Money Transfer

[SantaMonicaPeregrina]

I feel a bit foolish, but I need to send $18.00 to the Pilgrim Reception Office for the Distance Certificate and another copy of my Compostela. It is $18.00 or Euro, but my bank will charge me $60.00 to wire it. Ridiculous! I am sure there are cheaper methods to do this. Can someone enlighten me? Thank you.

 

[Former member 92300]

I am confused, are you trying to do it by mail? Or in person? If in person, then just go to an atm, withdraw some cash, and go to the pilgrim's office. If by mail... sorry - I don't have an answer!

 

[mspath]

Try PayPal . See more at www.PayPal.com

 

[Kari204]

Another option (I see your in Arkansas), if your currently stateside and not in a huge hurry to receive them is to find someone (American) who is currently on the Camino and ask if they will pick them up for you when they get to SdC when they pick up their own certificates. You could send them the $18 via PayPal or Zelle with maybe an extra $10 for their good deed (wink). Tell them to go have a couple of drinks on you lol. Then once they return home to US, they could just drop them in the mail to you.
All in your less then 1/2 of what your bank wants for the wire transfer. Granted you have to wait for that person to get back stateside to mail them to you, but if your not in a big hurry to receive them that's another option.

 

[henrythedog]

1. I don’t suppose you happen to have €18 in cash remaining do you? Just post it if you have.

2. I’ve just made a direct bank transfer from outside the Eurozone to inside it for no overt fee (although I’m certain the exchange rate will be disadvantageous) perhaps ask a couple of friends with different banks to get a quote?

3. As suggested above; find someone from the US currently in Spain and approaching Santiago who’s prepared to put up $18 pending you reimbursing them. It’s hardly a life-threatening sum and you could tempt them with effusive praise and a selfie which seems to be regarded as worthwhile nowadays.

 

[SantaMonicaPeregrina]

I am confused, are you trying to do it by mail? Or in person? If in person, then just go to an atm, withdraw some cash, and go to the pilgrim's office. If by mail... sorry - I don't have an answer!

I am no longer in Spain. Yes, if I was in Spain I would just go by and pay. Thanks though

 

[trecile]

I have read that Wise.com is a good way to transfer money overseas.

 

[C clearly]

This problem of paying by wire transfer from North America comes up regularly in discussions of hospital bills from Spain. This thread as well as this one illustrate some of the difficulties and options.

 

[jrewins]

I feel a bit foolish, but I need to send $18.00 to the Pilgrim Reception Office for the Distance Certificate and another copy of my Compostela. It is $18.00 or Euro, but my bank will charge me $60.00 to wire it. Ridiculous! I am sure there are cheaper methods to do this. Can someone enlighten me? Thank you.

Wise.com

I don’t know why this site is not more commonly known amongst the Pilgrim community. It’s simple, virtually no cost to the user and you can send funds to anyone / institution with a bank account. I’ve used it to send money to the Pilgrims office for exactly the same reason you are. Buen Camino!

 

[Molly Cassidy]

Wise.com

I don’t know why this site is not more commonly known amongst the Pilgrim community. It’s simple, virtually no cost to the user and you can send funds to anyone / institution with a bank account. I’ve used it to send money to the Pilgrims office for exactly the same reason you are. Buen Camino!

It's also really fast.

 

[Former member 102963]

It's also really fast.

I have not used Wise but their country guides are very good on the web!

 

[Kathar1na]

Wise.com. I don’t know why this site is not more commonly known amongst the Pilgrim community. It’s simple, virtually no cost to the user and you can send funds to anyone / institution with a bank account

I had a look at Wise.com. As a US customer, all you need is your email address, your credit card number and the bank account number of the pilgrims office in the standard form that everybody in the EU has now and has had for umpteen years. For Spain it starts with the letters ES, followed by a row of digits. To send $ 21 (what you pay) / € 18 (what they get), their total fee is about $1.60.

Not only is it easy to fill in the online form and be done with, it is also what is easiest for the recipient because bank transfers are the most common way of payment for us. Everything else is just unnecessary hassle for the Pilgrim's Office.

 

[Kathar1na]

2. I’ve just made a direct bank transfer from outside the Eurozone to inside it for no overt fee (although I’m certain the exchange rate will be disadvantageous) perhaps ask a couple of friends with different banks to get a quote?

This option - shop around for significantly cheaper fees for an international wire transfer at other banks - is an unlikely option for customers of US banks.

Little known fact: The UK opted to stay in SEPA (Single Euro Payments Area) after Brexit. That's why this kind of electronic bank transfers between EU and UK remain cheap. I know because I've done quite a few last year although in the opposite direction. SEPA transfers are not available from the USA.

 

[Molly Cassidy]

I have not used Wise but their country guides are very good on the web!

I don't use it myself. My dad sent me some money and it arrived in minutes. If I send money from UK bank to my German account it is free but they make the payments once a day, so it can take a few hours.

 

[JudyWanaWander]

Another option (I see your in Arkansas), if your currently stateside and not in a huge hurry to receive them is to find someone (American) who is currently on the Camino and ask if they will pick them up for you when they get to SdC when they pick up their own certificates. You could send them the $18 via PayPal or Zelle with maybe an extra $10 for their good deed (wink). Tell them to go have a couple of drinks on you lol. Then once they return home to US, they could just drop them in the mail to you.
All in your less then 1/2 of what your bank wants for the wire transfer. Granted you have to wait for that person to get back stateside to mail them to you, but if your not in a big hurry to receive them that's another option.

There is also Venmo where you can sent money to people if they have an account. All you do is set up an account with your bank info, find the person who you want to send the money to and the money is sent to their account. I think Zelle is between Wells Fargo accounts only or at least it used to be, but don't quote me on that.

 

[trecile]

There is also Venmo where you can sent money to people if they have an account. All you do is set up an account with your bank info, find the person who you want to send the money to and the money is sent to their account. I think Zelle is between Wells Fargo accounts only or at least it used to be, but don't quote me on that.

Neither Venmo or Zelle can be used for international money transfers.

 

[Former member 92300]

I am no longer in Spain. Yes, if I was in Spain I would just go by and pay. Thanks though

Thanks for clarifying! Sorry, no help then.

 

[Kanga]

Yes, we have used Wise.com

 

[Rick of Rick and Peg]

As well as I can remember in 2016 a free account with Western Union allowed an international transfer to Europe performed online cost only $10 (Bank of America wanted $40 for that and also for a check). I just now started a transfer as a test and I saw a message saying that the first transfer was free.

Send Money to Europe

Send money to Europe from the US for a cash pickup or transfer money directly to a bank account. International money transfer made easy.

www.westernunion.com

 

[Anniesantiago]

I wish Spain would figure out that we in the USA can't just wire money so easily. It cost a LOT to wire transfer cash here in most cases. It's a constant issue. (Or maybe the USA needs to change their fees!)