Transferring money abroad - how?

A family member is having a crisis (nothing new there) and wants me to wire some cash to sunny Mallorca. He suggested Western Union.

Now I've only heard of people "wiring money" in the movies, is there a better way? Western Union are presumably trustworthy enough but it doesn't give me a fuzzy feeling.

I'm having a mind blank so all suggestions gratefully received...

Thanks peeps

[SoulKiss]

Does it HAVE to be cash.

Cheapest way I know is to make a payment onto a credit card.

Anyone can make a payment onto a card.

If done in the issuing banks branch I believe its pretty much instantaneous and no admin charges.

Amex might be good too - I think you can buy Travellers Cheques here and have them "transferred" to him out there.

Western Union has been around long enough to be useable, but I always think of them as dodgy - but thats a personal thing, never used them, never heard of anyone I know having probalems with them.

David

PayPal is best (if you don't mind paying the small fee!)

Originally Posted by Cloggsy

PayPal is best (if you don't mind paying the small fee!)

4% of a lot of money isn't a "small" amount of money.

if its easy then its worth it.

Originally Posted by Ceri JC

4% of a lot of money isn't a "small" amount of money.

Its not that much I don't think...

Personal Account Premier/Business Account Open an Account Free Free Send Money Free Free Withdraw Funds Free for £50.00 GBP or more, £0.25 GBP for £49.99 GBP or less to bank accounts in the UK
Fees for other banks Free for £50.00 GBP or more, £0.25 GBP for £49.99 GBP or less to bank accounts in the UK
Fees for other banks Add Funds Free Free Accept the following funded payments:

• PayPal Balance
• PayPal Instant Bank Transfer
• PayPal eCheque

Free 1.4% + £0.20 GBP to 3.4% + £0.20 GBP Accept credit or debit card funded payments 3.4% plus £0.20 GBP. No transaction limit for payments sent via Skype, otherwise there is a limit of 2 transactions per year

3.4% plus £0.20 GBP for card payments received using PayPal on Skype 1.4% + £0.20 GBP to 3.4% + £0.20 GBP Multiple Currency Transactions Exchange rate includes a 2.5% fee**
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Fees for international payments

** If your transaction involves a currency conversion, it will be completed at a retail foreign exchange rate determined by PayPal, which is adjusted regularly based on market conditions. This exchange rate includes a 2.5% spread above the wholesale exchange rate at which PayPal obtains foreign currency, and the spread is retained by PayPal. The specific exchange rate that applies to your multiple currency transaction will be displayed at the time of the transaction. View Currency Converter

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I work for a bank so i can tell you the easiest way is via an EMT (express money transfer) Foreign transfer. To do this you will need the following information from your family member:
-Amount
-name account is in.
-Bank name and address ( if not full address then name of bank and the town , country will be fine)
-IBAN number (transfer will not go without this due to EU regs)
-Swift / BIC code (usually lots of letters)
Account number
And if it is going via a holding account then a ref number

It takes 2-5 days to be received.

Hope this helps

Originally Posted by Cloggsy

PayPal is best

God damn it Cloggsy you're a genius! Western Union wanted 10% before they converted it to Euros and Paypal was like click, click, click job done.

SoulKiss, 9tails you are also, to a slightly lesser extent, geniuses! Credit card transfer wouldn't have worked in this case but it's a nice one to have up the sleeve. EMT Foreign Transfer would have been great in 2 days but 5 days would have made things, um, exciting at his end...

Once again I prostrate myself before the Org

Originally Posted by Tiger 55

God damn it Cloggsy you're a genius!

Thanks mate Glad you got it sorted

I have a Barclays business master thingy installed on my work PC so I can monitor my client account in real time without having to call the bank all the time. I can send money all over the place, you have to enter the country you want to send it to. So I click in the box and type 'U' (to get the drop down list for United Kingdom) and the first country that drops down is... Uganda