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[Tai_Li]

Hi all.

I've been puzzling with this whole idea of sending between the two countries with the least amount of fuss. My idea is this:

I give someone here my debit card from either Chinese Construction Bank or the Bank of Communications (I have accounts at both), and when I go back to China get another card (leaving both cards activated). Then when I need something paid (Skype, Very Passable Nicety, shipping, etc.), I send the trusted person a message, and they take the money out of my Chinese bank and with the account number from my American bank make a deposit.

Finally depositing into the American account won't be a problem, and I don't think they'll give me any trouble for occasionally having my debit card used over here. I know there will be charges, but I think it's okay. My main problem would be the following:

Has anybody ever gotten an extra debit card for their account? Maybe for a significant other? In the US, once you get a new debit card, it's been my experience that the card gets cancelled. So, I'm not sure if that will work.

Of course, if I leave the card here, and it won't work, it won't be too much trouble to get a replacement one. So, I'm just wondering what input anybody else might have on this one. Or an otherwise better suggestion.

Thanks

[MK]

I think it might work if you explain VERY clearly that you want two cards and not to cancel the previous one...they may accept this and just do it or you may get the third degree and have to produce the original birth certificate, fingerprints and blood samples from the other cardholder, who knows with Chinese banks.

Or, get a trusted Chinese friend to transfer the money to your home account for you (less hassle/paperwork all round than doing it as a Laowai).

Some people use Western Union but I don't have any experience with that.

When I first started teaching people used to post small amounts of money home regularly hidden inside birthday cards!

[teacheraus]

I personally every month or two transfer some money from my Chinese account to my home bank account. I am doing it to Australian but the process is no different to the US. With my Chinese Bank (Bank of China) I have no problem as long as I don't want to transfer more than 500US at a time on a given day. If I have a Chinese friend do it for me there the limit is not a problem. Usually I don't want transfer more than 500US so it is not an issue for me. Actually only once have I got a Chinese friend to do it for me because my passport was in the process of being renewed and I could not do the transfer without it and the only difference was that the limit did not exist.  My money is usually in my Australian account within 24 hours. For me it is so routine now that I just keep my paperwork from the previous time and go and do it as I need to. For a long time I had to go to what I call the "big bank", I guess it is the main branch with a special foreign exchange section... but the last couple of times I have actually been able to do it at my local small on campus branch.

[chanhonam]

Not sure if this is possible for non-UK but Bank of China has retail branches in UK. We opened an account in the UK to send money to China. We now use the account in reverse by transferring from accounts in China to our UK account at BOC.

[Tai_Li]

I'd like to cut out on the paperwork altogether, actually. This is why I was thinking of this way. Spending the afternoon in the bank isn't something that I'm really looking forward to, haha.

I called Wells Fargo, and all my friend here has to do is have my account number. I'm thinking this might be the easiest way if you have someone in the States you can trust.

@Chan: I thought that we could do something like that with Bank of America. They have an agreement, but you can't deposit into the account. Just withdraw. I'm going to probably try it and see what happens.

[teacheraus]

It doesn't take me the afternoon to do the transfer. Half hour max, once every month or two. It takes longer the first time because it is the first time that you have needed to fill out the form... and to learn what you need to do... But these days it is relatively quick... I just copy the form from the last time... That is actually one reason why I love being able to do it at my oncampus bank... It is much faster than at the big bank even though there is only one person at my local branch who can do it... because at the big bank I need to wait so long just to get to the counter... (even though there are more people serving there are also many more people there to do it) But I know that even there I can avoid wasting time waiting by going at the right time.  I do know it is not something you can do at every branch... But it is not a bad option. It might not be right for you... But don't write it off altogether.

[Tai_Li]

I'm thinking I can avoid the bank altogether this way, which would be so awesome. I was always aware of the bank option, but I found that it was rather annoying. Other than paying the exchange fees (5 bucks at the Wells Fargo atm, less at the Commutations Bank), if it works I can see it being a better option. I could see if you want to be more in control of things, but I trust my person on this side, and I try to avoid going to the bank if I can.

[Escaped Lunatic]

When I first came to China, I opened a second account at ICBC and mailed the card to the US.  Once I got confirmation that it arrived, I just transferred money to that account when I needed to send cash to the USA.

[MK]

Such a simple and obvious solution EL...this is actually such a great idea, now that Union Pay ATMs are everywhere, I think I am going to steal it.  Anyone know how much you get burned for taking money out overseas?

[Tai_Li]

I don't, MK, do tell...

[MK]

I don't know either! I was assuming there's a hefty fee because you can get charged 20RMB or more just for using an ATM in a different city within China.

[Tai_Li]

Oh, haha. Well, we'll see I guess. I tried patiently explaining what I wanted, and that was a bit of a non-starter. By that I mean, it did not work. So, I go back tomorrow armed with an office assistant who knows what she's doing, and I'll give a report. If it works, I'll let everybody know.

[Tai_Li]

Soooooo, apparently at my bank things are: One card = one account. There's no such thing as a second card for the same account.

However, I have opened up a new account, since I left my card in America, and now need a new car, without closing my first account. I'm not sure yet, but I might be able to go to the bank and manually deposit the money into my first account.

So, this might be worth it just yet. We'll see.

[roadwalker]

If both accounts are from the same bank, you may be able to transfer funds from the ATM machine without handling cash.  I've done this with China Construction Bank iirc in the past.  If there is a selection for "transfer funds" or something similar try it and then it should either prompt for the amount of RMB or the other account number (from the card) and then vice versa.  Took all of 30 seconds.  Don't get the target account number wrong!

[Tai_Li]

Oh snap! Roadwalker, you are correct, sir! I think we are GO.