Orange Money international money transfer guide [2024]
Everything you need to know about sending money abroad with Orange.
The days when sending money abroad meant filling out an old-fashioned postal money order have pretty much gone. These days, there are plenty of other ways to get funds to someone in another country. One of the most popular options is MoneyGram, which offers a variety of ways to send money fast.
Read on and you’ll find out:
You may have used traditional postal money orders in the past. MoneyGram works in a similar way, but there are a few differences. Most of these are good, but there’s one possible exception: the cost may be higher.
If you want, you can do everything online from your chosen device — no need to find a post office or an agent who can handle the order in person.¹
You can use MoneyGram to pay straight into a bank account at any of 400 banks worldwide.²
It’s quick. If you’re sending for cash pickup, it can be ready in just a few minutes. If you’re sending to a bank account, it’s usually available the next day and sometimes inside an hour.³
Using MoneyGram can cost more than a traditional money order, thanks to higher fees.⁴
It’s pretty straightforward to send money with MoneyGram, but there are a few things you need to be aware of before you start. Read our simple step by step guide and you’ll be ready to go. The steps you’ll need are different depending on how you’re sending the money. The options you have are:
If you’re sending money online:
If you’re sending money in person:
If you’re sending to an international bank account⁵:
If you’re sending to a mobile wallet:⁶
The amount you’ll pay to use MoneyGram’s international money orders varies depending on various factors. These include the country you’re sending to and the amount you’re sending. For some destinations, there’s also a difference depending on whether you’re sending money to a bank account or for cash pickup. MoneyGram provides an online tool to estimate fees, but it doesn’t give you an at-a-glance idea of the costs.
Another thing you want to understand and look out for is the mid-market rate. This is the rate you’ll want to use for comparison: it’s the one you’ll see if you check rates on XE or Google, the midpoint between what they buy and what they sell at. The trouble is, it’s not usually the one you’ll get. When you buy foreign currency, the bank or exchange provider will nearly always add a markup on top. This isn’t usually called a fee, but it’ll have the same effect on your funds.
What you really want is the rate that banks use between themselves. This is simply called the interbank rate or mid-market rate. It’s not always easy to tell whether the rate you’re getting is anywhere near this, so what you need is an online currency converter. Make sure you check its numbers each time against the ones you’re being offered. You’ll quickly see whether you’re getting good value.
Here’s a quick guide to how much you’ll pay in total — including the fees — for some popular options with MoneyGram, when choosing the option to pay cash at location.⁷
Destination country | Sending $200 | Sending $500 | Sending $1,000 |
---|---|---|---|
Canada | $213.00 | $537.00 | $1061.00 |
Australia | $214.00 | $520.00 | $1,032.00 |
United Kingdom (cash pickup) | $217.00 | $535.00 | $1,058.00 |
United Kingdom (paid into bank account) | $207.00 | $507.00 | $1,007.00 |
Japan | $209.99 | $509.99 | $1016.00 |
When looking at the fees for your transfer, don't forget to take into account the rate your money will be converted at. You may want to consider using a service such as Wise, which gives users access to the desirable mid-market rate for all of their transfers. Signing up to their borderless account also gets you local bank details in the UK, eurozone, New Zealand, Australia and the US — so you can pay and get paid just like a local would. Give it a try today.
You can track a MoneyGram transaction in two ways:
If you use Track a Transfer, you’ll need to supply two things:
MoneyGram is a flexible option for sending money internationally. It offers several different ways you can send funds, as well as allowing your recipients to pick them up in a way that’s convenient to them. You do need to set up an online account for some of these methods, and it’s important to be aware of the fees that’ll be charged on top of the amount you send. Think about whether MoneyGram’s for you, and compare it to alternatives such as Wise before you make your final decision.
Sources:
All sources last checked 21 March 2019
*Please see terms of use and product availability for your region or visit Wise fees and pricing for the most up to date pricing and fee information.
This publication is provided for general information purposes and does not constitute legal, tax or other professional advice from Wise Payments Limited or its subsidiaries and its affiliates, and it is not intended as a substitute for obtaining advice from a financial advisor or any other professional.
We make no representations, warranties or guarantees, whether expressed or implied, that the content in the publication is accurate, complete or up to date.
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