Money transfer to Kenya
May 12th 2003, 6:23 am
#1
Guest
Posts: n/a
Money transfer to Kenya
Hello there!
I'd like to get some feedback about what might be the best way to
frequently transfer small amounts of money (in my case: from Germany) to
Kenya. I'd like to support a friend of mine who seems to run into some
difficulties in paying the school fees for his kids.
I am not yet sure if he has a bank account at all. If so, I could
establish a monthly bank-to-bank transfer, but it seems the fees for
this are exorbitant. Any suggestion about a cheap option here?
In case he has no bank account, what about sending a banknote inside a
monthly air mail letter to his P.O. box? I was told that this would be a
very insecure strategy, for letters are frequently opened by Kenyan mail
guys especially looking just for those banknotes :-(. But what about
trying some camouflage for those letters, in a way to make them look
like "no-cash-inside"-letters: like faking a kid-type handwriting on the
envelope, or maybe just the opposite: giving the envelope a very
sophisticated business-like look, to make any mail crook think it would
be useless to search for money inside those.
Thanks for any suggestions.
Klaus
I'd like to get some feedback about what might be the best way to
frequently transfer small amounts of money (in my case: from Germany) to
Kenya. I'd like to support a friend of mine who seems to run into some
difficulties in paying the school fees for his kids.
I am not yet sure if he has a bank account at all. If so, I could
establish a monthly bank-to-bank transfer, but it seems the fees for
this are exorbitant. Any suggestion about a cheap option here?
In case he has no bank account, what about sending a banknote inside a
monthly air mail letter to his P.O. box? I was told that this would be a
very insecure strategy, for letters are frequently opened by Kenyan mail
guys especially looking just for those banknotes :-(. But what about
trying some camouflage for those letters, in a way to make them look
like "no-cash-inside"-letters: like faking a kid-type handwriting on the
envelope, or maybe just the opposite: giving the envelope a very
sophisticated business-like look, to make any mail crook think it would
be useless to search for money inside those.
Thanks for any suggestions.
Klaus
May 12th 2003, 7:20 am
#2
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Money transfer to Kenya
safest way for $ transfer is through Western Union.
He only needs to know password and have an identity card to collect.
don't trust the post by any means.
"Klaus Scharfenstein" wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Hello there!
> I'd like to get some feedback about what might be the best way to
> frequently transfer small amounts of money (in my case: from Germany) to
> Kenya. I'd like to support a friend of mine who seems to run into some
> difficulties in paying the school fees for his kids.
> I am not yet sure if he has a bank account at all. If so, I could
> establish a monthly bank-to-bank transfer, but it seems the fees for
> this are exorbitant. Any suggestion about a cheap option here?
> In case he has no bank account, what about sending a banknote inside a
> monthly air mail letter to his P.O. box? I was told that this would be a
> very insecure strategy, for letters are frequently opened by Kenyan mail
> guys especially looking just for those banknotes :-(. But what about
> trying some camouflage for those letters, in a way to make them look
> like "no-cash-inside"-letters: like faking a kid-type handwriting on the
> envelope, or maybe just the opposite: giving the envelope a very
> sophisticated business-like look, to make any mail crook think it would
> be useless to search for money inside those.
> Thanks for any suggestions.
> Klaus
He only needs to know password and have an identity card to collect.
don't trust the post by any means.
"Klaus Scharfenstein" wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Hello there!
> I'd like to get some feedback about what might be the best way to
> frequently transfer small amounts of money (in my case: from Germany) to
> Kenya. I'd like to support a friend of mine who seems to run into some
> difficulties in paying the school fees for his kids.
> I am not yet sure if he has a bank account at all. If so, I could
> establish a monthly bank-to-bank transfer, but it seems the fees for
> this are exorbitant. Any suggestion about a cheap option here?
