PIX in the saunas ?

[KJ1993]

Hey guys!

It's that time of year again. I'm off to Brazil for a few weeks (SP, Rio, Goiania, Fortaleza, Salvador ) before heading over to Colombia for a wedding.

My Brazilian friend has very kindly let me use his Wise account which gives me access to the infamous PIX. Been testing it out today - it's great!

Last time I was unprepared and ended up spending a fortune on fees and horrendous exchange rates when withdrawing cash, particularly for saunas and GPs.

PIX could well be a game changer.

Just wondering if anyone has any experience of paying GPs in the sauna via PIX as opposed to cash.  Is it a thing ?

Wise transfers also seem to be getting more popular. Also cheaper than withdrawing cash from the ATM.

Side note: if anyone fancies meeting up for a drink at one of the saunas just DM me!

Me: 25 - 35, Engineer, Into: working out/gym, travel, current affairs ! 

[floridarob]

Just a reminder in case: you'll need a yellow fever vaccine/booklet going to Colombia from Brazil...

I'll be in Iguazu, Curitiba, Porto Alegre, Rio & SP in Sept.

[buttercawan]

I have been using PIX to pay for GPs and other stuff for more than a year now.

I haven't withdrawn cash from the ATM nor used cash since then.

Brazilian Wise and Remitly do have PIX, but as far as I know, it is a 'bank/account' transfer (to PIX). Most of the time is quick but sometime it might take a while.

PIX from bank/fintech's app is 'instant'.

[KJ1993]

1 hour ago, floridarob said:

Just a reminder in case: you'll need a yellow fever vaccine/booklet going to Colombia from Brazil...

I'll be in Iguazu, Curitiba, Porto Alegre, Rio & SP in Sept.

Yeah thanks for the head's up re vaccine. I'll DM you re meeting up !

[KJ1993]

49 minutes ago, buttercawan said:

I have been using PIX to pay for GPs and other stuff for more than a year now.

I haven't withdrawn cash from the ATM nor used cash since then.

Brazilian Wise and Remitly do have PIX, but as far as I know, it is a 'bank/account' transfer (to PIX). Most of the time is quick but sometime it might take a while.

PIX from bank/fintech's app is 'instant'.

That's great to hear GPs accept PIX over cash in saunas.

My understanding was that you had to be a Brazilian resident to have or use it, which I'm not. So this workaround is a big deal to me.

From Wise yes it is a bank transfer to PIX, but still a millions times better than paying in cash lol. In my experience Wise is usually instant, at most a couple of minutes.

[Latbear4blk]

I would not use PIX, just to avoid the stream of requests for 50 Riais you would have if they know you have access to that platform. 

[buttercawan]

6 hours ago, KJ1993 said:

My understanding was that you had to be a Brazilian resident to have or use it, which I'm not. So this workaround is a big deal to me.

From Wise yes it is a bank transfer to PIX, but still a millions times better than paying in cash lol. In my experience Wise is usually instant, at most a couple of minutes.

The minimal requirement is a CPF. I am not a Brazilian resident

[buttercawan]

23 minutes ago, Latbear4blk said:

I would not use PIX, just to avoid the stream of requests for 50 Riais you would have if they know you have access to that platform. 

KKK This is so true. And it's online, so the requests even follow you when you are back in your home country

[hornyfrog]

I’m not trying to sound like a gatekeeper here, but most GPs want to get paid immediately after the service ends, unless they know you well and trust you enough that they will get paid soon enough. As a non-Brazilian resident, if you’re using Pix through Wise, Remitly or another remittance transfer service. It can take hours to even a day for the transfer to complete… and the first time you send to someone, you need to have a whole lot of info on that recipient in Brazil — full name, residential address, CPF, banking info, sometimes the address of bank — the exact Pix code the receiver uses (CPF, mobile number, or email) for the bank account to deposit it into.

If you already have a Brazilian bank account, Pix is very fast and reliable. The speed is NOT reliable if you’re remitting it from an international bank. Most of these working guys do not have hours to wait for their couple of hundred reais from you — especially not from a tourist that could skip town the next day without payment (yes, that happens!).

Also, there are times when certain garotos can’t access their Pix or their bank accounts are blocked, and they need to get paid in cold hard cash. It’s no guarantee who this will be, so you had better know this upfront before booking the date! Don’t assume everyone accepts Pix at all times. 

As a Brazilian resident with a bank account here, I use Pix, Wise and Remitly almost all the time — but when I wasn’t a resident, its reliability and speed of arrival was a lot less predictable.

