Transferring money overseas for surgery, total Nonsense

[KathrynJulia]

I have a king sized head ache right now. My bank, due to so many rules and regulations has decided they will no longer wire transfer money overseas. They can't make any money making the transaction. So they sent me to Western Union.

I need to transfer $8600.00 to Bangkok Thailand for the balance of my surgery. I paid a deposit months ago. Western Union wanted to charge $376.00 to transfer $8600 to Bangkok. Then I had to call their Compliance Department. They wanted to know why I wished to send money to Thailand. Medical Tourism? They wanted to know the procedure I was having. They wanted a letter from the doctor faxed to them that I was paying him for surgery. Then they wanted me to fax them documentation on how I obtained $8600.00 and show that it was coming from my savings.

That's when I blew. I told this moron that I resented this line of questioning and that I was filing a complaint with Western Union and to cancel the transaction. It's none of Western Union's business. We're not talking really big bucks here. So I'm either taking travelors checks or stufing my bra with $100.00 bills.. Our government is out of control. and if they are requiring Western Union to comply with this nonsense, you'd better unload any Western Union Stock.

Kathy

[Guest]

:banghead: :banghead:

I feel for you Kathy.

Unfortunately this sounds like a standard Canadian song and dance routine we commonly face.

My understanding is that this is to prevent money laundering.

I have no intentions of washing their money, but I just can't get that message through to them.

Sounds similar to the requirement of crossing the 49th parallel with any negotiable item in excess of $10,000

I guess this is the reason why "money mules" exist.

I sincerely hope that you will manage to work something out to your favour(favor).

Huggs,

Joann

[Charlize]

Can you simply send a check or use a charge card? I would think a cashiers check or simple bank check could be sent by snail mail special delivery. Might beat the electronic transfer and cost a lot less with fewer requests to drop your panties for inspections.

What a hassle.

Hugs,

Charlize

[Cyndee]

Wow invasive Kathy, I think you did the right thing.

I agree with Charlie, a personal check / cashiers check might take longer to clear, but it's under $10,000 (seems to be a magic number).

I would also contact the Dr office and see if they have any other suggestions on how to pay them, I am sure they have dealt with this before.

Take a deep breath and hugs

Cyndi -

[Guest Brenda Hailey]

Ask your doctor for ALL the forms of payment they accept and work from there....

Overnighting some form of actual paper may be less intrusive to your privacy and dignity.

Stuffing a mattress may also be safer than storing your cash with crooks who are subordinate to even bigger crooks.

Hopefully 1984 will end one day but I dont see it happening anytime soon.

[tracy_j]

I had a similar problem with the charity I work for. We had offshore money and when I went to make some changes to the account signatories when someone resigned I had major issues of having to provide information which was accepted, then wasn't etc. This was down to checking for money laundering. In the end I blew up and mentioned complaining. That sorted things and I had no further issues.

I know it is USA not UK but unless you have evidence otherwise I would not think it is due to your personal circumstances, just that they have a procedure to follow!

Tracy

[Guest]

You can't hand-carry the funds with you when you go there?

I agree, a check or cashiers check or charge card is probably the easiest.

[Guest ashleynikole]

I remember the headache of carrying $10,000 with me from the US to Ukraine when we were doing our adoption in 2011. What's worse is the Ukraine gov't requested cash in new $100 US bills. Talk about funky. I don't envy you at all. Good luck with your surgery and let us know how it goes.

God bless

Ashley

[Ravin]

From the U.S. there are certain questions they are required to ask in order to comply with Federal anti-money-laundering laws. Your best bet might be to ask the clinic what bank they use and go through that bank. Most countries have those sort of rules.

[KathrynJulia]

Adding injury to insult, Western Union can't return the money via my debit card, Oh No, they have to refund the money in cash. Almost $9000.00 in $100 and $50 bills. I asked., excuse me, I need to go to my car. Their was this tall, big guy giving me and this woman the eye at so much cash. He was waiting for someone to send him a cash transfer. When I returned, I left my purse open with my 9 mm in it. Western Union had an unarmed security guard escort me to my car. He was maybe 18. Concealed Carry, never leave home without it.

