Nice interesting article giving some background into a company that a lot of us have used at some point. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-30192220
Not that I remember, always been dead reliable for me, not the cheapest for the Philippines at the moment but I certainly trust them.
Reliability is the most important thing, I think I have transferred money three times now for visa related stuff and I've always used my bank, maybe 25 or 30 quid a throw I cant remember. If I was doing it on a regular basis I would be shopping around though as 30 quid is a lot of Pesos spaced throughout the year.
Started off sending money with ZOOM, through Paypal, but they only accept american based Credit cards now, then went on to WU..... Can be expensive and slow, prone to unbelievable cock-ups... Been using World remint for quite a while now, and must admit thatI haven't got any gripes at all. Quick, reliable and keeps us informed as and when the money is picked up by text.
Western Union still beats it. WU to send 150.00. Exchange rate is 69.51. Fee is 4.90. Pay 154.90. Receiver gets 10427.37 php. World Remit to send 150.00. Exchange rate 68.94. Fee is 4.99. Pay 154.99. Receiver gets 10341 php.
Banks, I think, charge a flat rate for transfers and the more you send, the more cost effective it becomes. My wife sends money monthly, and Western Union still seems the best value for paying into a bank. We've never had problems with them other than at the start when there were problems with her card being accepted. But once that was sorted they've been fine.
From what I have read here at BF it is definitely worth considering the more expensive routes as you are almost certain to have no problems sending money to the loved ones, like you said, the banks charge a flat rate and its more cost effective the more you send.
