ACORN Canada | Uniting Communities for Justice

Local Grassroots Action for Remittance Justice

Below is an email from ACORN Canada President Kay Bisnath that went out to many of our supporters last night about our campaign to regulate the remittance industry.  

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From: Kay Bisnath, ACORN Canada < This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. >
Subject: Local grassroots action

I know you’re busy - between work or school, taking out the trash, watching the kids - you probably don’t get to think about ACORN Canada or our campaigns all that much.

That’s why I wanted to reach out today, because we have big plans for this spring & summer and I don’t want you to miss it.

We want to take our campaign for remittance justice local - with grassroots actions across the country.

Our 20+ chapters are planning local actions to win legislation that would cap the maximum rates that can be charged on overseas remittances.

But we can only run as many grassroots actions as we can fund on our limited budget. To ramp up for local actions across Canada we need to raise $5,000 by the end of the month. Can you chip in?

Chip in $5 to help hold big banks and remittance providers accountable. 

Read more:

New Westminster News Leader: ACORN Canada holds New Westminster protest of money sending fees

A small group took to the windy, cold streets of Downtown New Westminster during the noon hour Tuesday to protest fees charged by Western Union and financial institutions for sending money overseas.

ACORN Canada spokeswoman Nancy Anemba led about eight people in a rally in front of the Scotiabank at Columbia and Begbie streets. They want the bank to put pressure on Western Union to reduce remittance fees charged to those wiring money back home to five per cent. Acorn says most of its clients have low-income jobs and send on average only $150 at a time. That often means the fees accumulate to 18 per cent or more for the sender.

Like many other immigrants and refugees in New Westminster, Anemba said she has been sending money to family in Nairobi, Kenya ever since arriving in Canada a little over five years ago. Most of the money she wired went to her daughter until she joined Anemba here five months ago. Now it goes to her parents. Western Union provides the money-sending service through banks, payday loan outlets and convenience stores. 

Read more:

Ottawa EMC: Ottawa ACORN calls for cap on money transfer chrarges

Michelle Walrond said she's tired of paying high fees to send money to her family overseas.

The Ottawa resident and ACORN Canada member was among those who turned up for a rally to protest high fees outside the Money Mart on the corner of Bronson and Gladstone Avenues on Jan. 10.

"If you don't use the remittance system, you don't know," said Walrond, who was one of roughly 20 members who came out on the cold day to protest.

Some cars passing down Bronson Avenue honked in support as the organization held signs and marched to try and gain attention to the issue.

Walrond and the members of ACORN were calling on Western Union to cap their charges at five per cent. In addition to the rally, members from ACORN Canada are collecting signatures from across the country as part of a petition. If they reach 5,000 signatures, it will get sent to Western Union's chief executive in Colorado.

Western Union had yet to respond to a request for comment at press time.

Walrond said people who sent money to family overseas are struggling themselves, and are in a tough position because they have to send money to family who are also poor.

"People are dying and they need money," she said.

She said she hoped that remittance fees would soon be capped at five per cent.

According to ACORN Canada and ACORN International, the average remittance fee charged can be as high as 20 per cent. For more information on ACORN Canada, visit their website at: www.acorncanada.org .

Original Article available at: http://www.emcottawawest.ca/20120119/news/ACORN+Ottawa+calls+for+cap+on+money+transfer+charges

Ottawa Metro: ACORN Canada takes on Western Union’s fees

A five per cent cut in remittance fees would free $16B globally: World Bank

Ottawa ACORN picketed a downtown payday loan outlet to protest what they say are excessive fees companies like Western Union charge immigrants to send money back to their home countries.

In order to send $106 to his brother and sister in Afghanistan, Tahir Nazari said he had to pay a $13 fee, a bite of about 12 per cent.

“I think it is not fair,” he said.

Western Union spokesman Daniel Diaz said sending is cheaper than it used to be, because increased competition and other factors have actually driven their fees down in past decade.

“We take pride in offering consumers excellent value for their dollar,” he said. “This does not always mean that we are the lowest-priced service provider.”

While there are many other options for transferring money internationally, ACORN says Western Union, which is heavily advertised, is the most accessible for people who are not familiar with the banking system, and in some parts of the world it is the only local option available.

Original article available t: http://www.metronews.ca/ottawa/local/article/1068487--acorn-takes-on-western-union-s-fees

Press Release: Stop the Rip-offs! Toronto ACORN Demands 5 Percent Cap on Remittance Fees

Members of Toronto ACORN will be rallying at 241 Yonge Street in front of the Money Mart, to protest the high cost of remittance fees charged through Western Union.

"We often have no other choice," says Toronto ACORN member Ahmed Makhlouf. "Western Union is more convenient and faster than banks, especially when it is an urgent situation." Makhlouf believes the transfer fees charged are too high. "It's big money, a big fight."

These fees, running between 10%-20% in some cases, prey on the already vulnerable populations of low income families, new Canadians and those simply supporting loved ones living abroad.

Toronto ACORN is calling on Western Union to lower the fees - and for the Provincial Government to step in and regulate this industry. We see charges and fees on top of the World Bank's 5% fee recommendation as predatory, and as a result, are holding the provincial government accountable for this gouging of Ontario families and families in the developing world.

Quick Facts on Remittances

-The difference between what is paid in fees currently in Canada, and the amount that would be paid under the World Banks suggested fee structure is nearly $500 million per year.

-The World Bank estimates that more than $400 Billion (USD) is remitted annually, with 75% of this amount going from developed to developing countries.

-The World Bank estimates that the fees associated with this are $44.4 billion globally.

WHAT: Media event calling on Provincial Governments to regulate remittances fees at or below the the World Bank's recommended amount of 5% of money transferred.

WHEN: Thursday November 10th, 1:00PM

WHERE: Money Mart (Western Union) at 241 Yonge St, north of Queen St.

Press Contact: Tatiana Jaunzems, Community Organizer

Cell: 416-450-0341

Office: 416-416-9233

Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.