General Info

[PhilJoy]

Anyone have problems accessing this site in ph? The site won't load using my condo wifi so I've not bothered trying for a while. But tried today just using my globe sim card and it works ok. Just wondering if it's a feature of just my condos wifi.

Hi Jingo,

Like Westie, VPN works for me.

I've been using Proton and it's cheap and works.

I have problems accessing some banks at home and other online services while way.

I just switch my location with the VPN and all is fixed.

_Phil.

[Mogwai]

GCash requires a foreigner to have a passport, local address and ACR card.
MayaPay doesn't need the ACR and will accept an Agoda booking as a local address.

Got it, thanks G.

[Goferring]

I understand from their website that you have to be Filipino, so I don't think GCash is available to tourists. Is that right?

GCash requires a foreigner to have a passport, local address and ACR card.

MayaPay doesn't need the ACR and will accept an Agoda booking as a local address.

Maya can recognise GCash QR codes and pay direct into business or private (eg restaurants or girls) GCash accounts.

Mayas big downfall is that GCash has Cash Out facilities everywhere. Getting physical cash out of your Maya wallet is far harder. Many exchanges, pawnshops etc refuse to do it unless you have a ATM card (which you can't get without an ACR card. Catch 22). I left PH with a positive balance because I couldn't spend my money in time and then couldn't get it out. No problem: it's still there for next time.

[Mogwai]

But gcash is handy to have as others have said sending money to girls for transport, paying my globe load and some restos don't accept cash anymore. But I think you need an acr card to register although it may have changed now.

I understand from their website that you have to be Filipino, so I don't think GCash is available to tourists. Is that right?

[Goferring]

Thanks!

I didn't step into a branch in long time also, but transferring money among banks in the US is a pain in the butt, and cannot Zelle to myself, because I tried and comes back to the same bank, the phone nr and email is the same.

Anyway as they say, if it's not broken, don't fix it! It works for me the WU way, and I've been doing it for years, don't really care if they take a small cut, and the most important thing is that it works everywhere in the world, I use the ATM as a backup.

Soon "they" will hit us with the red plague, and a new quarantine, I need to do a Manila or AC run before that happens.

True: each to heir own.

I must say that once I found that so much was payable online, and it was super easy, convenient tuen it quickly became my default payment.

No surprise that in the PH, instore payments are a cluster fuck of machines, phones and passwords. It's nowhere near as easy as VND etc but it still worked.

To this day, I'm still amazed at how readily and easily girls accepted GPay for services rendered.

To be fair, I don't have any concerns over payment histories or traceability. There are many guys for whom the anonymity of Cash is ideal.

Enjoy G.

[Old And Ugly]

2026 is calling. No need to fly to the USA. You can open bank accounts online now. I have had Schwab for about 10 years and never stepped into a branch. For 5 or so years prior to that, I had HSBC and never stepped into a branch.

Thanks!

I didn't step into a branch in long time also, but transferring money among banks in the US is a pain in the butt, and cannot Zelle to myself, because I tried and comes back to the same bank, the phone nr and email is the same.

Anyway as they say, if it's not broken, don't fix it! It works for me the WU way, and I've been doing it for years, don't really care if they take a small cut, and the most important thing is that it works everywhere in the world, I use the ATM as a backup.

Soon "they" will hit us with the red plague, and a new quarantine, I need to do a Manila or AC run before that happens.

[Mr Enternational]

I'm not going to fly to US only to change the bank for a few peso less,

2026 is calling. No need to fly to the USA. You can open bank accounts online now. I have had Schwab for about 10 years and never stepped into a branch. For 5 or so years prior to that, I had HSBC and never stepped into a branch.

[Old And Ugly]

Additional Info:

Most ATMs in the Philippines will charge you either 250 or 300 pesos. Some of the $10 fee that some people pay is due to your shitty bank like BofA. Some banks will charge you foreign transaction fees, etc, etc. Get a better bank.

There is more cost for Western Union than the fee. Western Union will give you a lower exchange rate. That's how they make money. From my recollection, I believe it was between 1 - 1.3 lower than it should be.



I would love to use the HSBC ATM. It also has a very high withdrawal limit. But there are no HSBC ATMs in Angeles.

There are at least 2 Union Bank ATMs in Pampanga in which you can withdraw 40K pesos (thanks to Mr. E for that info). Sadly, none of them are in Fields.

