Woke up today, checked my email before work. My sister sends an email saying she needs around $1,000 by Sunday for a reason that's a little personal and I can't say here. I didn't have time to phone her and get real details until I got off work and it turns out although she says she needs 1k, she probably actually needs 2.

Well totally ****ed off because she waited until a Thursday to tell me she needs it by Sunday... when I'm working through UBS's "work hours" both today and tomorrow, and it takes a day or two to do a money transfer with the bank. That and the fact if I do the transfer tomorrow (Friday) I bet it would get hung up over the weekend anyways!

So I don't know what I should do exactly.

I have her right now running to her bank to get information on a transfer, and to see if there's a Western Union where she lives. Either way I think I'll have to cut out of work in the middle of my shift Friday to do the necessary thing...my options are possibly:

• Go to UBS late tonight and use one of the larger floor-mounted ATMs with the extra functions for the transfer. I used one for my last transfer to my OWN bank account, I don't know if I could use it for a transfer to an account I don't own.

• Go to Western Union or some equivalent and ask. In which case I don't know how much extra that would cost, how quick it would be, and if they'd be open on a weekend.

• My last option is to wait here for some sound advice before my sister gets back from her task

I appreciate any help whatsoever... even if it's someone saying how dumb I am for considering option "x" or option "y", or whatever. My main concern is time and which is the fastest way.

If it is going to the US and has to be there by Sunday, I do not think there is any way to guarantee it will get there by Sunday using a bank. I send a lot of transfers to various countries...the SEPA Euro payment is pretty instantaneous, but transfers to the US, even if my funds are already in US$, are unpredictable. I have seen them in 1 day, but most often it is longer and nothing happens over the weekend.

Don't know much about Western Union. Paypal might be an option to check into.

good luck.

fduvall

Banks transfers seem to be very variable and international transfers I have done have taken from same day to 5 days between the same accounts for no obvious reason. Western Union is probably best bet as they claim money is transferred 'in minutes' (http://www.westernunion.ch/info/osMoneyTransfer.asp)

I had a similar problem while travelling and I rang UBS. They were very helpful and I was able to send a fax with my signature providing I also followed up with a letter within a given time.

Alternatively do you have online banking? UBS does have that option, you can then just log in and do it all online, even if you did so at midnight and then they'll carry out the transfer the next day.

HOWEVER, I've had transfers to the US take me about 5 business days in the past... No experience with Western Union so can't help you there but might be quicker...

tell me what country it needs to go to and i might be able to help

Sorry I forgot to specify I was Canadian and the transfer was to a bank account with TD Canada Trust. I ran out of time before i could get back on this thread, I ran to the UBS Friday morning in the rain and asked the clerk for help.

She told me I had to use the larger selfmounted Automat, well I didn't know what I was doing and sent $2000 CHF twice instead of one time. Well they also took a fee of $150 CHF which was kind of a bummer and I still don't understand why...

Needless to say I thank you all for your help anyways!