Lebara money transfer: Fees, rates and transfer times

Need to send an international payment from the UK? Whether you’re sending money to family overseas or paying bills for a holiday home in another country, you’ll need to find the best and cheapest way to make your transfer.

One option used for international transfers in the UK is Lebara, which offers transfer services through its partner WorldRemit. But how does it work and crucially, how much does it cost?

Find out everything you need to know about Lebara money transfers here in this handy guide. We’ll cover fees, exchange rates, transfer times and much more.

We’ll also show you how Wise might be a low-cost alternative for international money transfers - so you can send money to 160+ or receive money from 8+ countries at the mid-market exchange rate for only a low, transparent fee*.

How does an international transfer with Lebara work?

Lebara Money used to offer international transfers themselves, but this isn’t the case anymore. The company now has a partnership which means that all international payments go through WorldRemit. Lebara itself now focuses on mobile phone contracts.

This means that if you want to send money through Lebara Money, you’ll be redirected to the WorldRemit site for your payment route, and can place your transfer there.

If you had an account with Lebara Money, this means that unfortunately you’ll no longer be able to access it. In fact, the Lebara Money website is no longer available.

The good news is that WorldRemit offers international payments to a wide range of countries, with a selection of transfer types. This includes bank transfers, cash collection (or cash delivery in some locations) and mobile wallet delivery - although it depends where you’re sending money to, as not all services are available in every country.

You can set up and manage all transfers online, on the WorldRemit website, or use the WorldRemit mobile app.

What countries and currencies are supported?

From the UK, you can send money with WorldRemit to over 130 countries.¹ The platform supports most major currencies too.

There is a rather obvious exception though, as WorldRemit doesn’t support transfers to Europe in EUR. So if you want to send money to Europe, you might need to use another provider.

But on the upside, WorldRemit does offer transfer routes to a large number of countries that other providers don’t. So, it all really depends where you’re looking to send money to.

What are the fees for an international transfer with Lebara/WorldRemit?

The transfer fee with WorldRemit varies depending on how much money you’re sending, where you’re sending it to and the delivery method.

The payment method can also affect the price.

So, there’s no flat fee for WorldRemit payments, but you can check prices in your account or on their website before you send. All fees are available upfront, and there shouldn’t be any hidden charges.

Lebara/WorldRemit exchange rates

Alongside the upfront transfer fee, it’s always important to check the exchange rate when making an international transfer.

Some banks and providers add a mark-up on what is known as the mid-market exchange rate, which is how they make a profit on the transaction. But unfortunately, this means that less of your money makes it to your recipient.

So just because upfront fees appear to be low, this doesn’t mean there isn’t a ‘hidden fee’ within an unfavourable exchange rate.

Lebara partner WorldRemit doesn’t claim to offer mid-market rates, and it says in its Terms and Conditions:

“There’s a difference between the exchange rate we buy currency at and the exchange rate we provide to you. We usually make some money off this.”²

This means that it’s likely to add a mark-up to the mid-market rate, which will make your transfer cost slightly more. However, you’ll see exactly what rate you’ll get before confirming the transfer, so you’ll have the opportunity to compare it to other providers.

Remember that you can always check what the mid-market exchange rate is for any currency pairing using the Wise currency converter.

How to make an international money transfer with Lebara/WorldRemit

To make your first international transfer with WorldRemit, you’ll firstly need to register for an account. To join WorldRemit, simply click ‘Create account’ on the website or download the mobile app to get started.

You should find this process pretty straightforward, as you’ll just need to provide your email address and a few other personal details. You might also need to verify your identity as part of the sign-up process, for which you’ll need to provide photo ID and proof of address.

Once you’re all signed up, you’re ready to make your first transfer. Here’s how to do it, step-by-step:¹

1. Select the destination country.
2. Enter the amount.
3. Choose the delivery/receiving method.
4. Check that you’re happy with the fees and exchange rate.
5. Enter the recipient’s details - we’ll cover exactly what you’ll need in just a moment.
6. Check all the details and confirm.
7. Pay for your transfer - you can either send a bank transfer to WorldRemit or pay by debit or credit card.

What do I need to make an international transfer?

To send money overseas, you’ll usually need the following:

• The recipient’s name and address
• The recipient’s bank account details, including their account number and sort code (or routing number if you’re sending to the US)
• TheirInternational Bank Account Number (IBAN)
• For SWIFT payments, their bank’s Business Identifier Code (BIC) or SWIFT code.

How long do money transfers take?

This depends on the type of transfer you’re making, and where it's going to and from.

Some bank transfers, for example, could happen almost instantly. However, in other cases a bank transfer could take several days depending on the recipient’s bank, the day of the week you place the transaction on, and your own bank’s processes.

Cash for collection, and mobile money is typically available very quickly.

How to track transfers with Lebara/WorldRemit

Once you’ve confirmed and paid for your transfer, you can track it using WorldRemit tracking tools.

You’ll get a notification from WorldRemit once your transfer has been set up. This will contain all of the details of the payment, including a tracking number.

The easiest way to track a transfer is to use the WorldRemit mobile app, so you’ll need to download it if you haven’t already got it. Then, you can just sign in and check in on the status of all active transfers.

If your transfer isn’t listed, it hasn’t arrived or it’s late, you can contact WorldRemit customer services for assistance.

How to contact Lebara

Need help setting up a transfer, or have a question about how the transfer service works?

If you’re making a money transfer with Lebara, via their partners WorldRemit, you’ll need to contact WorldRemit with any questions, or for customer service enquiries.

Here are the details you’ll need:

• 24/7 support in the WorldRemit app - simply send a message
• Call the WorldRemit customer service number: +44 203 9666899 (UK only) - available Monday to Friday, 7am to 8pm, and Saturday, 10am to 6pm.³

Wise - a convenient, low cost alternative for overseas transfers

If you regularly send money overseas, you’ll be looking for the cheapest or most convenient way possible to do it. After all, those few extra pounds in fees or a poor exchange rate can add up over time.

Wise is a great alternative to banks and other providers, as it’s fast, secure, convenient and fully transparent when it comes to fees and rates*.

Wise uses the mid-market rate with no mark-up added on top, just a low, transparent fee for all international transfers*.

Open a Wise account and you can hold 40+ currencies at once, and receive money from overseas for low to no fees using handy local account details*.

Open your account 🌍

There’s also the Wise card, a contactless international card for spending in 150+ countries - which automatically converts currency at the mid-market rate whenever you spend plus a small and transparent conversion fee*.

Explore the Wise card 💳

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And that’s pretty much it - everything you need to know about making international payments with Lebara - via its new money transfer provider WorldRemit. We’ve covered fees, exchange rates and how to make your first payment, plus alternatives such as Wise that could potentially save you money.

Just remember to compare both fees and exchange rates from a range of providers before hitting ‘send’ - to make sure you’re getting the best possible deal on your international transfers.

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Sources used:

1. WorldRemit - How it works
2. WorldRemit - Our Agreement with you
3. WorldRemit - Contact Us

Sources last checked on date: 19-06-2024