> In case he has no bank account, what about sending a banknote inside a
> monthly air mail letter to his P.O. box? I was told that this would be a
> very insecure strategy, for letters are frequently opened by Kenyan mail
> guys especially looking just for those banknotes :-(. But what about
> trying some camouflage for those letters, in a way to make them look
> like "no-cash-inside"-letters: like faking a kid-type handwriting on the
> envelope, or maybe just the opposite: giving the envelope a very
> sophisticated business-like look, to make any mail crook think it would
> be useless to search for money inside those.
> Thanks for any suggestions.
> Klaus
May 12th 2003, 7:35 am
#3
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Money transfer to Kenya
On Mon, 12 May 2003 19:20:56 GMT, "Tashi" wrote:
>safest way for $ transfer is through Western Union.
>He only needs to know password and have an identity card to collect.
>don't trust the post by any means.
I agree with that.
A friend of mine (native of Tanzania, lives in Austria) frequently
send money to his parents back home using Western Union. The fees are
high but this is secure
Michael
>"Klaus Scharfenstein" wrote in message
>news:[email protected]...
>> Hello there!
>> I'd like to get some feedback about what might be the best way to
>> frequently transfer small amounts of money (in my case: from Germany) to
>> Kenya. I'd like to support a friend of mine who seems to run into some
>> difficulties in paying the school fees for his kids.
>> I am not yet sure if he has a bank account at all. If so, I could
>> establish a monthly bank-to-bank transfer, but it seems the fees for
>> this are exorbitant. Any suggestion about a cheap option here?
>> In case he has no bank account, what about sending a banknote inside a
>> monthly air mail letter to his P.O. box? I was told that this would be a
>> very insecure strategy, for letters are frequently opened by Kenyan mail
>> guys especially looking just for those banknotes :-(. But what about
>> trying some camouflage for those letters, in a way to make them look
>> like "no-cash-inside"-letters: like faking a kid-type handwriting on the
>> envelope, or maybe just the opposite: giving the envelope a very
>> sophisticated business-like look, to make any mail crook think it would
>> be useless to search for money inside those.
>> Thanks for any suggestions.
>> Klaus
>safest way for $ transfer is through Western Union.
>He only needs to know password and have an identity card to collect.
>don't trust the post by any means.
I agree with that.
A friend of mine (native of Tanzania, lives in Austria) frequently
send money to his parents back home using Western Union. The fees are
high but this is secure
Michael
>"Klaus Scharfenstein" wrote in message
>news:[email protected]...
>> Hello there!
>> I'd like to get some feedback about what might be the best way to
>> frequently transfer small amounts of money (in my case: from Germany) to
>> Kenya. I'd like to support a friend of mine who seems to run into some
>> difficulties in paying the school fees for his kids.
>> I am not yet sure if he has a bank account at all. If so, I could
>> establish a monthly bank-to-bank transfer, but it seems the fees for
>> this are exorbitant. Any suggestion about a cheap option here?
>> In case he has no bank account, what about sending a banknote inside a
>> monthly air mail letter to his P.O. box? I was told that this would be a
>> very insecure strategy, for letters are frequently opened by Kenyan mail
>> guys especially looking just for those banknotes :-(. But what about
>> trying some camouflage for those letters, in a way to make them look
>> like "no-cash-inside"-letters: like faking a kid-type handwriting on the
>> envelope, or maybe just the opposite: giving the envelope a very
>> sophisticated business-like look, to make any mail crook think it would
>> be useless to search for money inside those.
>> Thanks for any suggestions.
>> Klaus
May 12th 2003, 7:57 am
#4
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Money transfer to Kenya
an international postal money order?
"Klaus Scharfenstein" ha scritto nel messaggio
news:[email protected]...
> Hello there!
> I'd like to get some feedback about what might be the best way to
> frequently transfer small amounts of money (in my case: from Germany) to
> Kenya. I'd like to support a friend of mine who seems to run into some
> difficulties in paying the school fees for his kids.
> I am not yet sure if he has a bank account at all. If so, I could
> establish a monthly bank-to-bank transfer, but it seems the fees for
> this are exorbitant. Any suggestion about a cheap option here?
