As an OFW, it is our responsibility to provide for our family back at home. It is the main goal of OFWs everywhere and the driving force that motivates us against homesickness and stress. With that in mind, it is only appropriate that we take all measures to ensure that our loved ones receive our hard-earned cash with no hassle and no delay. And while there are many options to choose from, when it comes to money remittance centers, you have to be on your toes in order to avoid a few cons among the pros. Here are 5 traps to avoid when sending money overseas:
1. Providing the wrong details.
Double-check the details that you’re going to provide for the remittance transaction. Check if the names are correctly spelled, make sure that they can be easily read by the remittance agent, and that the contact numbers are in place. Your recipients would have a hard time receiving the cash if there are spelling errors, as the remittance agents from their end would usually require a valid ID for verification. If the spelling doesn’t match, then they will refuse to release the amount to your loved ones.
2. Transacting with the very first remittance option that you encounter.
Like a customer hoping to make a good bargain, learn to look around for various options. Choose one which would best work for you. Other money remittance centers charge higher transaction fees than others, so make sure to ask around for a much better and lower price. Remember, it’s always better to send majority of your earnings to your family, rather than have a big chunk of it paid towards transaction fees.
3. Not being aware of the current conversion rates.
Do your homework and make sure to time your remittance right. Currency rates change from time to time, and you wouldn’t want to send your hard-earned cash at a lower rate. Take a peek at your morning television news, flip a page off the daily newspaper’s business section, or simply search for the current rates online. The higher the conversion rates, the more amount your family will receive.
4. Sending the wrong control number.
For the usual money remittance process, your loved ones at home should have the control number ready. Regardless of transaction types, the control number should be 100% correct. You will be given the control number from your end, after which, you should immediately send it to your loved ones, either by text or online message. Make sure that every digit is sequenced correctly or your family would not be allowed to receive the amount.
5. Transacting with unauthorized agents and unverified remittance centers.
Probably the worst mistake that any OFW may commit is not taking enough time to validate whether or not they are dealing with trustworthy individuals. Do not give your amount to any person claiming to be a representative of a remittance company outside of the main establishment. Be sure that you are within the premises of the remittance center, and that they are behind the transaction counter, complete in uniform and valid work ID. Remember, there will always be those who do not have our best interest in mind, and being a wise and cautious sender would be the best way to avoid them. Also, take note of the main establishment, and determine whether or not they are verified remittance partners. If not, it would be best to avoid them and to search for a more trusted option.
Speaking of a much-trusted option, if you are still undecided as to which remitting center you should transact with, no need to look any further. With Cebuana Lhuillier’s Pera Padala Service, you are ensured an easy, quick, and safe way to send and receive money. With more than 2,200 branches nationwide and accredited international partners, this money transfer service is made available to clients within and outside the Philippines. So for our beloved OFW patrons, feel free to visit any of our international partners – we promise fast, easy and secure transactions.
For a complete list of our international partners, you may visit our website at https://www.cebuanalhuillier.com/pera-padala/.
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