Historically, everyone’s go-to option for an overseas money transfer was a bank. This is because banks were easy to access, you didn’t have to worry about them running away with your money, and they supported almost every country worldwide. But, unfortunately, their astronomical fees have convinced many to seek other alternatives for their hard-earned money (transfer exchanges).
Among companies offering fund transfer services, a few support transfer to Pakistan, and even fewer provide reasonable exchange rates. Most people look for three things: The transfer period, the exchange rate, and the fee. Hence, we’ll weigh three different companies based on the above-noted factors, as follows:
MoneyGram
With access to more than 190 countries and 45 currencies, MoneyGram is one of the most comprehensive solutions for overseas money exchange/transfer. It offers various payment options such as credit cards, bank payments, and cash. However, MoneyGram’s cons fairly outweigh its benefits. The biggest downside to MoneyGram is the lack of transparency over its transfer fees.
The displayed fees can easily change at the time of payment. In addition, more than 85% of the fees are covered up by the adjustment in the exchange rate margin, which is relatively lower than its other competitors. For example, when you wire £200, it takes at least two days for MoneyGram to deliver just 41,931 PKR to Pakistan.
WorldRemit
People in many countries around the world can use WorldRemit as a solution for overseas money transfers. They can transfer funds to a host of different countries like Pakistan using Bank deposits, Cash Pickup, Mobile Money, and Airtime Top-up. WorldRemit’s 48 delivery times are also competitive.
However, with more than 70% of fees buried in the exchange rate margins, WorldRemit’s non-transparency over transfer fees and the exchange rate is a dealbreaker for many. In addition to high fees, the Pound to Pakistani Rupee exchange rate is below acceptable. For example, when you send £200 to Pakistan, it translates into only 41,860 PKR.
Lycaremit
Last but not least, Lycaremit is a go-to option for overseas money transfers, especially if one or both countries are among exotic countries like Pakistan, Benin, Bangladesh, Vietnam, etc. Of course, Lycaremit doesn’t claim it charges zero fees, but you can rest assured its fees are entirely transparent since there are no additional fees hidden in the exchange rate margin.
In terms of the Pound to Pakistani Rupee, Lycaremit takes your £200 and delivers 42,440 PKR to Pakistan in less than 48 hours. That’s 509 PKR more than MoneyGram and 580 PKR above what WorldRemit offers.
Bottom Line
When you’re in the market for a company to help you with overseas money transfer, the final decision mostly boils down to three factors: How long will it take for the money to get there, how much fee do they charge, and is the exchange rate competitive? Many companies (including some on the list) claim to charge zero fees, but they make up for it by offering shockingly low rates. Additionally, others take too long to process the transfer order.
Therefore, your best is a company that charges transparent fees, offers a reasonable exchange rate, and can transfer the money in an acceptable time frame. As stated previously, Lycaremit charges minimum fees, conducts transfers within 48 hours, and offers above-average exchange rates for Pound to Pakistani Rupee (superior to their more famous competitors). If you have any additional questions, feel free to contact us.