[buttercawan]

With a CPF, you have several ways to get PIX as a foreigner.

- Recargapay (you can apply for its credit card too, physical and/or virtual). You can link it to your foreign credit/debit card or top it up with Remitly.
- Banco Rendimento (CDE). A monthly account fee might apply. I applied during a promotion, so it is free.
- 99 pay. Unfortunately, with only CPF, there is a limit of R1000 per month (no limit if used towards ride, I think) 

[hornyfrog]

1 hour ago, buttercawan said:

99 pay. Unfortunately, with only CPF, there is a limit of R1000 per month (no limit if used towards ride, I think)

You can also do this with Mercado Pago. It requires a minimum pre-loaded balance of 1000 reais. 

[floridarob]

3 hours ago, Latbear4blk said:

I would not use PIX, just to avoid the stream of requests for 50 Riais you would have if they know you have access to that platform. 

Our mutual friend that lives there looks like a banker at times... I've seen guys give him cash to pix to them so they could then pix their landlord, friends, family etc.... not for me thanks.

[hornyfrog]

50 minutes ago, floridarob said:

Our mutual friend that lives there looks like a banker at times... I've seen guys give him cash to pix to them so they could then pix their landlord, friends, family etc.... not for me thanks.

When a CPF number or an ID number is “sunk” (dirty) in the Brazilian banking system (overdrawn, reported or suspected fraud, sometimes even theft), any Pix with that CPF number are suspended. Any deposits into that person’s account immediately go towards paying off the debt. Brazilians who ask for this are usually in this kind of situation. It’s best not to get involved at all. But there’s always the client who wants to be seen as Santa. 

 

 

[floridarob]

2 hours ago, hornyfrog said:

But there’s always the client who wants to be seen as Santa. 

Def not him, he's just a nice guy though..... I don't have issue with the word no.

He's not sending the money to landlords, etc..., they're giving him cash, no big amounts, to send to themselves so they in turn can send it to whoever they're trying to send money to, usually a gf or wife, lol

[Latbear4blk]

13 minutes ago, floridarob said:

Def not him, he's just a nice guy though..... I don't have issue with the word no.

He's not sending the money to landlords, etc..., they're giving him cash, no big amounts, to send to themselves so they in turn can send it to whoever they're trying to send money to, usually a gf or wife, lol

It is a virtuous circle. Then, that cash is used to pay for other programas. Nature is so wise.

[KJ1993]

9 hours ago, hornyfrog said:

I’m not trying to sound like a gatekeeper here, but most GPs want to get paid immediately after the service ends, unless they know you well and trust you enough that they will get paid soon enough. As a non-Brazilian resident, if you’re using Pix through Wise, Remitly or another remittance transfer service. It can take hours to even a day for the transfer to complete… and the first time you send to someone, you need to have a whole lot of info on that recipient in Brazil — full name, residential address, CPF, banking info, sometimes the address of bank — the exact Pix code the receiver uses (CPF, mobile number, or email) for the bank account to deposit it into.

If you already have a Brazilian bank account, Pix is very fast and reliable. The speed is NOT reliable if you’re remitting it from an international bank. Most of these working guys do not have hours to wait for their couple of hundred reais from you — especially not from a tourist that could skip town the next day without payment (yes, that happens!).

Also, there are times when certain garotos can’t access their Pix or their bank accounts are blocked, and they need to get paid in cold hard cash. It’s no guarantee who this will be, so you had better know this upfront before booking the date! Don’t assume everyone accepts Pix at all times. 

As a Brazilian resident with a bank account here, I use Pix, Wise and Remitly almost all the time — but when I wasn’t a resident, its reliability and speed of arrival was a lot less predictable.

I hear you. Although I'm actually transferring money from my wise account to my Brazilian friend's Wise account, which he's given me access to. Once it's in his account all I need is the individual's chave Pix, CPF or phone number and I can then transfer funds via Pix instantly. At least that's what I've been doing today.

If the GPs don't have access to their pix at that particular moment then I guess I would just have to withdraw.

I'm not too enamoured by the idea of withdrawing one large wad of cash to last me several weeks. That said, the withdrawal fees in BRL are obscene and the exchange rate less than favourable when using an overseas card. 

He's ordered me a Wise debit card which I believe allows free withdrawals up to a certain amount per month. Obviously the Wise card is linked to his Brazilian residency so I'm hoping there are minimal, if any, withdrawal fees.