Chinese money is irritatingly difficult to move out of the country
China is happy to bring all kinds of money in to the nation. But as soon as you want to move money out, the smiles go away, as do the minutes, hours, days.
Especially for foreigners.
I want to send money to my US debit account. I have bills to pay that need to be covered, and my mom also leant me a pretty sum to get me here and settled, emphasis on leant. I really want to pay her back, and also prevent from going into default on my school loans, and pay off my bills.
But my American account is in a small credit union, who doesn't have a SWIFT code, and has no intention of getting one in the future. "It's easy," they say. "Just have your big Chinese bank transfer the money to their American branch, then have that branch send us the money." Right.
Bank of China won't do it.
So I look for Western Union. Oh, look, there are lots of branches all over Harbin!
In Bank of China.
$#!7.
This is going to take some more research. Worst case scenario, I take the money with me if I manage to go home for the Winter Holidays, change it in Seattle at the airport (best exchange rates in the US at a little shop in the international terminal), and put it in myself when I get home.
But the companies I owe money to are not very happy with my delays.
This will take more research.
Especially for foreigners.
I want to send money to my US debit account. I have bills to pay that need to be covered, and my mom also leant me a pretty sum to get me here and settled, emphasis on leant. I really want to pay her back, and also prevent from going into default on my school loans, and pay off my bills.
But my American account is in a small credit union, who doesn't have a SWIFT code, and has no intention of getting one in the future. "It's easy," they say. "Just have your big Chinese bank transfer the money to their American branch, then have that branch send us the money." Right.
Bank of China won't do it.
So I look for Western Union. Oh, look, there are lots of branches all over Harbin!
In Bank of China.
$#!7.
This is going to take some more research. Worst case scenario, I take the money with me if I manage to go home for the Winter Holidays, change it in Seattle at the airport (best exchange rates in the US at a little shop in the international terminal), and put it in myself when I get home.
But the companies I owe money to are not very happy with my delays.
This will take more research.