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Orlandi Valuta Money Transfer: Exchange Rates, Fees & Best Alternatives

Orlandi Valuta was bought by Western Union in 1997 and has become an integral part of WU's operation.

Orlandi Valuta is a high-street currency exchange store with over 20 years in the industry, primarily focusing on transfers from the US to Mexico.

Here we'll give you a rundown of what it is as well as provide better alternatives to transfer money from the US to Mexico.

April Summers
Author 
April Summers
Artiom Pucinskij
Editor 
Artiom Pucinskij
38 minutes
October 7th, 2024
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Expert Rating
0/10
Orlandi Valuta was bought by western union.

Orlandi Valuta was bought by Western Union in 1997.

You can now use Western Union branches to make transfers from the US to Mexico online or at over 50,000 locations in the US.

However, Western Union is much more expensive compared to similar options outlined below.

Alternatives to Orlandi Valuta

Sort by
Wise9.2Visitwise.com
0.4%
0%
1 - 3 days
Xe8.6Visitxe.com
£/$1.99 - 2.99
0.3% - 2.1%
1 - 2 days
OFX7.0Visitofx.com
No fees
0.4% - 0.8%
1 - 2 days
Global668.2Visitglobal66.com
1%
1.1 - 2%
1 - 3 days
Western Union6.5Visitwesternunion.com
0.2% - 1.5%
1 - 5 days

Alternatively, use our form below to find the right money transfer service for your needs.

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Orlandi Valuta is still a popular transfer provider for many, despite only having a few physical locations.

Below we've reviewed Orlandi Valuta features and transfer options so you know how it compares to similar services.

RATING BREAKDOWN

Scoring Orlandi Valuta

The key areas of our Orlandi Valuta review are focused on the fees & exchange rates, transfer limits & speed, product offering, ease of use, safety, and customer feedback.

Here's a quick overview of Orlandi Valuta.

Pros
  • Orlandi Valuta merged with Western Union, so you now have access to over 50,000 locations and transfer agents (including 15,000 in Mexico)
Cons
  • Most Orlandi Valuta stores have now been rebranded to Western Union. This means you are actually not using Orlandi Valuta to send money, but rather using WU.
  • There are no online transfer options. You can only send money in-person and through WU branch.
COST

Orlandi Valuta fees and exchange rates

Orlandi Valuta charges a mix of flat fees and exchange rate markup.

Like most money transfer providers, you will get an exchange rate that is slightly below the mid-market rate.

Exchange rates

Unfortunately, Orlandi Valuta is a bit less transparent about its exchange rates than most money transfer services.

Orlandi Valuta charges 1.66% on top of the mid-market rate. This means that for every USD you send, you will need to pay an extra 1.66%.

For example, at the time of writing, the mid-market rate for USD to MXN is 19.23416. With Orlandi Valuta, USD 1 would be exchanged for MEX 18.91487.

This is an average exchange rate margin for international money transfer services. It’s not a very high rate, but is definitely better than using your bank for making international transfers.

However, services like Wise let you send money abroad with mid-market rate and only charge around 0.33% fee on the transfer.

Can you exchange money for what it’s actually worth?

You can get the right value for your exchange if you use a provider that offers the mid-market rate on exchanges.

Online money transfer providers like Wise, Revolut, and Instarem all make exchanges using the mid-market rate, but there’s a small fee for your transfer.

International transfer fees

Orlandi Valuta charges a flat fee of $10 per transfer.

This is a low rate for many kinds of money transfers. For the sender, it means two things:

For small transfers, you’re paying an extremely high price

If you just want to send regular small transfers of about $100 to $200, the flat $10 fee will become quite expensive.

For large transfers, you’re getting a great deal

For infrequent, large transfers, a $10 fee becomes far less significant.

For example, a $10 fee for a $500 transfer (2%) is a good rate in the money transfer industry.

There aren’t any additional costs for sending money with Orlandi Valuta.

SPEED

Transfer speed

Orlandi Valuta transfers take between 2 and 5 days to be completed.

In general, service times and processing will be comparable to Western Union.

Here's how Orlandi Valuta's transfer speed compares to similar services.

LIMITS

Transfer limits

Orlandi Valuta does not list any transfer limits.

You will have to call your local Orlandi Valuta location to inquire about relevant transfer limits.

Here's how Orlandi Valuta compares to similar services in terms of limits.

PRODUCT

Product offering

Supported destinations

Money transfers with Orlandi Valuta are available anywhere in the world with a Western Union branch.

This means recipients in over 200 countries can collect the funds from one of the 50,000 branches.

However, you cannot send money online.

If you want to send money online, use the form below to get the best rate for your needs.

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Pickup locations

Most of Orlandi Valuta pickup locations are found inside their partner businesses.

For example, the retail chain Elektra is a common pickup location, as well Western Union branches.

Mobile app

Orlandi Valuta does not offer a mobile app because its money transfer service is limited to cash pick up transfers sent from Western Union locations.

If you want to send money via the app, have a look at our guides:

USABILITY

Ease of use

Customer service

When it comes to customer service, you only have 2 options:

  • Phone

  • In-store

Here are the details for each option:

Contact option

Details

Customer service line

1-800-515-5505

Location directory

Can be found here

SAFETY

Safety and trust

Overall, there are a few negative reviews about Orlandi Valuta when it comes to security, mainly around the fact that you have to send money in person, which is not the most secure transfer option.

If you really want to make a transfer in-person, consider using Ria Money Transfers or Western Union.

