WorldFirst Review
In this WorldFirst review, you can check out WorldFirst's fees, exchange rates and what customers have to say about them.
What is WorldFirst?
WorldFirst is one of the first online money transfer company's in the world. The company was first launched in 2004 and has now helped over 160,000 people, small businesses and online sellers transfer over £70bn globally. It is also closely linked with Amazon.
Although WorldFirst abruptly closed its US operations in the beginning of 2019, the company still transfers money to the US as per usual and Australian users are unaffected from the change.
WorldFirst pride themselves on being fast, and giving people fair and safe ways to transfer money overseas.
Pros and cons of using WorldFirst
- Their website is easy to use. You should find that that set up and registration process is quite simple. This means you can be up and running, ready to make transfers in no time!
- They have competitive rates, and a lot of the time these will be better than what you'd find at your bank.
- For businesses, they have very competitive terms and offer specific support for online sellers.
- WorldFirst doesn't charge any fees. This makes calculating the cost of your transfer easier, as you only need to worry about the rate they are offering.
- They offer a number of products, including forward contracts if you're not constrained by time.
- They have a minimum transfer amount of $2,000. This is much higher than most money transfer companies.
- Limited customer support options.
- Limited currencies available to transfer, although there may be more available than what they have listed on their site. You can always get in contact with them to discuss whether they can support your transfer.
- If you're making transfers from Australia, they only have offices based in Sydney.
When to use (and avoid) WorldFirst to transfer money overseas
There is a lot to like about the services that WorldFirst offer. WorldFirst are especially a good option for Australian businesses who currently use their regular bank for international payments. If your business needs to make regular or large payments, you might find that using a service like WorldFirst could help save a lot of money.
For individuals WorldFirst can be a good option as well. You need to make sure you're comfortable doing everything online, because there are some reports that their customer service isn't good but their online platform is easy to use.
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How to use WorldFirst
There are three main steps to setting up an account with WorldFirst, which we have outlined below. You can also watch our video tutorial for a complete guide.
Step 1: Register
Register your details through the WorldFirst website. This will include the type of account you need, your details and the currencies you'll transfer. Once you provide some ID, WorldFirst will let you know when your account is ready.
Step 2: Transfer
Once you have a quote for your transfer, you will go ahead and fill in the details of the person you're sending the money to. If you're sending it to your own international account, fill in your own details.
Step 3: Pay
WorldFirst only accept bank transfer but if you have a business account, you may be able to use a debit card to make the payment. Although be aware that this could slow down the process. WorldFirst does not accept credit card.
WorldFirst Money Transfer Customer Reviews
Trustpilot TrustScore: 8.4/10
Is WorldFirst Reliable?
Generally customers speak favourably about their experiences with WorldFirst. The usability of the website works in the company's favour, and the set up and transfers are usually very efficient.
The most common complaint about WorldFirst is that their customer support team are unresponsive or unhelpful. This is often not a problem if everything goes smoothly and you're happy doing everything online. However if you need to change something about your transfer, run into a roadblock or simply need some assistance you might find it frustrating to go with WorldFirst.
Is WorldFirst safe?
Yes they are. WorldFirst have an Australian Financial Services License and are regulation by the Australian Securities and Investment Commission. There are very stringent guidelines that WorldFirst must follow in order to send your money.
They also take measures to protect the sensitive data you provide them like your personal details and identification. They comply strictly with Privacy Act to ensure your details are protected.
Learn more about how safe WorldFirst is
Does WorldFirst send money overseas quickly?
It can take between 1 and 4 days for a money transfer, once you have set up your transfer with WorldFirst and they have received your funds.
However, speed of transfer depends on multiple factors:
- The currencies you're sending or buying. GBP, USD, or EUR are same-day payments. Other currencies can take between 1-4 days.
- Bank being used. Funds might not be credited until the next business day.
- Country you're sending money to. You should allow up to 4 days to clear.
- Security checks. Verification process can add time to your transfer.
Related:
How much does WorldFirst cost?
It's quite simple to work out how much a transfer with WorldFirst is going to cost. Because they don't charge any transfer fees, you just have to look at the exchange rate they offer you for your transfer.
However, you also need to sign up to an account with WorldFirst before getting a quote for your transfer.
WorldFirst Foreign Exchange Rates
Despite adding a margin on their exchange rates, WorldFirst rates are still generally more competitive compared to banks.
WorldFirst also has an exchange rate calculator on their website, but this doesn't accurately show the rates they offer for your personal transaction. They quote the interbank rate, which is not the rate you can make a transfer at.
For an accurate view of the best exchange rates you can get for your money transfer, use our exchange rate comparison table below.
Compare money transfer exchange rates against WorldFirst
Does WorldFirst have an App?
When you have an account with WorldFirst, you can make transfers through their website or through their iOS and Android apps.
The app is quite easy to use and it makes transferring money easy to do anywhere. A lot of the customer feedback for the app says that it is easy to navigate, but that it can be frustrating as you need to sign into your account each time you use it.
The WorldFirst app is available to both Apple and Android users.
WorldFirst Business Products
WorldFirst can support your business in a number of ways.
When you initially set up your account, you will be asked if you need it for business or personal reasons. And if you're using it as an 'online seller' there is an account specifically for that purpose. They also offer forward contracts if you want to wait for a certain rate before you make your business payments.
Read about the WorldFirst online sellers account here.
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