I'm using other 4 shitty banks in US none is BoA, I'm not going to fly to US only to change the bank for a few peso less, WU works fine, each time I get a wad of money so big that doesn't even fit my pocket, and there is no need to chase for multiple ATMs to get the same amount. Anyway I never looked at the exchange rate, if I need it, then I need it regardless of the going rate. I'm very lazy lately, I don't even know what's the going rate exactly, but thanks for the info.

[WestCoast1]

Anyone have problems accessing this site in ph? The site won't load using my condo wifi so I've not bothered trying for a while. But tried today just using my globe sim card and it works ok. Just wondering if it's a feature of just my condos wifi.

I have this problem here on occasion when I travel inside Phils. Hotel or other residences whose units use a common ISP might have the site blocked. VPN around that system is a bit slower on page refreshes, but usually solves the problem. Alternately, as you said, using a different system (your phone or a cafe wifi) is the solution.

[GreenBud]

If everything works perfect, you can withdraw max 10 k, about $200, and you end up paying $10 in fees, therefore I send each month western union to myself 100 k and pay about $4 fee.

Additional Info:

Most ATMs in the Philippines will charge you either 250 or 300 pesos. Some of the $10 fee that some people pay is due to your shitty bank like BofA. Some banks will charge you foreign transaction fees, etc, etc. Get a better bank.

There is more cost for Western Union than the fee. Western Union will give you a lower exchange rate. That's how they make money. From my recollection, I believe it was between 1 - 1.3 lower than it should be.

I still generally use cash as I get no charges at HSBC

I would love to use the HSBC ATM. It also has a very high withdrawal limit. But there are no HSBC ATMs in Angeles.

There are at least 2 Union Bank ATMs in Pampanga in which you can withdraw 40K pesos (thanks to Mr. E for that info). Sadly, none of them are in Fields.

[Jingo10]

Anyone have problems accessing this site in ph? The site won't load using my condo wifi so I've not bothered trying for a while. But tried today just using my globe sim card and it works ok. Just wondering if it's a feature of just my condos wifi.

[Jingo10]

I still generally use cash as I get no charges at HSBC using my UK chase debit card. HSBC no ATM fees and chase don't charge.

But gcash is handy to have as others have said sending money to girls for transport, paying my globe load and some restos don't accept cash anymore. But I think you need an acr card to register although it may have changed now.

[Goferring]

I use GCash only to pay bills, send little money to girls for transportation, or Lazada, Visa CC for hotels, air, S&are. In rest cash is king, and leaves no trace.

I was cash everything. However loosing my Wise card meant that I was paying outrageous fees to use my home Mastercard to get it. Hence, I started looking at options and was amazed at just how little cash is required now.

I've since found out it's the same in most Asian hubs. Even at home, $100 lasts me months and there is actually a push on to use cash to keep it in circulation and limit the over reach of our friendly banks.

I'd agree that Cash is King for those who need anonymity.

Enjoy. G.

[Old And Ugly]

Working with cash is the most expensive way to pay for things when overseas.

Last trip I lost my Wise card so, to conserve physical cash, I paid for as much as possible digitally. Flights, hotels, taxis etc were paid for online. Physical purchases were paid for with my Maya Pay / GCash. Even hookers were taking GCash without complaint. Transfer costs were trivial. I think fees were P15 to pay a girl for the night.

There was a time when the PI was largely a cash only society. That has totally changed as digital payments have exploded in popularity.

Enjoy. G.

I use GCash only to pay bills, send little money to girls for transportation, or Lazada, Visa CC for hotels, air, S&are. In rest cash is king, and leaves no trace.

[Goferring]

If everything works perfect, you can withdraw max 10 k, about $200, and you end up paying $10 in fees, therefore I send each month western union to myself 100 k and pay about $4 fee.

Working with cash is the most expensive way to pay for things when overseas.

Last trip I lost my Wise card so, to conserve physical cash, I paid for as much as possible digitally. Flights, hotels, taxis etc were paid for online. Physical purchases were paid for with my Maya Pay / GCash. Even hookers were taking GCash without complaint. Transfer costs were trivial. I think fees were P15 to pay a girl for the night.

There was a time when the PI was largely a cash only society. That has totally changed as digital payments have exploded in popularity.

Enjoy. G.