Money to Russia

[RussianWind]

Russianwind,

I used to think that it was a "bad sign" if a RW knew everything about sending money to Russia.  You are clearly the exception.    

 
As I don't need language classes, don't have any sick grandma, I've never got money from men so far. My knowledge has no connection with dating field. Like cashing checks, it was my fee from an American magazine. The same with other transfers.

Also, RW are much more informed than 5 years ago. 

Since they started communicating with each other, they are. And some "heroes" are marked to avoid them.

[Rutherford]

Thanks for all the quality responses , this really helps .

I hear such things as  , the machine ate  the card  , or , had a difficult finding an ATM that would work with my Visa debit  card .

To you all that's using   a Visa debit , did such things ever happen  ?

I am hoping that she can go to any ATM machine  and withdraw $300   every month .

My wife's mother is 73   and is very very  difficult  with accepting new things  , technology .

Thanks in advance

[BillyB]

Thanks for all the quality responses , this really helps .

I hear such things as  , the machine ate  the card  , or , had a difficult finding an ATM that would work with my Visa debit  card .

To you all that's using   a Visa debit , did such things ever happen  ?

I am hoping that she can go to any ATM machine  and withdraw $300   every month .

My wife's mother is 73   and is very very  difficult  with accepting new things  , technology .

Thanks in advance

A few months ago a member wrote that he arrived in the FSU with little cash and that all his cards didn't work. Crap can happen. If by chance the ATM card your mother in law has doesn't work, use Money Gram or Western Union as a quick and temporary solution.

[Rutherford]

Been using   WU , $30 each time we send  $250

So , what did he do , for money , that's scary ??

[ECOCKS]

A couple of times over the years I tried ATM machines that were out of cash. Also a few months ago during the heighth of the economic crisis there were bank systems which were shut down a few weeks/months due to lack of funds. Wells Fargo had a $100 limit per day on ATM card usage in Europe during the Christmas season but they agreed to refund 2 out of every 3 transaction fees they charged since they forced us to do 8-9 transactions a month instead of 3. Inconvenient and annoying but not a show stopper.

Thanks for all the quality responses , this really helps .

I hear such things as  , the machine ate  the card  , or , had a difficult finding an ATM that would work with my Visa debit  card .

To you all that's using   a Visa debit , did such things ever happen  ?

I am hoping that she can go to any ATM machine  and withdraw $300   every month .

My wife's mother is 73   and is very very  difficult  with accepting new things  , technology .

Thanks in advance

[Gylden]

While the ATM card thing has proved itself to function, as stated by numerous posters, there is still some problems which could develop from this method.

1. ATM cards are supposed to be used only by the person named on the card.
2. If there is any abuse or fraud on the card (ie funds disappear from the account "ATM scams"), it most likely won't be reimbursed by the issuer.

So as long as there are not any problems, there will be this false sense of security.

A suggestion for a possible alternative:  Set up a bank account at the same bank of the person you wish to transfer money to on a regular basis. Using internet bank services just transfer the money when you want to, or set up an automatic transfer if it is some monthly occurrence. You can wire money to that account once a year or?? depending on your needs.

I understand that using an ATM card seems like it is a simple solution and it "works" but it is also some sort of a time bomb, as eventually something will go wrong.

[Phil dAmore]

Rutherford:

As others have already stated, a debit card is the way to go.  You can even have your bank put the son's name on it.

Delivery via FedEx is a sure thing but it will cost around $100. I always thought it odd that FedEx delivers pretty much anywhere else in the world for no more than $39.95 but to Russia it's $99.95 for a one-pound package.

Where does the son live? If it's in a major city and one of our esteemed members is headed that way, you could just give the card to that person and have him hand-deliver it once he gets in country. 

[Gylden]

Rutheford,

Call your bank and ask them if they will issue an ATM card connected to your account, to someone living in Russia who is not a us citizen. If they will do it, then it is the better way.

This will clear up the matter.
 

[RussianWind]

Delivery via FedEx is a sure thing but it will cost around $100. I always thought it odd that FedEx delivers pretty much anywhere else in the world for no more than $39.95 but to Russia it's $99.95 for a one-pound package.

It is very strange what you say. I have got huge heavy magazines with the FedEx and the delivery cost was written on a package as $5 or so.

[viking]

I gave my fiancee a debit card the last time I was there. She is in Belarus. It has my name on it as US banks will only issue cards in the name of the person in front on them, with proper ID. It is a separate account with links to my main account so I can monitor usage and instantly transfer funds as needed. I told the bank that the card will be used overseas. She has never had a problem using it at any ATM machine. And I have never seen any charges associated with withdrawals.

[Rutherford]

Okay then , we'll put this thread  to bed .

My  wife's mother  is having difficulty  dealing with a new technology  .
She already  has my Wells Fargo debit card ,   but she can't find a Wells Fargo bank in Chelny  Russia .  Yeah , I know  , she was looking for a WF bank in Chelny , crazy , huh?  . Any ATM  with a Visa logo will do .   She is being difficult  to work with .

I am just trying to  obtain as much vicarious  experience  as possible  to deal with possible problems that may come up , one step ahead of the game

RR

[Phil dAmore]

It is very strange what you say. I have got huge heavy magazines with the FedEx and the delivery cost was written on a package as $5 or so.

$5 for a heavy package via FedEx?  I wonder how that came to be.  FedEx doesn't work that cheap even domestically.

[RussianWind]

$5 for a heavy package via FedEx?  I wonder how that came to be.  FedEx doesn't work that cheap even domestically.

Now I am surprised myself. They sent by FedEx just once (other times it was something different), I clearly remember their logo on the envelope and the shipping cost. I thought: "That's cool and not expensive at all" 

[Mark8000]

In 2003, I opened a new paypal account and added my wife's daughter- I received 2 cards in our respective names. I mailed hers to Barnaul, Russia. Both she (through out the year) and I (during my trips) have never had a problem using our cards for the past 6 years in both Russia and Ukraine in numerous cities.
You put what you want on the card and have total control. Best of all, it is $1 freaking dollar for any withdrawal and the conversion rate has always been one of the best.

I know there is a new gimmick being promoted by Paypal for international transfers at a higher rate. The thing is that you simply don't need it.  Just open an account, get a second card, and mail it.

[RussianWind]

I didn't get it about Paypal. Do you want to say they issue cards? 

[CanadaMan]

So , what did he do , for money , that's scary ??

Yeah, I was the poor sap whose cards wouldn't work.
To make a long story short, one of my visa cards worked and I made a cash withdrawal with that. But I had a _long discussion with my bank when I returned home.

[Mars]

I didn't get it about Paypal. Do you want to say they issue cards? 

Yes, PayPal has various systems.  The original one was for money transfers between two people with PayPal accounts when paying for things purchased on E-bay, etc.

But now PayPal also issues Credit and Debit cards and  have their own banking system just like Chase, CITI, etc.

[RussianWind]

Thanks, Mars. It's interesting information for me, I will check.