Covering Costs

[sb25]

This is probably redundant but
search has been down awhile....

The girl I am interested in is
a student and I want to cover her cost of correspondence.
I want to do it without just sending money.
I was wondering if anyone had any ideas as to
how to cover the girls postage to write?

My friend wrote to the Phillipines and included a Phillipine stamp for her
to write back. Is there any way to do that for Colombia. The post office
says they don't have internatrional reply coupons anymore.

Also; how about a Colombian card that they can call me.
I have one to call there, but I want her to have something
to call me when she wants.
Thanks.
SB

[Red Clay]

... in response to Covering Costs, posted by sb25 on Sep 3, 2002

ATT phone cards purchased at Sams Clubs work great from Peru to the USA at around 30cpm. Might be worth a try from Colombia too.

[Cali vet]

... in response to Covering Costs, posted by sb25 on Sep 3, 2002

You didn't mention which city she is in but in general sending regular mail in Colombia through the post office is a little cumbersom, at least not as easy as here. I used to get and send hand written letters and really enjoyed them but today (at least in Cali) it's probobly easier for her to go to an internet cafe to write you. I don't remember exactly but I think it cost about 3.000 pesos per hour at Chipichapi for example. Also many of the internet cafes now have internet calling to the US at about 20-25 cents a minute. I could be wrong but I don't think any of the calling cards you can buy there come close to that price. The next best, which most Colombians use is a Telecom office but I think that was around a dollar a minute to the US. I don't remember for sure and maybe someone else has a firmer notion of the prices but internet cafe calling seems to be the bargain way to go and the last time I used the service at Chipichapi the line was really clear. The cheapest for you and simplest way to get money to her is to give her a debit card.

[El Diablo]

... in response to Covering Costs, posted by sb25 on Sep 3, 2002


If she wants to call you, have her make a collect call.  When the operator asks if you will accept her charge say NO.  Then it's just a matter of calling her back.

As far as mail, don't wate your time, consider using email.  Most places in Colombia have Internet Cafe's.  A person can rent a computer for an hour for anywhere from 2,000 to 4,000 pesos or so.  Renting a computer a couple times a week shouldn't set you back much.  

I'd be careful about sending your friend money however.  Some of these gals don't have jobs and the money you send them can be a temptation to use for more urgent items.  

El Diablo

[sb25]

... in response to Covering Costs, posted by El Diablo on Sep 3, 2002

Thanks.
She is in Barranquilla.
I didn't even think of one of those debit cards.
That's what I want is to restrict where the money would
go. (and that she gets it)
SB

[AlexG32]

... in response to Re: Covering Costs, posted by sb25 on Sep 3, 2002

What works for me and my wife is open a savings account with the bank you use, this way, at least in my case I can access my account online and transfer electronically whatever amount I want to send.  It worked great while I was there, I would transfer money from my checking to our savings and then go right to an atm and withdraw what I deposited.  Here is a tip for anyone who withdraws money from atm's in Colombia...use Servibanca!!!  You can withdraw up to 500,000 pesos at a time, which according to my online statement is about $183.00.

[Pete E]

... in response to Re: Covering Costs, posted by sb25 on Sep 3, 2002

If we are talking about a bank ATM debit card be carefull.If it is on your own checking account she could clean you out.Even if not intentenially corrupt just irresponsibility can cause you a big problem.
At least start a second account in a second bank so she can't screw up your main account.A second bank because they can go to your main account for overages in your second account.Its better to pay the wire fee than the problems you can get in to.

Pete

[JeffA]

... in response to Carefull with debit cards, posted by Pete E on Sep 3, 2002

A safe way to send money, although not the cheapest, is Wester Union to a Casa de Cambio. Drawbacks: 1)Western Union is expensive, relatively speaking; 2)you don't get the full price for the dollar-- I don't remember the percentage the house takes, but they do take some-- last year, the exchange was 2,300 pesos/dollar. and I got 2,080-2,100 from the casa, and a full exchange from less restrictive buyers and sellers-- some jewelry stores, for instance. I don't think that's officially legal, but... She might be able to get a better rate on the street for dollars.
to send $30-$50 to BQ from my state costs an additional $20 thru western union, and the payout, estimated, is 129,001 COP. that's about 2/3 of the weekly minimum wage, I think...(Cali vet or El Diablo, isn't that about right?)  

Colombia has a cash economy, so dealing with cash, converting it,  should pose little problem.

You can send a few dollars down as a test run, to make sure she gets it, and she can call from, oh-- is it comcel or telecom(?). Don't know where the office is in BQ, but I'm sure they have one.

Hope this helps...

[Craig]

... in response to Re: Western union, if all else fails, posted by JeffA on Sep 3, 2002

I use Western Union all the time. To send 300.000 pesos it's approx $125.00 US, and costs 20 bucks to send. No problems sending. One time I had a Western Union in Cali refuse to pay out the money. Western Union got on a four way phone call with me, my novia, the store, and a Spanish/English translator from Western Union. They told them in a nutshell pay out the money or we pull out of the store. They paid.

[Cali vet]

... in response to Re: Western union, if all else fails, posted by JeffA on Sep 3, 2002

The "salario minimo" is 309.000 a month then they can get something additional in some cases for transport. Western Union is for sure the easiest method and I've used it on a number of occasions...but I hate it. Their rates have got to be just shy of usury. The payout is in pesos but at a crappy rate and at some offices in Colombia they take out some more at that end so you end up paying everybody but your novia. Well almost. The big advantage of the debit card is the girl gets the best possible exchange rate, the one posted in the Colombian newspapers as the "TRM" rate. A debit card though is something you only want to give to a novia you're serious about and it should be from an account that can be dedicated solely to that purpose so there are never any funds in it you don't want her to have. Also you usually have to deliver the card to her in person and show her how to use it at an atm. Again it should not be used in anything short of a serious long term relationship. Opino yo.

[AlexG32]

... in response to Re: Re: Western union, if all else fails..., posted by Cali vet on Sep 3, 2002

Good point Calivet, I sent my wife which was my girlfriend at the time a savings account debit card through Federal Express with some pictures and a couple of cards.  The package arrived two days later and when I knew the package had arrived it was then that I gave her the PIN number.  I didn't have to explain a thing to her she already had a checking account opened and knew how to operate an atm machine.