> In case he has no bank account, what about sending a banknote inside a
> monthly air mail letter to his P.O. box? I was told that this would be a
> very insecure strategy, for letters are frequently opened by Kenyan mail
> guys especially looking just for those banknotes :-(. But what about
> trying some camouflage for those letters, in a way to make them look
> like "no-cash-inside"-letters: like faking a kid-type handwriting on the
> envelope, or maybe just the opposite: giving the envelope a very
> sophisticated business-like look, to make any mail crook think it would
> be useless to search for money inside those.
> Thanks for any suggestions.
> Klaus
"Klaus Scharfenstein" ha scritto nel messaggio
news:[email protected]...
> Hello there!
> I'd like to get some feedback about what might be the best way to
> frequently transfer small amounts of money (in my case: from Germany) to
> Kenya. I'd like to support a friend of mine who seems to run into some
> difficulties in paying the school fees for his kids.
> I am not yet sure if he has a bank account at all. If so, I could
> establish a monthly bank-to-bank transfer, but it seems the fees for
> this are exorbitant. Any suggestion about a cheap option here?
> In case he has no bank account, what about sending a banknote inside a
> monthly air mail letter to his P.O. box? I was told that this would be a
> very insecure strategy, for letters are frequently opened by Kenyan mail
> guys especially looking just for those banknotes :-(. But what about
> trying some camouflage for those letters, in a way to make them look
> like "no-cash-inside"-letters: like faking a kid-type handwriting on the
> envelope, or maybe just the opposite: giving the envelope a very
> sophisticated business-like look, to make any mail crook think it would
> be useless to search for money inside those.
> Thanks for any suggestions.
> Klaus
May 12th 2003, 8:43 am
#5
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Money transfer to Kenya
On Mon, 12 May 2003 21:35:14 +0200, Michael Steiger
wrote:
>On Mon, 12 May 2003 19:20:56 GMT, "Tashi" wrote:
>>safest way for $ transfer is through Western Union.
>>He only needs to know password and have an identity card to collect.
>>don't trust the post by any means.
>I agree with that.
>A friend of mine (native of Tanzania, lives in Austria) frequently
>send money to his parents back home using Western Union. The fees are
>high but this is secure
>Michael
or you can use moneygram which I found to be the same (sometimes
better) but cheaper.
But one thing which might be interest (that is if western union is
doing it in Germany.) (I live in UK) is that you can sign uo to this
card scheme. which when you want to send money you just give the
card, the opreator swipe it and it has all your details ready. you
earn 5 minutes I think it is anyway in the world to make call for each
transfer using the card. hence can help off-set the western union
fees by calling your friend in africa.
wrote:
>On Mon, 12 May 2003 19:20:56 GMT, "Tashi" wrote:
>>safest way for $ transfer is through Western Union.
>>He only needs to know password and have an identity card to collect.
>>don't trust the post by any means.
>I agree with that.
>A friend of mine (native of Tanzania, lives in Austria) frequently
>send money to his parents back home using Western Union. The fees are
>high but this is secure
>Michael
or you can use moneygram which I found to be the same (sometimes
better) but cheaper.
But one thing which might be interest (that is if western union is
doing it in Germany.) (I live in UK) is that you can sign uo to this
card scheme. which when you want to send money you just give the
card, the opreator swipe it and it has all your details ready. you
earn 5 minutes I think it is anyway in the world to make call for each
transfer using the card. hence can help off-set the western union
fees by calling your friend in africa.
May 13th 2003, 3:33 am
#6
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Money transfer to Kenya
In message , Klaus Scharfenstein
writes
>Hello there!
>I'd like to get some feedback about what might be the best way to
>frequently transfer small amounts of money (in my case: from Germany)
>to Kenya. I'd like to support a friend of mine who seems to run into
>some difficulties in paying the school fees for his kids.