REVIEWS

Customer feedback

Overall, customers are not happy with the quality of the service provided by Orlandi Valuta.

They share that the funds do not arrive within the expected timeframes and the customer service team is bad.

Therefore, you might be better served by looking for alternative money transfer companies.

SIGN UP

Opening an account with Orlandi Valuta

You do not open an account to use Orlandi Valuta’s services because it only offer in-store money transfer services.

SEND MONEY ABROAD

Making international transfers

To make a transfer with Orlandi Valuta, you will need the following:

  • Recipient’s full name

  • Recipient’s country and delivery method (bank account, in-store pickup, etc…)

  • Recipient’s bank account information (account number, bank name, SWIFT/BIC code)

  • Amount to send and currency

  • Your payment method (credit card, debit card, or bank transfer)

If you’re sending money to a bank account outside of the EU, you will need to provide a SWIFT code.

Use the search box below to find your recipient’s SWIFT code.

Find a SWIFT Code

Sending money abroad

Once you have all the details, follow these steps to send money.

Choose a Location

Since money transfers can only be sent via Western Union branches, you will need to find one that is closest to your location.

You can do this by using the official website of Western Union.

Funding Method

Once you arrive at a Western Union branch to send money you will need to decide on the funding method.

This can be cash, credit card, or other options.

Recipient Details

Now you will share the recipient details with the agent working at the physical branch.

Make sure to provide the correct details so the recipient does not have trouble collecting the money on their end.

Transfer Amount and Currency

To finalize the transaction, select the amount you would like to send and the currency.

Note: that the currency conversion markup is around 1.66%, which is not competitive compared with services like Xe or Wise.

RECEIVING MONEY

Receive international transfers

To receive money, follow the steps outlined below.

Find a Location

Start the process of receiving money by looking for a Western Union branch that is close to your location.

You can visit Western Union's official website to find a location.

Simply enter your address on the map and a list of the closest locations will be available.

Share Information

Share your personal information with the sender.

This includes your full name and location where you would like to receive the funds.

Receive Transaction Details

You will need to wait for confirmation that the money is ready for pick up at your requested location.

You will be given a transaction number that needs to be shared with the customer service agent at the Western Union branch.

Collect Money

Now you should be able to collect money from your specified Western Union branch.

Do not forget to bring your transaction number and photo ID to verify your identity.

Also, note the branch opening hours to ensure you visit while it is open.

ALTERNATIVES

How Orlandi Valuta compares to other transfer services

Overall, Orlandi Valuta is not the best money transfer company to send money abroad, especially not if you want to send money from the US to Mexico.

Here are some of the better alternatives to use (all support transfers to Mexico from the US).

  • Wise
    Fees & Rates
    9.4
    Transfer Speed
    9.0
    Safety & Trust
    9.5
    Product Offering
    8.8
    Transfer Limits
    9.5
    Ease of Use
    10.0
    Customer Feedback
    8.5
    9.2
    Overall
  • Currencies Direct
    Fees & Rates
    9.8
    Transfer Speed
    9.0
    Safety & Trust
    9.0
    Product Offering
    8.0
    Transfer Limits
    9.0
    Ease of Use
    9.0
    Customer Feedback
    8.4
    8.9
    Overall
  • TorFx
    Fees & Rates
    9.3
    Transfer Speed
    9.0
    Safety & Trust
    9.0
    Product Offering
    8.0
    Transfer Limits
    9.0
    Ease of Use
    9.0
    Customer Feedback
    8.7
    8.9
    Overall
  • WorldRemit
    Fees & Rates
    9.1
    Transfer Speed
    8.0
    Safety & Trust
    9.0
    Product Offering
    9.0
    Transfer Limits
    8.0
    Ease of Use
    9.0
    Customer Feedback
    9.0
    8.7
    Overall
  • OFX
    Fees & Rates
    9.4
    Transfer Speed
    8.0
    Safety & Trust
    8.5
    Product Offering
    8.8
    Transfer Limits
    9.5
    Ease of Use
    8.2
    Customer Feedback
    8.3
    8.7
    Overall

Other Alternatives

Alternatively, consider using one of these neobanks for international transfers.

SUMMARY

Orlandi Valuta: Is it good for transfers abroad?

Orlandi Valuta was bought by Western Union and most of their branches have now been rebranded.

You can only make transfers in-store, so you will need an alternative if you want to send money online.

They offer reasonable fees, however there are better and cheaper services out there.

If you’re looking to send money online, we strongly suggest you compare your options to get the best rate possible.

Use this form to compare your money transfer options
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Help & FAQ

Get answers to the most common questions asked when sending money abroad. Covers costs, fees and the best way to compare.

FAQs

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Orlandi Valuta user feedback

Would you recommend Orlandi Valuta?

Comments

Anonymous

I had a problem with the shipment I made and now they are not giving me a refund and they have me come back in 15 or 20 days and see if they will return my money.

[comment translated from Spanish]

No, I don't recommend
29th August 2024
Showing 1 out of 1 reviews

Contributors

April Summers
April Summers is an experienced Senior Financial Content Editor who combines a wide range of professional skills with her academic background in English literature and journalism. Her professional background includes key positions at the Daily Star, LBB Online, and Entertainment Daily UK, which have sharpened her financial and journalistic expertise.
Artiom Pucinskij
Artiom Pucinskij is a seasoned financial content strategist who holds an impressive background in marketing from the University of Portsmouth. With years of dedicated experience in the personal finance and remittance sectors, Artiom has become an integral part of MoneyTransfers.com's growth.