Making regular (small) payments to the Philippines - options?

[wtbhotia]

Definitely ping @hullexile, he's got his loan sharking business up and running in da Philippines LOL

[Ehiogu]

Thanks TB. I'm definitely concerned that payment of a lump-sum might has a higher chance of not being used for the agreed purpose, but I think I've just got to trust in the arrangement, or not do it at all.

I think you're right. Maybe 6 months in advance would be a better idea - Probably wasted more time googling the different options than I would have saved in transfer fees.

[rani]

The purpose of the money is for use in the Philippines. It doesn't make sense for us to transfer to her HK account, get charged for the transfer, then she transfer it to the Phils (and get charged on that transfer too).

If you have a account in the same bank you can avoid 1 set of charges when you transfer locally.

[hullexile]

I guess it depends if the person you are transferring to is sensible enough to draw down a chunk of principal every month. If so, then I assume you are fiscally sound enough to dump in 6 or 12 months worth of payments in one go, and then the 20 quid or so bank transfer fee isn't a big deal. The recipient can then use $1,500 per month and you can boost it again in six or twelve months.

Otherwise, I guess look into how Filapinas in the UK send money home. They probably send relatively small amounts frequently so they should have a handle on the best ways to do so. Or ping @hullexile as he might have an idea.

All the ones I know use Western Union or equivalent. Cheap enough from HK on small amounts but dearer from UK. I wouldn't worry too much about them using all the money up early, if they are that way with money they would just borrow against the future monthly money anyway which would be worse.