>I am not yet sure if he has a bank account at all. If so, I could
>establish a monthly bank-to-bank transfer, but it seems the fees for
>this are exorbitant. Any suggestion about a cheap option here?
>In case he has no bank account, what about sending a banknote inside a
>monthly air mail letter to his P.O. box? I was told that this would be
>a very insecure strategy, for letters are frequently opened by Kenyan
>mail guys especially looking just for those banknotes :-(. But what
>about trying some camouflage for those letters, in a way to make them
>look like "no-cash-inside"-letters: like faking a kid-type handwriting
>on the envelope, or maybe just the opposite: giving the envelope a very
>sophisticated business-like look, to make any mail crook think it would
>be useless to search for money inside those.
>Thanks for any suggestions.
>Klaus
Klaus,
Don`t put any bank notes in an envelope. The post office workers in
Kenya seem to be able to Smell the notes inside! All our friends there
warn against it.
Pat
--
Pat Anderson
writes
>Hello there!
>I'd like to get some feedback about what might be the best way to
>frequently transfer small amounts of money (in my case: from Germany)
>to Kenya. I'd like to support a friend of mine who seems to run into
>some difficulties in paying the school fees for his kids.
>I am not yet sure if he has a bank account at all. If so, I could
>establish a monthly bank-to-bank transfer, but it seems the fees for
>this are exorbitant. Any suggestion about a cheap option here?
>In case he has no bank account, what about sending a banknote inside a
>monthly air mail letter to his P.O. box? I was told that this would be
>a very insecure strategy, for letters are frequently opened by Kenyan
>mail guys especially looking just for those banknotes :-(. But what
>about trying some camouflage for those letters, in a way to make them
>look like "no-cash-inside"-letters: like faking a kid-type handwriting
>on the envelope, or maybe just the opposite: giving the envelope a very
>sophisticated business-like look, to make any mail crook think it would
>be useless to search for money inside those.
>Thanks for any suggestions.
>Klaus
Klaus,
Don`t put any bank notes in an envelope. The post office workers in
Kenya seem to be able to Smell the notes inside! All our friends there
warn against it.
Pat
--
Pat Anderson
May 13th 2003, 8:11 am
#7
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Money transfer to Kenya
Pat Anderson wrote:
> Don`t put any bank notes in an envelope. The post office workers in
> Kenya seem to be able to Smell the notes inside!
Well, Pat, the "problem" here is: I tried that once, years ago, only
once - and guess what: yes, the cash came through!
Klaus
> Don`t put any bank notes in an envelope. The post office workers in
> Kenya seem to be able to Smell the notes inside!
Well, Pat, the "problem" here is: I tried that once, years ago, only
once - and guess what: yes, the cash came through!
Klaus
May 13th 2003, 9:02 am
#8
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Money transfer to Kenya
Klaus Scharfenstein wrote:
>I'd like to get some feedback about what might be the best way to
>frequently transfer small amounts of money (in my case: from Germany) to
>Kenya.
Klaus,
no chance. All the commercial solutions are far too expensive
for small amounts. The only way is that somebody travels to
Kenya and takes the money along in cash.
You're a bit too late---I'm already there
(http://www.michna.com/kenya2003/).
Hans-Georg
--
No mail, please.
>I'd like to get some feedback about what might be the best way to
>frequently transfer small amounts of money (in my case: from Germany) to
>Kenya.
Klaus,
no chance. All the commercial solutions are far too expensive
for small amounts. The only way is that somebody travels to
Kenya and takes the money along in cash.
You're a bit too late---I'm already there
(http://www.michna.com/kenya2003/).
Hans-Georg
--
No mail, please.
May 13th 2003, 6:00 pm
#9
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Money transfer to Kenya
Hans-Georg Michna wrote:
>You're a bit too late---I'm already there
>(http://www.michna.com/kenya2003/).
Klaus,
actually, if it's not too much and if I happen to pass by the
right place, I could advance some money. Please send me an email
if you want this. Please remove the NoEmailPlease from my mail
address to send me mail.
