Xoom Online Payment System
I’ve known of Xoom* for a while now. But, I haven’t had the opportunity to use it until recently, as I’ve been a solid Paypal user for the last 5 years or so. And, I had never felt the need to try a different online payment system. However, Paypal doesn’t serve all countries. And, Xoom offers their service to some of those countries that aren’t reached by Paypal.
So, I ended up signing up for Xoom’s service to send money online to the Philippines. But, I believe they’re also available in other countries like Mexico, India, and Brazil, among others.
Other than its good reach in various countries, other positive things about Xoom are:
- The sign-up process is very quick and easy.
- Sending money is also relatively simple. However, you do need to provide full information of the recipient (legal name, address, etc).
- You can send money using your Paypal account. Or, via credit card (Visa, Mastercard, Discovery).
- From the recipient’s point of view, it’s good to have different options for receiving money (via cheque/cash pick-up, direct bank deposit, or cheque home delivery).
- Recipients also don’t pay fees. And, sender’s fees are quite reasonable.
One drawback that I found with Xoom is that there’s a minimum sending amount. In the Philippines’ case, for example, you need to send a minimum of US$25. So, there was a time when I couldn’t send a couple of people some money through Xoom because I only owed them $5-10.
Since I’ve never received money through Xoom, I’m not sure what that’s like. I did read mixed reviews. But, I think they were mostly good.
I know that a few of our bloggers in b5 receive money via Xoom, and it seems to work well for them.
And, for those who might be interested in promoting Xoom, you might be interested to know that they run an affiliate programme through Commission Junction. Affiliate commission is a flat rate of $6 per new customer who signs up through your affiliate link and sends money.
* aff
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POSTED IN: Affiliate Programs, Merchant Tools
15 opinions for Xoom Online Payment System
Alfa
May 22, 2007 at 9:19 pm
I received the Xoom cash payout via Express Padala home delivery. Thanks! :-)
It’s my first time to get money that way so it’s a bit awkward coz I’m not sure if I’m supposed to give the delivery guy some tip or what. You know here in the Philippines, it’s some sort of a miracle if your money (esp. if its cash) arrives safely on your hand through that means.
tim
May 23, 2007 at 4:56 am
xoom has a bad flaw. here’s what happened to me. i was sending $ to a recipient. i reached the “confirm” page and noticed the amount was wrong. so i clicked “edit” to change the amount. xoom inserted the correct amount and kept the correct account number…but *changed* the name on the transfer to a different recipient in my list. i didn’t notice this, so i clicked “send” and transferred the $ to the right account number but with the *wrong* name. even worse, xoom *also* executed the original transfer (with the wrong amount) without notifying me. just be careful when you use this service.
Matt Keegan
May 23, 2007 at 7:44 am
Any idea how much of a “cut” they get with each transaction? I use Google Checkout and for the entire year they are fee free. I also use Paypal, but if I can get people to use Checkout, I come out ahead nicely.
GA
May 23, 2007 at 10:00 pm
I’ve been using ikobo.com to transfer money to the Philippines. The first time you send money to someone, the receiver is sent a reloadable Visa debit card and can withdraw the money at any ATM or use the card like a Visa card. After they have the Visa card, they can withdraw the money you send within seconds of you clicking “Submit”! Very safe and much faster than Xoom!
Shai Coggins
May 24, 2007 at 2:40 am
Alfa: Good to know you’ve got the money! And yeah, I didn’t think about that tipping issue. Thanks for letting me know.
Tim: Sorry to hear about your bad experience with Xoom. I guess, that’s one tip we should add: Always check the recipient’s details before clicking on the final send button. Thanks for sharing.
Matt: Never tried Google Checkout. It does sound good. Check out Xoom’s fees.
GA: Thanks for the tip! Sounds like something definitely worth checking.
Fro
Jun 11, 2007 at 12:08 pm
You can compare ikobo and lots of others at http://www.zremit.com. But read the blogs for how safe the companies are.
Terrence
Dec 7, 2007 at 2:17 am
I tried using Xoom for two different transfers, and they canceled both. I paid them in less then 5 minutes using my paypal account. But they told me that I would have to wait three to four business days to get my refund. Also I have a read a ton of other bad reviews about this site. So now I’ll have to wait while they sit on my money. IN my opinion noone should use Xoom its just a headache.
Joerg
Jan 5, 2008 at 12:38 am
“We appreciate your patience, a customer service representative will be with you shortly”. My first and hopefully only experience with XOOM service: I am waiting now for 46 minutes for being served.
XOOM cancelled a transfer with no reasons given, I asked why, and as an answer I got their Terms of Service, which had been violated. No hint which one of the 58 terms.
XOOM seems to have a really bad service. Don’t rely on them if it is really important.
Alfa
Jan 5, 2008 at 12:49 am
Just today I also received a notification that one of the transfer I tried to get processed was cancelled. I started another transfer again and until now I haven’t received the confirmation that the recipient’s ready to get the money.
If this one doesn’t get processed successfully, Xoom will hear from me again.
Alfa
Jan 5, 2008 at 12:50 am
I mean the money’s ready to be picked up by the recipient.
Hargis Pennington
Jan 30, 2008 at 1:39 pm
They took days and didn’t even start the transaction. I then canceled the transaction, and two days later they took the money out of my account. And the told me they were not able to stop the transaction and had to let it finish before they could refund my money, which would take 5 to 10 business days. Once canceled what did they then go ahead and take money out of my account? It sounds like a lot of crooked dealings going on. You do that with enough money through out the nation and keep money for 10 days, intrest free. Hum i wonder what they are really doing. Maybe getting intrest from an account with other peoples money?
marty
Mar 9, 2008 at 1:49 am
I signed up for Xoom last week and tried it twice. The first time the payment worked and the second time it was cancelled for violating the TOS. No reason. They funny thing is that I sent money to the same person both times.
I have to wait till Monday to call the “Verification” team to see if they will tell me the problem.
Not imprssed by the service and it unlikely I will use them again.
On and as a side note, Xoom is unable to send emails to Road Runner email accounts or att. Hotmail worked.
Stay away from them.
scott
Apr 3, 2008 at 9:28 pm
Do not use XOOM. They are extremely unreliable and make false statements. The 1st time I used them they sent in an account # that had a duplicate digit in it. After waiting for DAYS and DAYS for the money to get to the Philippines for my wifes business they finally said the bank was the problem. I contacted my local small bank and they looked at the transaction and said the account # had one extra digit. I sent the money that day via Western Union. Cash, and it was avaiable for pickup in USD within mins.
scott
Apr 3, 2008 at 9:32 pm
Second Post follow up to one above. Like dummy I tried to use XOOM again. Their value service states “May take up to 4 days” it should state “WILL take 4 business days at Least”. I canceled two transactions for a few thousand dollars. Now they say it will take 10 days to get the money back into my account. Im going to Western Union in a few mins. and send the money that way. At least I know it will get there and be available for pick up in a couple hours time or even mins.
spoffley
May 10, 2008 at 3:52 am
I have used Xoom at least 12 times to transfer money (various amounts from $25- $3000) from my US account to an account I have in the UK for child support payments. I have never had a problem, the money has taken at best a couple of hours, at worst 4 business days to get there, in one instance the money appeared in my UK account before it had ‘left’ my US account.
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