Posting cash to Australia

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Eva888

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#273098 4-Aug-2020 10:37

I want to send my grandchild in Australia a card with some $20 Australian notes in it. Any thoughts on how to do this? Since it’s only a $100 it hardly would count as money laundering, but I believe it’s not allowed.

I don’t want to transfer it to her bank account where the parents need to have the input of how and if it gets taken out or used.

There’s a certain pleasure for a kid to get cash money to spend on a bunch of things from various shops and since Sydney is not locked down yet, there’s still opportunity. Thanks.

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#2534310 4-Aug-2020 10:43

Just send it as you would usually send a card. We used to get cards with cash from the UK when i was a kid and it wasn't an issue.

wellygary

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#2534313 4-Aug-2020 10:48

lxsw20:

Just send it as you would usually send a card. We used to get cards with cash from the UK when i was a kid and it wasn't an issue.

I suspect that Post agency paranoia about used to facilitate trans-national crime and money laundering has increased markedly since you were a kid...

But to be honest, you really have two options,

1) Stick it in a card and post it... (and 99% of the time it will be fine)

2) Wire it to the parents and get them to just give it to the kids as cash from you at their end

zcars12

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#2534316 4-Aug-2020 10:51

Last year I had mail sent over from NZ. It took 3 weeks the reach me. I'd almost given up on it. Not sure how this pandemic is affecting things now but I imagine it won't be helping mail delivery time.

Eva888

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#2534429 4-Aug-2020 11:25

I was wondering more how to avoid the scanners they probably use to detect cash. Would aluminium foil work or would it make detection more likely.

Don’t want to give it to the parents to give in case it gets rules attached. I want her to have the joy with no strings. Poor kid is going stir crazy in an apartment.

wellygary

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#2534431 4-Aug-2020 11:31

Eva888: I was wondering more how to avoid the scanners they probably use to detect cash. Would aluminium foil work or would it make detection more likely.

Foil will stand out... just tuck it inside a greeting card....as long as its not protruding its unlikely to show up on a scanner...

timmmay

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#2534433 4-Aug-2020 11:36

Easiest way is probably to send via paypal, have the parents withdraw as cash.

gbwelly

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#2534440 4-Aug-2020 11:40

Prezzy card cops a lot of flack, but this is a good use for it.

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Eva888

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#2534449 4-Aug-2020 11:50

Prezzy cards are too complicated and disappointing when they won’t work or aren’t accepted. Ok for an adult but a kid has simple needs...hand over the money, get the ice cream or the toys.

When I go there I always give her cash in small notes and she is thrilled and counts it and thinks she’s rich. She asked me how much she needed to save to buy a proper house...sigh.

freitasm

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Geekzone

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#2534491 4-Aug-2020 13:19

Or use TransferWise to send money to the relatives and ask to hand to the kids.

KrazyKid

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#2534500 4-Aug-2020 13:36

I still just chuck $20 in a card and post it. Can't imagine any issues with $100 either.

The only downside is you have no claim if the card gets lost in the mail and never arrives.

Saying that money into bank accounts via transferwise or your bank also works.

PolicyGuy

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#2534507 4-Aug-2020 13:53

Post services to and from Australia at the moment are diabolically awfully slow.

I posted a small package to my parents in Sydney four weeks ago, it still hasn't arrived.
One of my Oz sisters posted me a tracked parcel ($AU55.00 postage 😱), it sat with status 'ready for International despatch' - presumably at Sydney Airport - for nearly a month.

For small amounts of money [I'm counting $100 as small, no matter what the recipient may think :)], a cash transfer is by far the cheapest method. Banks are thieves on foreign exchange transfers

wellygary

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#2534512 4-Aug-2020 14:02

PolicyGuy:

Post services to and from Australia at the moment are diabolically awfully slow.

I'm guessing NZ and AUS post are using space on commercial flights, which are significantly restricted at the moment... and they won't fork out a premium for space on the commercial freight flights run by the International shippers....

networkn

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#2534522 4-Aug-2020 14:13

I really can't recommend NOT doing this, enough. If you know what retailer he/she might shop at, or what shopping center is nearby, call them, pay for a gift card over the phone, and have it ready to collect for him/her at the mall information center or whatnot.

a) it's faster

b) still means they get it rather than the parents

c) you aren't risking sending cash, risking it not arriving at all.

dt

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#2534566 4-Aug-2020 15:16

Sent $100 to my niece in Aussie two years ago without even knowing or considering it might be seen as money laundering, made it to her no problems.

edit: also sent it via cash for your exact reasons too.. that her parents would have less control over what she spent it on.. and to my surprise she spent it wisely on a new school bag and a reading book.. clever girl

networkn

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#2534571 4-Aug-2020 15:20

To be honest, if someone is laundering money by sending money to relatives in $100 increments, all power to them :)

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