Payments
Click on the question link below to find your answer.
1. Which payment methods are available, and which handling fees apply in each case?
If you have booked a tour at least 2 weeks in advance then we accept the following payments:
* USA BANK - all of our tours are priced in US$ so this option is a convenient way of avoiding exchange rate charges. We charge a $25 handling fee per transfer in order to cover our costs of transferring the money to Ecuador.
* UK BANK - we can charge you in GB pounds if you deposit into our UK account. There is no handling fee charged per transfer but we do use a lower exchange rate than the current published banking rate in order to account for rate fluctuations between the time we request your transfer and the time we receive it, and to cover costs of sending the money into Ecuador.
* ECUADOR BANK - if you are already in Ecuador then this is the best option in order to avoid both banking charges and exchange rate costs. You can simply make an over-the-counter cash deposit into our account.
* PAYPAL - quick, easy, online, and the only method which accepts credit card payments (except for flight payments). Paypal charge us 4% as a service commission to use their services and so you should add this cost to your payment.
* MONEYGRAM / WESTERN UNION - money-wiring is the quickest way to get money to us and is also extremely secure. Moneygram currently charge 4% to use their services, and Western Union between 3 and 5%.
* CASH - of course we accept US$ cash in our Quito office, but check the rules that apply with last minute bookings first.
* CREDIT CARD - we can only accept credit card payments for domestic flight payments, and only when our client is in our Quito office with passport as proof of ID. BACK TO TOP
2. I am booking a last minute tour - which payment options are available?
A last minute booking is classified as a booking made less than 2 weeks before your trip departure date.
If you are in Quito then it is best to pay us in US$ cash in our office. If you are currently travelling in Ecuador (but not in Quito) then our Ecuadorian bank account will be cheapest and easiest. If you are outside of Ecuador then we can only accept the Moneygram / Western Union form of payment because all other payment methods take too long to reach us. BACK TO TOP
3. When can I pay just a deposit in advance, and when do I have to pay in full?
Generally speaking we require at least a 30% deposit at time of booking in order to confirm your reservation. Full payment is then due at least 2 months before your date of travel. Of course should you prefer to pay in full at time of booking then that is also no problem.
Only in the case of bookings made less than 2 months before date of travel do we immediately require full payment.
Consult our full terms and conditions for further information. BACK TO TOP
4. Why is prompt payment so important?
It is important because the terms and conditions of the operators that we have to pay on your behalf are often very strict, and late payment can mean that your reservation is cancelled by the operator. BACK TO TOP
5. Why can't I pay directly with credit card like I can in USA/Europe?
Unfortunately Ecuador's banking system is not as advanced as in USA or Europe. It is therefore not possible for an Ecuadorian business to accept credit card details from a client over the phone / internet.
Some businesses do accept credit cards in their office in Ecuador but only when the client is directly present and has their passport as ID. Businesses charge considerable commissions for this service (around 8 to 10%) and the authorisation process can take some time.
At Happy Gringo we therefore choose to only accept credit cards either via paypal (for deposit or full payments), or in our Quito office (for domestic flight bookings only where commission charges do not apply). BACK TO TOP
6. Where can I find your bank details in order to make a transfer?
Our bank details are available upon request - tell our salesperson which bank you wish to pay into and he/she will provide full details to you. BACK TO TOP
7. Why must I be a verified paypal member in order to pay large sums of money?
Paypal sets payment limits on each account. Usually the limit is fairly low (around $500) on unverified accounts, and much higher (around $5000) on verified accounts. So for large payments you usually need to hold a verified account.
Paypal provide simple instructions to help with account verification, and the whole process usually takes 1 to 2 weeks. BACK TO TOP
8. What is the limit on my paypal account?
It is best to consult directly with Paypal on this matter. BACK TO TOP
9. Why is there a 4% charge on paypal payments?
Paypal charge us a fee of 4% on the total sum of money requested. This includes both the paypal service commission charge and exchange rate fees to pay into our UK-based paypal account. BACK TO TOP
10. Why is the UK pound exchange rate that Happy Gringo use different to the bank rate?
We use a rate a little under the current banking exchange rate because we have to transfer the money from the UK to Ecuador after we have received it from our client; the costs of both sending and receiving international transfers for us is high so we allow for these costs in the exchange rate calculation. BACK TO TOP
11. How do I wire money by Moneygram (MG) or Western Union (WU)?
People are sometimes nervous because the money-wiring process is new to them or seems confusing, but really there is no need for worry because it both quick and very simple.
* ask Happy Gringo for details of who and where to wire the money to.
* locate the agent closest to you on either the MG (www.moneygram.com) or WU (www.westernunion.com) websites. There are agents in most towns and cities in the world including latin america.
* visit the local agent with the cash you would like to deposit (including the % sending fee) and your passport as ID.
* tell the agent who you want to send money to and their current location (city, country). The agent will take your personal details, check your ID, take your money, organise the wire, and finally give you a receipt.
* email us to let us know the reference number that is written on your receipt so that we can collect the money here in Quito.
It's as simple as that and the money arrives to us just 10 minutes after you have sent it!!! BACK TO TOP
12. Do you accept travellers checks?
No. BACK TO TOP
13. When will Happy Gringo send me a receipt for payments received?
We send receipts out by email on the same day that we receive your transfer. BACK TO TOP
