From article:
The third-largest money transfer company, Ria, waived fees for transfers to Nepal through the end of June.
But the largest, Western Union, waived fees for most transfers only until May 14th, and for online transfers until May 31st. Moneygram waived fees through May 31st, but only for customers in the United States sending money to the American Red Cross International Services in Nepal. Had Bishnu Adhikari chosen either of these services to send money to his parents at the end of May, they would have received five fewer dollars.
"An additional $5 matters a lot," says Vijaya Ramachandran, a senior fellow at the Center for Global Development who supports the idea of fee waivers after disasters. "To put it in perspective, Nepal's gross national income per capita is $700." Accordingly, $5 represent the equivalent of several days income for an average salary—money that she says is particularly critical in this phase of recovery from the earthquake.
Read full article here.
