Post: #351

I'm not there.

I get the information from locals via Skype and online newspapers. I was planning to go in April for several months, but I'm not so sure anymore.

Post: #352

(02-06-2015 03:46 PM)Lemmo Wrote:  I've spoken to a few people at my bank. They all say Ukraine is an "OFAC-listed country" and that online access to my account will be blocked if I try to access it from Ukraine and that I won't be allowed to wire money to Ukraine or use my ATM card while in Ukraine. I'm skeptical of this information...

I'm also skeptical of this.

I haven't used my ATM card in a couple months, but since a couple days ago, I'm seeing online the ATM rates are competitive with the black market, so I'll give my card a try again in a week or so. Send me a PM later if you are still worried about this.

About wiring money to Ukraine, I believe you should be able to send yourself money using MoneyGram or WU. I wouldn't rely on this, but it's an option.

Regardless of the situation with your bank card, it's a good idea to bring a good amount of hard currency with you. You won't need to bring too much, this country is ridiculously cheap. ))

Post: #353

(02-06-2015 03:46 PM)Lemmo Wrote:  I learned the hard way. My bank tends to freeze my ATM card immediately in response to any transaction outside the US unless I've informed them that I'll be traveling.

It's a good step to call them. I always call my bank and credit card companies to give them a heads up and limits. It might sound anal but a few minutes of phone calls is nothing compared to headaches from not being able to get cash or buy anything.

Post: #354

(02-07-2015 04:37 AM)William Windsor Wrote:  

(02-06-2015 03:46 PM)Lemmo Wrote:  I've spoken to a few people at my bank. They all say Ukraine is an "OFAC-listed country" and that online access to my account will be blocked if I try to access it from Ukraine and that I won't be allowed to wire money to Ukraine or use my ATM card while in Ukraine. I'm skeptical of this information...

I'm also skeptical of this.

I haven't used my ATM card in a couple months, but since a couple days ago, I'm seeing online the ATM rates are competitive with the black market, so I'll give my card a try again in a week or so. Send me a PM later if you are still worried about this.

About wiring money to Ukraine, I believe you should be able to send yourself money using MoneyGram or WU. I wouldn't rely on this, but it's an option.

Regardless of the situation with your bank card, it's a good idea to bring a good amount of hard currency with you. You won't need to bring too much, this country is ridiculously cheap. ))

I would be wary about sending money to Ukraine with WU/MG. When I was there I was trying to send money from Ukraine to another country and I was told that without being a Ukrainian resident it would be a major pain in the ass and was advised not to bother so I ended up doing it online.

With the currency controls in the country there may be problems receiving cash. It seems payout is only possible in dollars in Ukraine.

Maybe It would be better asking a Ukrainian resident to recieve

Post: #355

(02-07-2015 04:37 AM)William Windsor Wrote:  

(02-06-2015 03:46 PM)Lemmo Wrote:  I've spoken to a few people at my bank. They all say Ukraine is an "OFAC-listed country" and that online access to my account will be blocked if I try to access it from Ukraine and that I won't be allowed to wire money to Ukraine or use my ATM card while in Ukraine. I'm skeptical of this information...

I'm also skeptical of this.

I haven't used my ATM card in a couple months, but since a couple days ago, I'm seeing online the ATM rates are competitive with the black market, so I'll give my card a try again in a week or so. Send me a PM later if you are still worried about this.

About wiring money to Ukraine, I believe you should be able to send yourself money using MoneyGram or WU. I wouldn't rely on this, but it's an option.

Regardless of the situation with your bank card, it's a good idea to bring a good amount of hard currency with you. You won't need to bring too much, this country is ridiculously cheap. ))

You tell them you are going overseas and that you want your card activated for the country. They shouldn't give you a problem. TBH though I would get the bank to send you ATM card NOT a debit card.

If they act like idiots then go to another bank. It is your money after all!

BTW my wife just sent WU to her mom( had to pay for water damage in my flat) NO problems.

There is another company called CONTACT that has cheaper rates.

Post: #356

The UAH/USD rate is currently 25.25.

That means the USD gained 200% against the UAH in one year. Damn.

My guess is the rate will only get worse if the IMF or US/EU doesn't bailout Ukraine soon.

If it goes to 30+, Ukraine could enter an inflationary spiral that will be hard to control. Hell, inflation is already running 25%.

Post: #357

(02-04-2015 11:43 AM)whoishe Wrote:  

(02-04-2015 04:27 AM)Akula Wrote:  

(02-02-2015 05:37 PM)whoishe Wrote:  

(02-02-2015 05:28 PM)micha Wrote:  Not that I care a whole lot, but out of curiosity: What was Man Utd banned for?

My guess is this post (it's really difficult to choose out of all 4) - /thread-11951-...#pid946352

My sarcasm detector was beeping there, but I guess I have to fix it.

To somehow stay on topic - one week after agreeing price for renting apartment for March 6-9 trip, owner of that place (my #1 to stay in Lviv) contacted me and wants to renegotiate price. Which is still IMO quite low for place at Rynok Square, but I was wondering if you guys would make a stand here just to show that terms of original deal should be honoured. Even if it would mean to stay somewhere else during that time.