When I got home and the garage door closed, I realized that my sense of security left with my gender change. These days I'm alert to my environment and the people in it. This strange man made me feel threatened and vulnerable and I really didn't like that feeling at all. I don't intend to ever step foot in another Western Union. They transfer millions of dollars to Central and South America everyday for illegal aliens, yet I had to show them my US Passport, social security card and drivers license for $8600. Never ever again. Kathy

[Guest Squallsong]

Since 9/11 all the money transfer agencies have to comply with laws limiting wire-transfers to under $1000 without a compliance investigation. It's a sad state of affairs, and a great hassel to legitimate clients, but it is necessary if we want the powers that be to be able to avert future attacks.

Sorry you had such a bad experience Kathryn Julia. You should write up some tips for us when you return...use traveller's cheques, a travel MasterCard (electrinic debit) and such...could save others from the same problems!

Hope your surgery is going as planned! We are all praying and sending our support and hugs!

Be well!

[Guest andro1000]

I just wanted to wish you the best when it comes to your surgery. I hope the money transferring situation is solved at this time as well.

[Ravin]

Insisting on giving you cash is ridiculous! I know when I worked at walmart, we could return money to a card unless the western union transaction was complete. The I.d. reporting requirements aren't their fault, though. They have to follow the law.

[Guest Valerie]

There is a limit on the amoung of cash that you are allowed go bring into Thailand.

I used traveller cheques, when I went to Bangkok. The limit is $10,000.00 USD, my total was $14,600.00 for my surgeries. The only hassel that I had was writers cramp.

[Guest]

Ok I'm dredging this one back up too. The surgeon in Bangkok stated bring cash. All other methods are far too difficult.

The deposit I wired through my bank cost me a bunch and gets there like a snail through a complex international (meaning more than two countries. Gad!) channel.

I am unnerved about hauling the lettuce. Can anyone here add any first hand experience to this thread.

Ever feel like a duck on a chain at the county fair? I just don't relish being a Ding! If you have the correct security clearance I will certainly hug. JodyAnn

[Guest Hannah Emma]

While I can't speak to how many experience trying to get surgery overseas I can speak to a lot of banking regulations. Ask them if they would accept an American cashier check. Banks guarantee those and they have special regulations surrounding them. Stay away from money orders or travelers checks as they cannot be guaranteed in the same way. Cashiers checks are usually made out at the bank and already ready to go for just a small fee. I used to work in the fraud investigators office, bookkeeping, and was a bank manager and this is what I would suggest for a client of mine.

[Drea]

Cash is a bad idea. The feds have gone crazy with civil forfeiture. They can simply take it. You need to prove your innocence.

Now the really crazy thing, them making you take cash, well depositing large sums of cash sets of red flags...oh and they can seize that too if they decide.

If you try and get under the thresholds you get nailed for "structuring" and they take all the money in the bank. Again you have to prove your innocence.

As they say "it is an important crime fighting tool". Well I expect getting rid of innocent until proven guilty is a pretty handy tool as well. And while on the subject perhaps just rid of those pesky trials as well.

[Guest]

Okay, so coming from someone who is actually in Thailand now, I had no problem bringing cash.

I was expecting to have to declare my cash and I was ready, willing, and able to back it up with documents, but no one asked me a single thing. I wasn't even asked by customs. I suppose I didn't stand out as a possible target so they didn't waste their time with me.

I've also taken over $10K cash to Ukraine (yeah, a former Soviet bloc country) and no one batted an eye at the amount. I can imagine that $100K would catch attention but the general public doesn't stand out and thus does not throw up any red flags.

When you travel with cash, if you're worried about keeping it in your bag, only do that as you go through security so it's not on your person, but all the other times, put it on your person and if you want, use a body purse to keep it. They make thin, lightweight purses that are over the shoulder bags that you wear under your clothes and are undetectable. You put your cash in that, and short of being naked, no one knows you have it. We used those in Ukraine and it made us feel more comfortable, even if we never got bothered.

Good luck on your trip.

Ashley