Job Discussion Forums

[urbanversion]

Is it best to use Bank Muscat/HSBC or the UAE exchange/western union...want to send some cash to relatives to cover a loan they gave me...ideas as to the least stressful way to do this?

[eslbear]

If it's bank to bank, then the charges are usually higher than from the western union shops. I'd go there, it's quick and pretty easy, just be sure you have the correct account details for the receiver.

eslbear

[veiledsentiments]

I always used the bank where my salary was deposited.

VS

[denise]

I use HSBC. I opened a plus package, or premier, or some such thing, which included in its monthly fee of 5 rials an automatic wire transfer, scheduled on the same day every month. Going in there and doing it once also costs 5 rials, I think, so basically I've paid for the convenience of not having to go into an HSBC every month--which, given some of the hassles I've been through with them, is well worth it!

d

[urbanversion]

I thought for western union you just needed the persons name and a password between the two of you, so they could collect from a post office or somewhere?

[PattyFlipper]

I always used UAE Exchange. Not the Western Union facility, but electronic transfer directly to foreign bank accounts. Very efficient, reasonable costs, and fairly user-friendly - more so than the banks, in my view, plus their business hours are a lot better. Get their card if you intend to make regular transfers through them. They record the details of accounts to which you regularly send money, which cuts down on the paperwork (and reduces the possibility of error).

[urbanversion]

Cheers and cold beers for that tip PF!!!