Caribbean Transfer problem!
Replies: 13 - Last Post: Nov 26, 2012 2:32 PM Last Post By: johnabbotsford
jump to
Caribbean Transfer problem!
Tried to send money today but there is a note on their site that states:"We expect to resume the remittances service at some moment during November. We will continue posting updates to the situation.
We apologise for all the inconveniences this is causing to our customers and their relatives in Cuba"
Does anybody know how long are they going to take to fix the issue? this is sad because there are lot of families trying to send money after Sandy!!
1
They haven't functioned for several weeks acs!Do a search re the US court action in Miami.
An alternative to CT is - have read first hand reports of it working well -
http://www.aisremesascuba.com/
2
At least aisremesas appears to work - but of course my bloke has not been able to pick up the card or access the money because of the hurricane. Still no power in his barrio :-(No doubt a lot easier in places other than Santiago, acs, and the website was friendly.
3
For more on Caribbean Transfers problems see - http://www.miamiherald.com/2012/10/18/3056554/feds-remittance-firm-at-center.htmlI use the aisremesascuba site for sending to people in Havana.
I am not sure if there are any othr services currently working - there had been mention of websophie - they site has a similar message to CT; on another sire, there was mention of a remittance service through cuballama - the link on their site does not work.
4
Thanks Bob! last time I called Western Union they said that I could not send money from Canada due to OFAC (or as I always say OF@#$!I will call them again!
Cheers
5
acs - I suspect that you find that still the case. Western Union is a US corporation and so can only send funds to Cuba in accordance with OFAC rules. OFAC rules don't apply to Canadian citizens !Or - you can only send money to Cuba if you sign the necessary affidavit, and non-US residents can't sign them.
6
Bob and acs's - Beardo is correct - WU does not allow the sending of money from ANY of their offices outside the USA.7
OK, so I can send money to a Cuban from the US via Western Union in compliance with OFAC regulations but someone outside the US cannot do the same. It is a bit like I, as an American, can fly to Cuba legally from Miami so long as I comply with the OFAC regulations but a foreigner cannot.Once again, we are reminded that nothing involving US / Cuba relations is logical.
9
Sorry some don't pick up the logic that US owned companies must follow US regulations and laws regardless of the country they operate in..Canadian government advice:
Debit cards and Canadian money transfers are not accepted in Cuba. Credit cards are not widely accepted. Credit cards issued by American financial institutions, such as American Express cards, and some credit cards issued by certain Canadian financial institutions, are not accepted. Other credit cards are generally accepted at major establishments such as state-run hotels and restaurants, and international resort chains. Private restaurants (paladares) and private guest houses (casas particulares) do not accept credit cards of any kind. Credit card cash advances (in CUCs) may be obtained at banks, hotels, or Cadeca exchange houses.
ABMs are few and do not always work in Cuba. In Havana, cash advances in CUCs from Visa cards can be obtained from the ABM machines located in the Miramar Trade Centre and in some hotels. In Varadero, ABMs are located in the Plaza America and at banks. If you use an ABM, do so during business hours at a location inside a bank or large commercial building. Leave copies of your card numbers with a family member in case of emergency.
10
That advice sounds like something written by a diplomat who never goes anywhere except the Miramar Trade Center and Varadero !Also (of course) it is not that US cards are not accepted - it is that they are blocked from working by the US financial institution.
11
I could have sworn that this thread was about sending money to Cuba - particularly in the context of Hurricane Sandy – not about spending money in Cuba?As for the Canadian government (poor) advice where does one start with listing the errors (and nice points Beardo)
e.g.
“Debit cards and Canadian money transfers are not accepted in Cuba.”
Well the Canadian The CIBC Advantage Visa Debit Card does work in Cuba. And money transfers from either of the main 5 Candian banks also are possible. And of course numerous debit cards from Europe, UK and Oz also work
e.g.
“ABMs are few and do not always work in Cuba”
They ARE in all major cities (not just Havana and Varadera) and there is no evidence that they work any less well than in say Toronto or New York. More than 200 such transactions over a 6 year period travelling all around Cuba several times without a single hitch with a sole Visa debit card as virtually our sole source of cash.
12
The last $150 I sent to Santiago de Cuba - has not reached there? Does anyone know how I can reach someone or are they all under arrest?I always thought their commission was too high!