I would stand your ground.
On top of it all the war is intensifying and the currency is under pressure and they want more? Wow just wow

Price is in hrivnas, I try to stay away from paying in USD as long as possible.

It's solved for now, I proposed a counter offer and it was accepted. Plus we agreed on exchanging some zlotys for hrivnas when I will arrive, so everything should be ok.

If it would be my 1st stay at that place I would't bother with negotiating after something like this, but it's 4th or 5th trip when I will be staying there, place is great and owner was very helpful so far. And it was 1st time it happened.

I see, that's totally different than my situation was-- landlord was a fat bitch in a fur coat, proud of being "rich" there, and she was disagreeable and cold right from the start.

I started to walk out when she tried to change the deal and should have.

If the person has proved proved helpful in the past, that's a big difference. He probably just got the urge to get bit more money.

Post: #358

(02-05-2015 12:39 PM)PimpCByotch Wrote:  It would take a lot to deter me from Ukraine, ....

and I've been robbed at an ATM there before, it's not fun.

There's a lot of bullying and intimidation in FSU. The girls are really hot, if I hadn't aged out of nailing under 25s I'd probably be there now.

I've mentioned before out of my close acquaintances there half have had ugly run-ins with landlords , one got in a fistfight with landlord, another was taken in an alley by cops and shaken down, I was assaulted by landlord--not really beaten up, but pushed around and had belongings stolen.

People don't talk about this stuff much because in the West shit like only usually happens when you do something wrong, but in Ukraine you can invite bullying just because you look Beta or are wrong place wrong time.

Post: #359

(02-07-2015 04:37 AM)William Windsor Wrote:  

(02-06-2015 03:46 PM)Lemmo Wrote:  I've spoken to a few people at my bank. They all say Ukraine is an "OFAC-listed country" and that online access to my account will be blocked if I try to access it from Ukraine and that I won't be allowed to wire money to Ukraine or use my ATM card while in Ukraine. I'm skeptical of this information...

I'm also skeptical of this.

I haven't used my ATM card in a couple months, but since a couple days ago, I'm seeing online the ATM rates are competitive with the black market, so I'll give my card a try again in a week or so. Send me a PM later if you are still worried about this.

About wiring money to Ukraine, I believe you should be able to send yourself money using MoneyGram or WU. I wouldn't rely on this, but it's an option.

Regardless of the situation with your bank card, it's a good idea to bring a good amount of hard currency with you. You won't need to bring too much, this country is ridiculously cheap. ))

Yeah, I think it is just a matter of having clueless bankers. After speaking to several people in customer service and trying to get them to point to specific OFAC sanctions, they backtracked and just said I may or may not be able to access my account and may or may not be able to use my ATM card in Ukraine. I love American customer service. I'll just bring enough cash and see how it goes.

Post: #360

(02-07-2015 09:59 PM)Lemmo Wrote:  

(02-07-2015 04:37 AM)William Windsor Wrote:  

(02-06-2015 03:46 PM)Lemmo Wrote:  I've spoken to a few people at my bank. They all say Ukraine is an "OFAC-listed country" and that online access to my account will be blocked if I try to access it from Ukraine and that I won't be allowed to wire money to Ukraine or use my ATM card while in Ukraine. I'm skeptical of this information...

I'm also skeptical of this.

I haven't used my ATM card in a couple months, but since a couple days ago, I'm seeing online the ATM rates are competitive with the black market, so I'll give my card a try again in a week or so. Send me a PM later if you are still worried about this.

About wiring money to Ukraine, I believe you should be able to send yourself money using MoneyGram or WU. I wouldn't rely on this, but it's an option.

Regardless of the situation with your bank card, it's a good idea to bring a good amount of hard currency with you. You won't need to bring too much, this country is ridiculously cheap. ))

Yeah, I think it is just a matter of having clueless bankers. After speaking to several people in customer service and trying to get them to point to specific OFAC sanctions, they backtracked and just said I may or may not be able to access my account and may or may not be able to use my ATM card in Ukraine. I love American customer service. I'll just bring enough cash and see how it goes.

American customer service is fine...it's American banking that's the problem.
Compared to Europe or Asia, it's medieval quite frankly.

I wanted to do an international wire transfer from my U.S account to my Euro account last year. To accomplish that, I would have had to fly to the U.S, visit the particular branch I opened the account with and fill out a mountain of paperwork.

With my Euro account on the other hand, just login online and click a few buttons.

Needless to say, I closed my American account at the earlier opportunity.

Post: #361

(02-07-2015 06:21 PM)Easy E Wrote:  The UAH/USD rate is currently 25.25.

That means the USD gained 200% against the UAH in one year. Damn.

My guess is the rate will only get worse if the IMF or US/EU doesn't bailout Ukraine soon.

If it goes to 30+, Ukraine could enter an inflationary spiral that will be hard to control. Hell, inflation is already running 25%.

