Tempo Money Transfer Review: Is it safe? How does it work? What are the rates?

How can you use Tempo Money Transfer to send money abroad? Is their service reliable? Can you trust Tempo Money Transfer with your money? How good are their fees and exchange rates?

Our independent review of Tempo Money Transfer

Tempo is a French money transfer provider, allowing its customers to send money from nearly 20 countries to over 50 countries around the world. Unlike many of its competitors, Tempo provides comprehensive money transfer services to countries that are traditionally underserved by money transfer providers.

In Africa this includes Benin, Cameroon, Congo, Mali, and Togo, while in Asia they serve Kyrgyzstan, China, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan, among others. Recipients can choose to receive money into their bank account or by picking up cash at a network of over 100,000 agents worldwide. Some locations also offer a courier delivery service.

Tempo has stores across central Europe, allowing customers to make in-person payments for currency transfers, in addition to a comprehensive online money transfer service. Transfers can be funded via debit card, credit card, or bank transfer. They offer competitive exchange rates, but their fees can be high if customers are only sending small amounts.

They have excellent customer service, online chat, and support available in 12 languages.

What Monito Likes About Tempo Money Transfer

• Fast and easy money transfers to over 50 countries.
• A strong presence in Asia and Africa, including underserved areas.
• Tempo stores across central Europe for in-person transfers and payments.
• Local money transfer services at over 100,000 cash pickup locations.
• Exchange rates are very competitive.

What Monito Dislikes About Tempo Money Transfer

• The number of countries you can send money from is limited — as of May 2017, you can only transfer money from 17 countries.
• In some countries the recipient is limited to collecting cash in person.
• In other countries, only direct bank deposits are available.
• Fees can be high if you are transferring smaller amounts (less than 500 Euros) at a time.
• You can only send 5,000 Euros every 30 days, 9,000 Euros every 90 days, and 20,000 Euros a year.

Tempo Money Transfer fees & exchange rate

Tempo fees

Tempo charges a fixed fee on each transfer. This fee is quite wide ranging and depends on where you are transferring from and to, and how the recipient is receiving the money.

Here are some typical examples:

• Transferring 100 Euros — 4 to 10 Euros.
• Transferring 500 Euros — 6 to 20 Euros.
• Transferring 1,000 Euros — 15 to 40 Euros.
• Transferring 5,000 Euros — 30 to 150 Euros.

If you fund your transaction with a credit card, you may be charged a surcharge.

Tempo exchange rates

Here’s a comparison of converting Euros to Indian Rupees.

They state that they can save you around 0.25% to 4% of the amount being transferred compared to a bank.

Converting 1,000 Euros to Indian Rupees

• Mid-market exchange rate (baseline) — 70.085 INR per Euro — 70,085 INR.
• Exchange rate offered by Tempo — 69.099 INR per Euro — 69,098 INR.
• Difference between baseline and Tempo rate for 1,000 Euros — 987 INR.
• Percentage in extra costs for using Tempo compared to baseline — 1.4%.
• This does not take into account the Tempo fee of 15 Euros.

Converting 5,000 Euros to Indian Rupees

• Mid-market exchange rate (baseline) — 70.085 INR per Euro — 350426 INR.
• Exchange rate offered by Tempo — 69.099 INR per Euro — 345,492 INR.
• Difference between baseline and Tempo rate for 1,000 Euros — 4,934 INR.
• Percentage in extra costs for using Tempo compared to baseline — 1.4%.
• This does not take into account the Tempo fee of 55 Euros.

Credibility security

Tempo is an established, trusted provider of international money transfer services. They are authorized by the Prudential Control Authority and Resolution. They are also a member of the International Association of Money Transfer Networks. This is the only international trade organization that represents currency providers and the money transfer industry across the globe.

Tempo has a European Payment Service directive licenses and all activities are carried out in accordance with French and European regulations. They are licensed and approved by Banque de France. In 2016, the volume of transactions they processed was over four times as much as in the previous year.

They have a dedicated security and fraud prevention team and use highly-secure servers, IT training and security practices to protect customer data and funds. They use trusted European bank accounts and banking partners for transferring money and keep customer money separate from operational accounts.

WTempo also provides a 100% money back guarantee which protects all money transfers. If customers are not satisfied for any reason, Tempo will refund 100% of the fee paid.

Customer support

You can contact Tempo as follows:

• Live chat through any page on their website.
• Email therm at support@tempo.eu.com.
• Contact them through their web form.
• Read extensive FAQs in their help center.
• In France, call them on +33144839428
• In Germany, call them on +49(0)6921999510

How Tempo Money Transfer works

Tempo’s money transfer process works as follows:

1. Setup an account with Tempo—they will need your name, address, contact details, bank details, and proof of identification.
2. Decide the currencies that you want to transfer money between.
3. Book a rate through the Tempo website or going into a Tempo store.
4. Provide details of the sender and receiver of the funds.
5. Send money to Tempo through bank transfer, via cash (in-person) or through a debit or credit card payment.
6. Tempo converts the money and deposits it in the recipient’s bank account or lets them pick it up in person.

Customers will need the recipient’s first and last name as shown on their government-issued ID and their phone number. If customers want to deposit money directly into the recipient’s bank account, Tempo will need their full name, account number, routing number and/or IBAN and BIC.

A money transfer usually takes anywhere from a few minutes to four working days. This depends on the payment method you are using to fund your transfer, the country of the recipient, and how you are choosing to pay them.

Tempo mobile applications

Tempo does not have a dedicated mobile application.

Tempo Incentives

The first transfer you make through Tempo is completely fee-free — they will not charge you any fees.

Additional services from Tempo

In addition to recipients having money deposited into their bank accounts, or picking up cash, people in Vietnam, The Philippines, and Dominican Republic can choose to receive money via courier delivery.

Tempo also provides live chat and other customer service in 12 languages.

The story behind Tempo>

Tempo focuses its products and services around excellence. Its management team has over thirty years of experience in international finance and payments. They have invested heavily in innovation and information technology to keep fees and exchange rates as competitive as possible.

One of their main aims is to provide money transfer services to underserved regions, currencies, and countries. This is partly because the founders of Tempo are expats themselves who understand the challenges of effective international currency exchange.

Their management team has held senior positions at Ria, Unistream Bank, CIS, IBM, and Banque Nationale Marchés Financiers.