Sending money to another country

Did you send money to family, friends, or others in another country? Are you planning on sending money abroad?

We are the CFPB, a new federal government agency, protecting consumers and ensuring that financial products and services work for everyone in the U.S. – including when you send money to another country. We want you to have the information you need to make the best financial decision for you and your family.

If you think you may have an issue, contact the CFPB:
(855) 411-2372 and press 1.

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Your Rights

When you’re sending money to another country, in most cases you have new federal rights to protect you, including your right to:

Have the money delivered to the correct person or business.
Before you pay, and after the transfer is sent, receive information about:
- exchange rate (if any)
- certain fees
- taxes
- amount to be received
Cancel a transfer, generally within 30 minutes after it is sent, at no cost.
Report a problem to the company within 180 days and have it investigated. The company has to look into the problem within 90 days and report an outcome to you.
- In some cases, you may get a refund or have the transfer sent again.
Contact the CFPB if you have a problem when sending money.

Common issues reported to CFPB

Before, or after you sent money, the company did not give you:
- Exchange rate (if any)
- Certain fees
- Total expected to be delivered
The exchange rate, fees, or total to recipient listed on the receipt was incorrect.
The recipient could not access the money on the date promised.
You were charged the wrong amount.
The person received the wrong amount.
You believe that the company or person you sent money to committed fraud or a scam.

If you think you had an issue described here or that your new federal rights were violated, contact the company immediately. In some cases, you could receive a refund or have the transfer resent at no extra cost. Next, call us at (855) 411-2372 and press 1 for English and we’ll follow up with the company.

Before and after

These are examples of the information that most providers are required to give to you before and after you send money.

Receipt before, showing no contact information for the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau

Before you pay

Before sending money, you will see:

Your out-of-pocket amount.
The exchange rate, if any.
Total to Recipient (i.e., amount expected to arrive).

Receipt after, showing new contact information for the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau at the bottom

After you pay

After sending money, you will see:

When the money will be available
What to do in case of an error
How to submit a complaint
Exchange rate, if any
Total to recipient (i.e., amount expected to arrive)
Instructions on your right to cancel transfers
How to submit a complaint, including information to contact the CFPB and, in some cases, a state regulator

Compare cost

We want you to have all the information you need to decide which company is best for you.

Before sending money, companies have to give you information about the exchange rate (if any), taxes collected by the provider, certain fees, and the amount that the recipient will receive. At this point, you can choose not to send the transfer. You can use the information to compare amount received from as many companies as you like. This will help ensure you choose the right company for you and your family.

For information about prices, try these websites that provide country-specific rates:

The CFPB is not responsible for these sites and in identifying them as possible sources of information does not intend to endorse them.

More information

For more information about sending money and how you are protected, see these frequently asked questions and answers:

See a full list of answers to common questions about sending money.