Remitly

[aextranjeroenDR]

Hello, I'm new here. I've read a lot of posts about the best way to do wire transfers and decided to use remitly. Put in all my information, who I'm sending it to, verified my identity etc. etc. Immediately the transaction was cancelled, account closed, and after about 12 hours I have my money back.

I just want to verify, I can use this to send money to basically to myself, although the recipient doesn't have my same name, right? Because that way is obviously being seen as "fraudulent" and it looks like there aren't many other decent ways to send myself money. Obviously I don't need a bank account here to do it, because I don't have to send it to a bank, but how do I do it without the transaction being seen as fraudulent?

 

[cavok]

How can you send to yourself if the recipient (you) doesn't have the same name?

 

[Seamonkey]

Most confusing post of 2024.

 

[JLSawmam]

I think anyone here on DR1 would agree that a wire transfer is not the same thing as using an online service to move the money...a wire transfer is done through your bank in the US (or wherever) to your bank here in the DR. As far as why your transaction was cancelled, no idea. In the past, I used similar services to send money from my US bank to myself here, in my name, no issues. Perhaps try one of the other services with a small amount to see what happens.

 

[NanSanPedro]

I have used Western Union and Remitly to send money to myself here in the DR. Never had an issue.

 

[CristoRey]

I have a Remitly account.
In order to send myself money I was told the account needed to be set up
in my home (the USA) which I did back in 2023. Although I've only used it one
time to send myself money in the Dominican Republic, I had zero problems doing
so. The only catch is the amount. I believe the max you can send yourself in 24hrs
is $2,500.00

 

[trspencer]

Have used both Xoom and Xe to send money from my US account to my DR account (same name on both)...was happy with Xoom until this forum turned me on to Xe (Xe is much cheaper). As suggested above, whatever solution you go with, best to send a small amount first just to confirm everything works.

 

[CristoRey]

"home" as in my home country.

 

[aextranjeroenDR]

Most confusing post of 2024.

How can you send to yourself if the recipient (you) doesn't have the same name?

Jajajaj quite an honor to have the most confusing post of 2024 in NOVEMBER . I understand the confusion though, I meant that in a roundabout way I'm sending it to myself, because I'm here, but I'm not a resident or anything and don't have a bank account and it seemed more suspicious and cause for concern to have the sender and recipient be the same, so I put my fiancees name and information.

 

[aextranjeroenDR]

All good advice though, I'll try it again with some other services, and smaller amounts to start. Thanks a lot.

 

[cavok]

Jajajaj quite an honor to have the most confusing post of 2024 in NOVEMBER . I understand the confusion though, I meant that in a roundabout way I'm sending it to myself, because I'm here, but I'm not a resident or anything and don't have a bank account and it seemed more suspicious and cause for concern to have the sender and recipient be the same, so I put my fiancees name and information.

I always use Western Union to send money to myself. It is only cheap if you send from your bank to a W.U. location and specify pickup in USD. I just send $500 for $6.99 using by bank debit card and it was here for pickup in minutes literally. Never use a credit card or specify pickup in pesos - charges are very high that way.

 

[josh2203]

I understand the confusion though, I meant that in a roundabout way I'm sending it to myself, because I'm here, but I'm not a resident or anything and don't have a bank account and it seemed more suspicious and cause for concern to have the sender and recipient be the same, so I put my fiancees name and information.

1. As far as I know, whether or not you are a (legal) resident and whether or not you have a bank account in the DR have nothing to do with any money-sending-service. I have received funds to WU in the DR, and the only thing they want is your ID, which in my case has been my European passport. No further documents required.

2. So in practice you sent funds to your fiancee. Any idea why it was rejected? I have never had any transfer rejected so not sure why would they do this?

 

[josh2203]

I always use Western Union to send money to myself. It is only cheap if you send from your bank to a W.U. location and specify pickup in USD. I just send $500 for $6.99 using by bank debit card and it was here for pickup in minutes literally. Never use a credit card or specify pickup in pesos - charges are very high that way.

This is something I definitely want to try next time we're in POP. I wanted to do this in the past but got told by WU that receiving USD in cash at location (= POP Sirena Vimenca/WU) is not possible. Only DOP. Perhaps they had no idea back then what they were talking about...

 

[NanSanPedro]

1. As far as I know, whether or not you are a (legal) resident and whether or not you have a bank account in the DR have nothing to do with any money-sending-service. I have received funds to WU in the DR, and the only thing they want is your ID, which in my case has been my European passport. No further documents required.

2. So in practice you sent funds to your fiancee. Any idea why it was rejected? I have never had any transfer rejected so not sure why would they do this?

I don't think it's possible to know. I think I have been cancelled 3 times in the last 12 years. WU, World Remit, and Moneygram. If the algorithm finds something someone thinks is suspicious, they cancel you.

After about 3 years, I reopened a WU account and everything worked. Been with them now for 8 years.

Still don't have a Moneygram or World Remit account because it's not worth the effort.

 

[cavok]

This is something I definitely want to try next time we're in POP. I wanted to do this in the past but got told by WU that receiving USD in cash at location (= POP Sirena Vimenca/WU) is not possible. Only DOP. Perhaps they had no idea back then what they were talking about...

I just checked my W.U. app and it still shows USD pickup available:

 

[josh2203]

I just checked my W.U. app and it still shows USD pickup available:
View attachment 9986

Thanks, yeah, I know it does and did back then as well, and that's what I chose, but was denied USD anyway. I will just try again, perhaps they were just incompetent there... I wasn't really in the mood for negotiating/arguing back then...

 

[josh2203]

I don't think it's possible to know. I think I have been cancelled 3 times in the last 12 years. WU, World Remit, and Moneygram. If the algorithm finds something someone thinks is suspicious, they cancel you.

After about 3 years, I reopened a WU account and everything worked. Been with them now for 8 years.

Still don't have a Moneygram or World Remit account because it's not worth the effort.

You could be right. I was declined once as well but it was due to my card, so they were able to explain it. Changed cards, problem solved.

Yep, also been with WU for years now, don't see any reason to switch...

 

[Chismoso]

In my experience XE offers the best rates and is the cheapest, bank to bank 1000 pounds sterling or above there is no charge, however they are the most finiky, often transfers are declined giving the reason 'details are incorrect' even if the details have not changed from previous transfers. Wait a few days, try again and the transfer will go through.

Remitly come second, not quite the same rates as XE and a £1 charge bank to bank.

Western Union, lowest rates.

Never used Xoom.

 

[cavok]

Thanks, yeah, I know it does and did back then as well, and that's what I chose, but was denied USD anyway. I will just try again, perhaps they were just incompetent there... I wasn't really in the mood for negotiating/arguing back then...

You specified USD and "they", the W.U location, wouldn't give you USD? Sounds like they were scamming you. Try a different location.

 

[cavok]

In my experience XE offers the best rates and is the cheapest, bank to bank 1000 pounds sterling or above there is no charge, however they are the most finiky, often transfers are declined giving the reason 'details are incorrect' even if the details have not changed from previous transfers. Wait a few days, try again and the transfer will go through.

Remitly come second, not quite the same rates as XE and a £1 charge bank to bank.

Western Union, lowest rates.

Never used Xoom.

XE does not seem to have good rates at all. They give you a poor exchange rate. $500 USD will cost you about $20 USD on the exchane rate. $1000 USD will cost you about $40 USD: