information and faqs

The Ten most important points you must know before deciding to use a money transmitter.

HMRC
We are registered as a Money Service Business with HM Customs and Excise here in the United Kingdom. (See further details about this in our FAQ)

HM Customs and Excise MLR No: 12179876

About Siyabonga-Tatenda

We have been operating since 2004. Our mission remains the same as it was when we began;

“Our mission is to provide an efficient and consistent service to Zimbabwe where trustworthiness, honesty and reliability are the cornerstones of our business and in so doing provide a unique service to the Zimbabwean diaspora across the globe.”

We are a registered as a Money Service Business with HM Customs and Excise here in the United Kingdom.

HM Customs and Excise MLR No: 12179876

As a result of recent laws ratified by the UK parliament and which came into effect on 15^th December 2007, our company is now obliged to take and verify customer ID from any client who uses our services more than once.

We emphasise that this law applies without exception to all UK money transfer companies – any company which does not comply with the law risks being closed down by the UK authorities.

You are obliged to forward us identifying documents that clarify your identity and also your home address. I would be grateful if you would send us a copy of your passport or driving licence together with a utility bill, bank or credit card statement (sent to you within the last 3 months) in order to confirm your address. It does not matter to us what nationality you are, as long as the identification proves exactly who you are, and where you live.

You must also have these copies independently certified (this means certified by someone of authority) i.e. by a UK lawyer, accountant, postmaster/sub post-master, banker, teacher, priest, doctor, health visitor, senior nurse, your employer or person of similar status with the words ‘this is a true Certified Copy’ with the certifier’s signature, name and address and official stamp (if they have one). It can also be done at most post offices. You can visit www.postoffice.co.uk and follow links to ‘identity checking service’. Click this and it will take you to the relevant page, with a list of all participating post offices (it costs £7 at the post office).

Frequently asked questions.

Listed below are those questions most frequently asked by users of this service. If your question is not answered, please feel free to contact us directly at admin@siyabonga-tatenda.com

How long does the service take?
What currency can I use?
My recipients do not have a bank account in Zimbabwe. What shall I do?
What is the minimum amount of money I can send?
How will I know that the funds have been delivered?
Is all my information private?
Do I have to give full ID documentation to use your service?
Does the bank account in Zimbabwe have to be in my name?
What is the benefit of using this system as opposed to asking my bank to transfer the funds directly?
Which Countries can I use this service from?

How long does the service take?
We aim to have the whole transaction completed within 2 - 3 working days. However, our service is dependant upon many factors outside of our control such as delays in the banking system and the current economic and political climate in Zimbabwe. Please be aware that delays do happen from time to time. If these occur, we move swiftly to resolve the problem and ensure deliveries occur as fast as is possible. Don’t let others fool you that their services are not affected!
What currency do I use?
You can pay in either £ sterling or US dollars.
My recipients do not have a bank account in Zimbabwe. What shall I do?
In the event that you do not have a bank account into which the money can be deposited, you will need to open a bank account, or have your relatives open an account. After that, we will be able to deposit funds for you.
What is the minimum/maximum amount of money I can send?
£50.00 or US$100.00 are the minimum amounts that can be sent via Siyabonga-tatenda. There is no limit to the maximum amount of money, however anyone wishing to transfer over £1500.00 (US$3000.00) should contact Siyabonga-tatenda to discuss the transaction. Please note: Tatenda has the right to refuse to undertake a transfer if they are in any way concerned with the source and/or destination of the funds.
How will I know that the funds have been delivered?
On completion of the transaction, you will receive an email confirmation to your supplied email address. This will confirm the date and amount of the transaction carried out.
Is all my information Private?
Very much so. You have our complete assurance that the information contained in these documents will remain confidential in our files; the documents will not be disclosed to any third party, as per the Data Protection Act, 1998.
Do I have to give full ID documentation to use your service? We are registered as a Money Service Business with HM Customs and Excise here in the United Kingdom.
As a result of recent laws ratified by the UK parliament and which came into effect on 15^th December 2007, our company is now obliged to take and verify customer ID from any client who uses our services more than once.

We emphasise that this law applies without exception to all UK money transfer companies – any company which does not comply with the law risks being closed down by the UK authorities.

You are obliged to forward us identifying documents that clarify your identity and also your home address. I would be grateful if you would send us a copy of your passport or driving licence together with a utility bill, bank or credit card statement (sent to you within the last 3 months) in order to confirm your address. It does not matter to us what nationality you are, as long as the identification proves exactly who you are, and where you live.

You must also have these copies independently certified (this means certified by someone of authority) i.e. by a UK lawyer, accountant, postmaster/sub post-master, banker, teacher, priest, doctor, health visitor, senior nurse, your employer or person of similar status with the words ‘this is a true Certified Copy’ with the certifier’s signature, name and address and official stamp (if they have one). It can also be done at most post offices. You can visit www.postoffice.co.uk and follow links to ‘identity checking service’. Click this and it will take you to the relevant page, with a list of all participating post offices (it costs £7 at the post office).
Does the bank account in Zimbabwe have to be in my name? No, we can transfer it to any Bank or Building Society account in Zimbabwe.
What is the benefit of using this system as opposed to asking my bank to transfer the funds directly?
The official Bank rate in Zimbabwe is very much lower than the rate we offer. Apart from that, the UK banks will charge you a minimum rate of £20.00 per transfer to Zimbabwe.
Which countries can I use this service from?
You can use it from anywhere in the world provided you have a paypal account. Please contact us at admin@siyabonga-tatenda.com for further information on how this service operates