Hans-Georg
--
No mail, please.
>You're a bit too late---I'm already there
>(http://www.michna.com/kenya2003/).
Klaus,
actually, if it's not too much and if I happen to pass by the
right place, I could advance some money. Please send me an email
if you want this. Please remove the NoEmailPlease from my mail
address to send me mail.
Hans-Georg
--
No mail, please.
May 13th 2003, 7:11 pm
#10
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Money transfer to Kenya
Hans-Georg Michna wrote:
> actually, if it's not too much and if I happen to pass by the
> right place, I could advance some money.
Jambo, Hans-Georg!
Well, that's very kind of you. But I guess it is not that urgent. In the
long run, I still want to establish some monthly payment method. That is
why I am still wondering if the "cash-inside-envelope"-strategy may
somehow work - those mail clerks can't just open EVERY single letter,
can they? They have to do some selection, based on the "look" and the
weight etc. of a given letter. Maybe there is a way to take advantage of
their selection criteria.
It's amazing that you still have time left to visit the newsgroup and to
keep your website up-to-date, while being in Kenya!!
Have a goog time!
Klaus
> actually, if it's not too much and if I happen to pass by the
> right place, I could advance some money.
Jambo, Hans-Georg!
Well, that's very kind of you. But I guess it is not that urgent. In the
long run, I still want to establish some monthly payment method. That is
why I am still wondering if the "cash-inside-envelope"-strategy may
somehow work - those mail clerks can't just open EVERY single letter,
can they? They have to do some selection, based on the "look" and the
weight etc. of a given letter. Maybe there is a way to take advantage of
their selection criteria.
It's amazing that you still have time left to visit the newsgroup and to
keep your website up-to-date, while being in Kenya!!
Have a goog time!
Klaus
May 13th 2003, 10:56 pm
#11
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Money transfer to Kenya
Klaus Scharfenstein wrote:
>It's amazing that you still have time left to visit the newsgroup and to
>keep your website up-to-date, while being in Kenya!!
Klaus,
hehe, but that will change soon. I'm still in Nairobi, but out
in the bush there's no affordable Internet yet.
To all: By the way, my web server gives me problems. The URL I
gave, http://www.michna.com/kenya2003/ gives you an obsolete
page, but http://michna.com/kenya2003/ works correctly. But I
have a service ticket open, and they're known to fix things
quickly.
Hans-Georg
--
No mail, please.
>It's amazing that you still have time left to visit the newsgroup and to
>keep your website up-to-date, while being in Kenya!!
Klaus,
hehe, but that will change soon. I'm still in Nairobi, but out
in the bush there's no affordable Internet yet.
To all: By the way, my web server gives me problems. The URL I
gave, http://www.michna.com/kenya2003/ gives you an obsolete
page, but http://michna.com/kenya2003/ works correctly. But I
have a service ticket open, and they're known to fix things
quickly.
Hans-Georg
--
No mail, please.
May 14th 2003, 1:52 am
#12
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Money transfer to Kenya
Hans-Georg Michna wrote:
>To all: By the way, my web server gives me problems. The URL I
>gave, http://www.michna.com/kenya2003/ gives you an obsolete
>page, but http://michna.com/kenya2003/ works correctly. But I
>have a service ticket open, and they're known to fix things
>quickly.
Disregard. It's a sluggish transparent proxy run by my local
provider SwiftKenya. Everybody connecting to the Internet
through any other provider will see the correct page.
Hans-Georg
--
No mail, please.
>To all: By the way, my web server gives me problems. The URL I
>gave, http://www.michna.com/kenya2003/ gives you an obsolete
>page, but http://michna.com/kenya2003/ works correctly. But I
>have a service ticket open, and they're known to fix things
>quickly.
Disregard. It's a sluggish transparent proxy run by my local
provider SwiftKenya. Everybody connecting to the Internet
through any other provider will see the correct page.
Hans-Georg
--
No mail, please.
