# Sending money overseas **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [May 24, 2002, 11:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sending-money-overseas/110643 "2002-05-24T11:13:55Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![ScottHaneda](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9d8465/32.png) [@ScottHaneda](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ScottHaneda)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2002, 11:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sending-money-overseas/110643/1 "2002-05-24T11:13:55Z")
I have a friend who is doing web work for me, I would call him a freelance developer. I need to find a way to pay him. Currently, I use a Credit card to send via western union, they charge 50.00 for 750.00 sent. Then, I usually call this money a owners draw in my small home business and end up paying income tac on it in the long run. If he were to email me a invoice, then how do I account for this, and how is the best way to get my bank to talk to his, can I write a simple check, he seems to not really know much about checks, I think they use a different system. Someone who does this routinely, can you please help, I am in the USA BTW ---
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2002, 11:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sending-money-overseas/110643/2 "2002-05-24T11:21:31Z")
There’s a thing called an “International bankers draft” that you can buy from a bank (dunno whether all US banks issue them) for the correct amount in the correct currency. In Ireland they only cost about $5. Then you can just stick this in the mail. The draft is ‘crossed’, so that only the desired recipient can use the check. Also there’s a thing called a “wire transfer” - this is done by telex (!) from bank to bank around the world. It takes about 3 days to come thru, and the last time I used this method (5 years ago) it cost $20. ---
**Author:** ![Una\_Persson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/una_persson/32/346_2.png) [@Una\_Persson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Una_Persson)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2002, 12:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sending-money-overseas/110643/3 "2002-05-24T12:44:13Z")
How about an International PayPal account? Compared to the rates you have quoted, my International Account seems very, very cheap! And I can accept money via credit card or whatever from all over the World. $50 per $750??? :eek: ---
**Author:** ![ScottHaneda](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9d8465/32.png) [@ScottHaneda](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ScottHaneda)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2002, 10:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sending-money-overseas/110643/4 "2002-05-24T22:54:39Z")
paypal are nazis, reaad some of the horror storries where they hold 10,000 hostage for 6 months ---
**Author:** ![Una\_Persson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/una_persson/32/346_2.png) [@Una\_Persson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Una_Persson)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2002, 10:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sending-money-overseas/110643/5 "2002-05-24T22:56:27Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by ScottHaneda \* > \*\*paypal are nazis, reaad some of the horror storries where they hold 10,000 hostage for 6 months \*\* _Excuse_ me? 😕 ---
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2002, 11:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sending-money-overseas/110643/6 "2002-05-24T23:38:26Z")
Of course they are, **Anthracite** , do you not remember when PayPal took 10,000 people hostage for 6 months in order to secure the release of Rudolf Hess? :rolleyes: