Nigeriaphobic
May 2, 2007 1:42 PM Subscribe
I'm looking to sublet my place for 8 weeks this summer. I am in Soouthern Calif, the potential tenant is in Monaco.
She seems upfront and we've discussed everything by telephone.
I have nigeria on the mind. How can monies and commitments be exchanged internationally in a way that is comfortable and safe for both parties?
I had someone from Austria sublet my place a few years ago. She did mostly wire transfers into my bank account. I have also Western Unioned people internationally, although the fees seemed pretty big. If you have a paypal account, I believe that can also be done into your account, depending upon the country.
posted by miss lynnster at 1:50 PM on May 2, 2007
posted by miss lynnster at 1:50 PM on May 2, 2007
You better double-check what their legal status to enter the country is as well. What kind of visa do they have? When's the last time they were in the US? Have they ever had any problems with INS?
I have international friends who are some of the best people I've met, but I'd have nigeria on the mind as well. I recommend semi-draconian measures of pre-payment as a way to keep creative excuses to a minimum.
posted by phaedon at 2:26 PM on May 2, 2007
I have international friends who are some of the best people I've met, but I'd have nigeria on the mind as well. I recommend semi-draconian measures of pre-payment as a way to keep creative excuses to a minimum.
posted by phaedon at 2:26 PM on May 2, 2007
Monaco is really, really different from Nigeria. Think off-shore paradize on the Riviera. You can't live there on the wrong side of the law for a very long time. Unless you're ruch russian billionnaire.
posted by Baud at 2:30 PM on May 2, 2007
posted by Baud at 2:30 PM on May 2, 2007
Response by poster: No doubt Monaco is not Lagos.
I am nevertheless concerned about chargebacks scams etc. How can money and contract be exchanged safely?
posted by Fupped Duck at 2:53 PM on May 2, 2007
I am nevertheless concerned about chargebacks scams etc. How can money and contract be exchanged safely?
posted by Fupped Duck at 2:53 PM on May 2, 2007
Paypal?
posted by Happy Dave at 2:57 PM on May 2, 2007
posted by Happy Dave at 2:57 PM on May 2, 2007
Sorry, that was too short - I regularly send sums in excess of $500 through Paypal - the verification process doesn't take long and it's an extra layer between you and any potential scam.
posted by Happy Dave at 2:58 PM on May 2, 2007
posted by Happy Dave at 2:58 PM on May 2, 2007
Don't call a wire transfer (what Xurando linked to) an "Electronic Funds Transfer," which a U.S. bank will use to refer to something else, which has a Wikipedia article of its own, of course.
Call your bank, find out how much an international incoming wire transfer will cost, and get the bank's SWIFT code. You may also need the ABA routing number (which should appear on your checks) and Fedwire routing number. Send this to your foreign correspondent along with your account number, who should be able to transfer you the money.
posted by grouse at 3:48 PM on May 2, 2007
Call your bank, find out how much an international incoming wire transfer will cost, and get the bank's SWIFT code. You may also need the ABA routing number (which should appear on your checks) and Fedwire routing number. Send this to your foreign correspondent along with your account number, who should be able to transfer you the money.
posted by grouse at 3:48 PM on May 2, 2007
I've rented my place out to foreigners for a couple of summers, and rented places out in foreign lands at the same time.
Get a security deposit. Get your rent payments upfront. Use paypal (wire transfers are expensive and take longer). Maybe ask her for her resume or for a reference. None of these things are foolproof, of course, but I've never had a problem.
If you've talked to the person and still get a sense that she's on the verge of ripping you off, maybe you shouldn't rent to her. I'm assuming she's going to be in your apartment with all your stuff in it, so you should feel somewhat trusting towards her before you give her the opportunity to sell all your stuff and disappear.
posted by agent99 at 3:53 PM on May 2, 2007
Get a security deposit. Get your rent payments upfront. Use paypal (wire transfers are expensive and take longer). Maybe ask her for her resume or for a reference. None of these things are foolproof, of course, but I've never had a problem.
If you've talked to the person and still get a sense that she's on the verge of ripping you off, maybe you shouldn't rent to her. I'm assuming she's going to be in your apartment with all your stuff in it, so you should feel somewhat trusting towards her before you give her the opportunity to sell all your stuff and disappear.
posted by agent99 at 3:53 PM on May 2, 2007
FWIW... I hate to admit this out loud, but to be honest I have found the word of them there strange foreign people to often be more solid & trustworthy than that of some of my own beloved countrymen/women.
Naturally YMMV. And admittedly I haven't met many Nigerians so far.
posted by miss lynnster at 5:57 PM on May 2, 2007
Naturally YMMV. And admittedly I haven't met many Nigerians so far.
posted by miss lynnster at 5:57 PM on May 2, 2007
Just a warning about "wire transfers" (which, as pointed out, are absolutely not the same as EFTs, at least in the U.S.) -- my old bank would charge rather steep fees just to receive them, at least $30-ish. The only bank I know that's decent about dealing with them is USAA.
I don't really understand the European banking system but my understanding is that wire transfers are much more common there, to the point of having nearly replaced paper cheques/drafts, and on more than one occasion I've had to explain that here in the U.S., we really and truly do mail little slips of paper to each other to move money around. (My German friends in particular seem to find this amusing as hell.)
So think twice before you accept a wire transfer, because you may end up getting stuck with big fees; Western Union would probably be my method of choice (because I don't trust PayPal one bit, and WU is more like "cash" in that the sender usually has to fund the transaction with cash or some other hard form of payment). When you receive a WU transfer, the money's yours, they're not going to come back and backcharge/screw you later.
Anyway, in terms of not getting ripped off, you should certainly obey your gut if you really feel uncomfortable, but I think just having them send you the deposit and first month's rent via Western Union (or other method) is fine.
It's only if they start asking you to cash big money orders and send them the change, that you need to worry. :)
posted by Kadin2048 at 8:59 PM on May 2, 2007
I don't really understand the European banking system but my understanding is that wire transfers are much more common there, to the point of having nearly replaced paper cheques/drafts, and on more than one occasion I've had to explain that here in the U.S., we really and truly do mail little slips of paper to each other to move money around. (My German friends in particular seem to find this amusing as hell.)
So think twice before you accept a wire transfer, because you may end up getting stuck with big fees; Western Union would probably be my method of choice (because I don't trust PayPal one bit, and WU is more like "cash" in that the sender usually has to fund the transaction with cash or some other hard form of payment). When you receive a WU transfer, the money's yours, they're not going to come back and backcharge/screw you later.
Anyway, in terms of not getting ripped off, you should certainly obey your gut if you really feel uncomfortable, but I think just having them send you the deposit and first month's rent via Western Union (or other method) is fine.
It's only if they start asking you to cash big money orders and send them the change, that you need to worry. :)
posted by Kadin2048 at 8:59 PM on May 2, 2007
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posted by Aidan Kehoe at 1:48 PM on May 2, 2007