxi money since she knows how to take the metro and trains.  Her help has been extremely valuable.  I imagine she will send it via Western Union.  Does anyone know if there are any issues with this due to the sanctions against Russia?  Also, dealing with western union has been a rather unpleasant experience.  any ideas?

If you must, I suggest using Xoom.

If I were you, and she is and had done what you told us, $150.00 is hardly an amount between friends during dire times, and certainly not an amount to be classified as a debt. I’d tell her keep the money and maybe next time I’m in Russia, she can buy me dinner or a beer.

[ML]

If I were you, and she is and had done what you told us, $150.00 is hardly an amount between friends during dire times, and certainly not an amount to be classified as a debt. I’d tell her keep the money and maybe next time I’m in Russia, she can buy me dinner or a beer.

I agree.
$150 is not worth the hassles involved.
On the other hand, if you two were in same city and money could merely be handed across the table . . .

[msmob]

Whist I share the sentiment of the above posters - IF you are not going to see her then sending $150 by paypal is cheaper (c.$2 ver $5.99)  than using xoom ...  and with the latter you'll have to drive to collect the cash ..

SOME of us actually offer advice on stuff they ( actually)  do ...

[krimster2]

dewd, I use paypal ALL THE TIME with Russians.....
no problems at all, low fee
easy peasy
you have a credit card, they have a credit card
money goes from one to the other like "snap"
word...

[Omega82]

I agree.
$150 is not worth the hassles involved.
On the other hand, if you two were in same city and money could merely be handed across the table . . .

I sent her $800.  The $150 she is returning is the first installment.  From what ive read online it seems the sanctions are mainly against certain individuals or entities that have been blacklisted.  But it seems for all other purposes we still do business with Russia. 

[msmob]

As log as you understand getting out money from Russia will involve losing out in the exchange  much more than other currencies - then you're correct )

[GQBlues]

I sent her $800.  The $150 she is returning is the first installment.  From what ive read online it seems the sanctions are mainly against certain individuals or entities that have been blacklisted.  But it seems for all other purposes we still do business with Russia.

This is interesting, and mind you, not making judgment of you Omega82.

Even at that amount, I just assume that *my* friend either 'save' the money until he/she get the full amount if he/she wants to return the money back to me, or, I normally wouldn't expect it getting returned as I likely took the position I simply helped out friend in need. I depart with larger sums in a year's time than that over charities and assistance with people and organizations that are otherwise strangers to me.

Assuming of course this person is a friend as described above. One of the dividing thing to happen between personal relationships (whether family or friends) is money. If I decided to help a friend, or even a family, because they are in need of help - I give the money (within my means) as an assistance and not as a loan. Money have a way to expose people's depth of character and integrity.

We've laid witness to this fact here on this board not too long ago, even for a ridiculously paltry sum of less than $10.00.

That's just me...

[msmob]

'Me', just cannot help himself from posting on subjects he knows nothing about .. from sending dosh OUT of Russia  - to other events he wasn't present ..

I thought the deal was that this subject got dropped ?

[Omega82]

This is interesting, and mind you, not making judgment of you Omega82.

Even at that amount, I just assume that *my* friend either 'save' the money until he/she get the full amount if he/she wants to return the money back to me, or, I normally wouldn't expect it getting returned as I likely took the position I simply helped out friend in need. I depart with larger sums in a year's time than that over charities and assistance with people and organizations that are otherwise strangers to me.

Assuming of course this person is a friend as described above. One of the dividing thing to happen between personal relationships (whether family or friends) is money. If I decided to help a friend, or even a family, because they are in need of help - I give the money (within my means) as an assistance and not as a loan. Money have a way to expose people's depth of character and integrity.

We've laid witness to this fact here on this board not too long ago, even for a ridiculously paltry sum of less than $10.00.

That's just me...

Maybe you make that amount in one day, other people make that in one week. 

I dont usually give away $800.  If I would I would never be able to retire.  I have a co worker whose family was comfortable (father had a shoe factory back in the day).  Now he's 70 still working, no savings, no retirement in sight.  He blew it all on parties and women. 

[jone]

Hey.  The US still pays Russia for rides to the Space Station.  I wonder if they pay using Western Union?