An update on the money we sent to Nepal
By Judy Evans
@JudyEv (325594)
Rockingham, Australia
November 5, 2018 7:45am CST
A few years ago Vince met a young girl in Nepal. She and her mother were very helpful and he stayed in touch on Facebook. Now, we are sponsoring her little nephew and paying his education fees.
When we sent the first instalment of money, only a portion of it arrived. I wrote about it at the time and you can catch up here if you want to:
Once Vince got to Nepal he was able to sort out what had happened. It seems the money was handled by FIVE different banks, all of whom took out their fees. Our own bank can’t transfer money direct to Nepal but must go through Australia’s Commonwealth Bank. They take out fees. The bank our friend uses in Nepal can’t accept money from the Commonwealth Bank but only through another Nepalese bank which also takes out fees.
Vince has now paid the school fees in advance and we hope to find a better way to send money next time the fees are due. It seems ridiculous but that’s the way it works. At least we now know that neither our little friend nor the school were trying to deceive us.
The photo was taken in Nepal at 12,000 feet in the Himalayas at a place called Muktinath.
My husband is part of a group that raises funds to install wells in small villages in Nepal. When he visited there several years ago, he made friends with a...
28 people like this
34 responses
@Tina30219 (81540)
• Onaway, Michigan
5 Nov 18
I hope you find a better way to send the money so all these fees are not taken out of it.
5 people like this
@JudyEv (325594)
• Rockingham, Australia
6 Nov 18
We have time now to sort something out. Paypal might be an option.
@hereandthere (45651)
• Philippines
5 Nov 18
what if vince helped her create a paypal account and link their bank account?
4 people like this
@marguicha (215341)
• Chile
5 Nov 18
I was thinking about that too, while I read the post.
4 people like this
@JudyEv (325594)
• Rockingham, Australia
6 Nov 18
@hereandthere @LadyDuck @marguicha @playertwo Good suggestion. We're thinking along these lines too or maybe Western Union. The next step will be to see if the Nepalese have Paypal accounts.
3 people like this
@louievill (28851)
• Philippines
5 Nov 18
You both have a kind heart, may you be blessed with more abundance, it's good that you found out the truth about your money.
4 people like this
@wolfgirl569 (95042)
• Marion, Ohio
5 Nov 18
Everybody has to have their hand in the pot anymore sadly. Would it be possible to send a money order to the school through mail or someone going there?
4 people like this
@JudyEv (325594)
• Rockingham, Australia
6 Nov 18
PayPal might be an option or a friend might be going over next year and we could perhaps send money with her.
@franxav (13601)
• India
5 Nov 18
The banks cut off a lot in the name of service charges. When the money passes through such complicated process you lose more money. Giving in hand saves a lot but it's not always possible. Though we receive quite much of our support money through banks. we still prefer hand to hand transfer.
4 people like this
@snowy22315 (169877)
• United States
5 Nov 18
Awesome picture! Yes, a better method of transferring funds certainly has to be arranged.
3 people like this
@marguicha (215341)
• Chile
5 Nov 18
I was thinking about PayPal. Or through a credit card. If we can pay our Uber rides with a credit card in dollars, It might be possible to do the same with other things.
3 people like this
@JudyEv (325594)
• Rockingham, Australia
6 Nov 18
I'm sure we'll find some way around it. We may even resort to Western Union.
@Tampa_girl7 (48908)
• United States
5 Nov 18
What kindness and generosity to pay for his education 
those bank fees really stink.
those bank fees really stink.3 people like this
@FayeHazel (40248)
• United States
5 Nov 18
Beautiful photo. Bless you for helping the girl. It's too bad everyone takes a fee tho
3 people like this
@FayeHazel (40248)
• United States
6 Nov 18
@JudyEv Ah yes, less fees I hope so your $ can go to who you intend
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (325594)
• Rockingham, Australia
6 Nov 18
@Courage7 @playertwo We were in a quandary. We didn't want to distrust our friend but we didn't think the bank would be corrupt. I'm glad there was a legitimate answer.
1 person likes this
@Courage7 (19633)
• United States
6 Nov 18
@playertwo Yes easy to think that Vince.
1 person likes this
@porwest (78761)
• United States
5 Nov 18
That IS ridiculous regarding the fees. We forget sometimes that in other countries it is much harder to get ahead since the governments and others take full advantage of whomever they can. Hope you find a way to make sure she gets ALL of the money and not just bits and pieces of it. I don't think your intent was to help out Nepalese banks.
2 people like this
@ptrikha_2 (45463)
• India
5 Nov 18
@porwest we in India too were at the mercy of state controlled banks for a log of things. However, liberalization in India from early 1990s changed things a lot and we have a better banking system in many terms (Loan defaults in corporate sector and NPAs though are quite high!)
Yet Nepal is yet to see a lot of systems coming up in the place and till then the government machinery can be misused by many.
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@JudyEv (325594)
• Rockingham, Australia
6 Nov 18
And then we had the bank here wanting a share as well. The fees are paid up now till next August so we have time to suss out PayPal or Western Union. There is also a friend who might be going who could take some cash for us.
@GardenGerty (157546)
• United States
5 Nov 18
It is good to have an answer, even if it is a frustrating and inefficient system.
2 people like this
@SIMPLYD (90722)
• Philippines
6 Nov 18
I know you are happy that the family of the boy you are sending to school are honest. Sometimes, when something like that happens, you cannot help but think you are being cheated. It's a good thing everything was already clear to both of you.
2 people like this
@moffittjc (118421)
• Gainesville, Florida
6 Nov 18
I wonder if PayPal is a better way to transfer the money? They say PayPal is available anywhere in the world. It may be worth a try to avoid all those bank fees.
Of course, now that I look down at several of the other comments, I see other people had the same idea!
2 people like this
@moffittjc (118421)
• Gainesville, Florida
8 Nov 18
@JudyEv Yes, Western Union is a great way to send money, so I'm happy to hear that they are supported in Nepal!
1 person likes this
@Happy2BeMe (99399)
• Canada
5 Nov 18
That is very kind of you and Vince. I am glad your got it all figured out. Hopefully in the future you will find a better way so you dont have to pay so many fees.
2 people like this