You're right it's a 200% gain (not 300). Put another way, a year ago, you got 8.5 UAH per dollar and now you can get 23+ UAH. It's insane.

In terms of dollars, most imported goods still cost the same as they did last year. A kilogram of imported tomatoes was $4 last winter, this winter it's still $4. So don't come to Ukraine expecting cheap imported goods! Domestic goods are very very cheap.

IKE, sorry to hear you had a bad experience here with landlords. I haven't had an bad experiences yet with landlords in Ukraine (knock on wood) but finding a place is a pain, most rental ads are fake (bait and switch). BTW, my rent is 6000 UAH, in a span of eight months, my rent went from about $500 a month to $250.

Julian The Apostate Wrote:I wanted to do an international wire transfer from my U.S account to my Euro account last year. To accomplish that, I would have had to fly to the U.S, visit the particular branch I opened the account with and fill out a mountain of paperwork.

This depends on your US bank. What I did is talk to my bank beforehand saying "I plan on wiring money, I'm going to call you from country X and ask for the wire over the phone, will you be able to do this? We are planning to do a project in country X and will need to do several large transfers..." They explained it wasn't their policy to do it, but they would make an exception, they put notes in my account saying I would later request a wire over the phone. In the end, it all worked out fine. There was no paperwork needed on my end, just had to make a phone call for each transfer. This was a business account, I'm not sure if they would have done it for a personal account.

Post: #362

When I wired I filled out documents beforehand at my bank. Not all do this..I used Citibank.

Worst thing about landlords is that they visit flats while you are gone to check up on things. Can't blame them really tbh!

Post: #363

(02-08-2015 06:36 AM)William Windsor Wrote:  In terms of dollars, most imported goods still cost the same as they did last year. A kilogram of imported tomatoes was $4 last winter, this winter it's still $4. So don't come to Ukraine expecting cheap imported goods! Domestic goods are very very cheap.

This is the reason the inflation rate is so high. Imported goods are essentially being priced in dollars/euros but domestic goods are being priced in UAH, so when the CPI is calculated, the imported goods are really, really expensive and offset any savings that the domestic goods provide.

Post: #364

Good article on the financial situation in Ukraine. From the article, "Default or debt restructuring in 2015 is now inevitable."

http://soberlook.com/2015/02/ukraines-im...uring.html

Post: #365

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Post: #369

(02-10-2015 10:31 AM)JamesRodri Wrote:  

(02-10-2015 09:27 AM)The Ligurian Wrote:  No need for travellers to buy imported goods anyway unless your computer blows up and you need another. Drink local beers, eat local food etc. If the Ukraine is cheaper than when I last visited then it must be the world's travel bargain right now. I just don't see how it could have gotten cheaper especially outside of Kiev. I accept it has but it seems unbelievable until I actually go there and see it for myself.

JamesRodri how long you in Kiev for?

It's unbelivably cheap. A Big Mac meal is $1.50 USD ;-)

No way McD are making money at those prices so I expect a doubling of prices there is imminent.

I'd say they are making a good profit, none or almost none of the ingredients will be imported. How much does half a potato in a cardboard sleeve cost to produce in Ukraine?

Big Mac meal when I was there was 42 UAH, it's expensive, you can get a decent Pizza for that.

Post: #370

(02-10-2015 09:11 AM)JamesRodri Wrote:  Anyone else here in Kiev at the moment who want to meet up for some beers? I'm living close to the Olimpiiska Metro station now but can go anywhere. I'm new in town and have only been here once before.

I see some people debating the use of ATM cards and sending money to Ukraine. Western Union still works. Personally I use my ATM card now that I've run out of Euros/Dollars to exchange but may give Western Union some business later this week. They take 5% plus some fees but you make that back (and more) if you sell them at the right places.

If I were to travel here now I'd bring cash (and lots of it) and change it in the black market on a daily basis. No issues so far doing it that way and I get a much better rate than what the official exchange booths offer.

True but it is dangerous to have lots of cash! And it is better to save dollars for certain expenses.
Better to just use a no fee ATM card and go often.

Post: #371

The online rate is currently high than the street rate which is unusual, although I don't know what the black market rate is.

Jim is right, don't put all your eggs in one basket. Ukrainian landlords are known for robbing their tenants on Occasion

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Post: #373

(02-10-2015 12:50 PM)jimukr104 Wrote:  True but it is dangerous to have lots of cash!

(02-10-2015 12:54 PM)CasperPL Wrote:  Ukrainian landlords are known for robbing their tenants on Occasion

(02-05-2015 12:39 PM)PimpCByotch Wrote:  and I've been robbed at an ATM there before, it's not fun.

You get robbed if you use the ATM, you get robbed if you don't. Ukraine sounds scary.

Post: #374

^Yeah, I don't know where people are going. I was there 3 months without a cent stolen (although I was targeted for the charming Kyiv money drop scam a couple of times).

JamesRodri - Are you still using the black market? I thought that the market rate and official rate were now more or less equal.

Post: #375

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