You can transfer money anytime at Agent locations during their business hours.
Generally, we pay your money transfer with cash but in some cases, payment may be made in the form of a money transfer check or pay out card.
Anyone who needs to send or receive money quickly. This often includes people who are supporting friends or relatives living in a foreign country, travelers, and business people who need to make fast international remittances.
Western Union agent locations are independent businesses that provide money transfer service to their customers on behalf of Western Union.
Western Union agent locations offer the ability to send money using cash worldwide.
The sender initiates the transaction by completing a Send Money form and paying the agent cash to cover the transfer amount plus applicable fees. The agent immediately processes the transaction.
To pick up the money, the receiver completes a Receive Money form at any Western Union agent location and provides proper identification. The agent then pays the transfer amount to the receiver.
Sending money with the Western Union money transfer service from an agent location does not require credit cards, debit cards, bank accounts, or memberships. You will need to show valid identification.
You can usually send any amount you wish. However, for certain amounts and transfers, you may be subject to certain security compliance requirements and may have to provide additional information or documentation.
Generally, we pay your money transfer in cash but in some cases, pay out may be made in the form of a money transfer cheque, a combination of cash and cheque, and in some locations, directly to your bank account. Learn more about depositing directly to a bank account. Other restrictions may apply.
Any time after the money transfer has been sent, you can check your transfer status online. All you need is your name and the tracking number (MTCN) printed on your receipt to verify if the money transfer has been paid.
You can check your transfer status online. All you need is the sender’s name and the tracking number (MTCN) printed on the sender’s receipt to determine if the money is available for pick up.
You may pick up your money transfer at any agent location. You will need to complete a Receive Money form with the following information:
Acceptable documentary evidence of identity is also required.
Some restrictions may apply.
Primary identification verifying the full name (birth certificate, etc.) and one form of non-primary identification verifying the current or permanent address (e.g. utility bill, a letter from a hostel manager confirming temporary residence).
Each Western Union agent location determines its own hours of operation, and most maintain extended hours, or even stay open around the clock.
Find a nearby agent location online or look for Western Union in your local telephone directory.
Bring a valid government-issued ID and the tracking number (MTCN).
Visit our website and select Track Transfer. You’ll need the name of the person who sent you the money and the tracking number (MTCN).
Generally, we pay your money transfer in cash but in some cases, pay out may be made in the form of a money transfer cheque, a combination of cash and cheque, and in some locations, directly to your bank account. Learn more about depositing directly to a bank account. Other restrictions may apply.
Each Western Union agent is an independent business that is authorized to sell services of Western Union.
Use our online agent location tool to find an agent location near you. Or, check your local phone directory.
As a Western Union® Money Transfer user, we value your business and take pride in delivering your funds to the intended recipient in a fast, convenient and reliable manner. However, there are individuals throughout the world who will attempt to use any system to receive payments in connection with fraudulent sales or solicitations.
Make sure you know to whom you are sending money. If you are purchasing goods or services and paying through the Western Union network, it is your responsibility to verify the reputation and legitimacy of the seller. Western Union is not responsible for the non-receipt or quality of any goods or services.
Discontinue a call if a caller instructs you on how to respond to questions asked by Western Union.
Security is everyone’s responsibility. Stay informed about consumer fraud trends.
Remember, if it seems too good to be true, it probably is.
Be wary if you are required to pay a fee before receiving a loan. Beware of sweepstakes, prize or lottery company representatives who tell you to transfer money to them in order to claim a prize you’ve won. There are many companies running fraudulent contests that ask you to transfer them money but give you nothing in return.
Beware of unsolicited letters or emails from a Nigerian or other foreign government officials requesting assistance in the transfer of excess funds from a foreign country into your bank account.
Beware of telephone calls from the police claiming someone you know has been in an accident or arrested and is requesting money.
Beware of unsolicited letters or emails offering an unrealistic price for expensive or difficult to find merchandise.
Make sure you know to whom you are sending money. If you are purchasing goods or services and paying through the Western Union network, it is your responsibility to verify the reputation and legitimacy of the seller. Western Union is not responsible for the non-receipt or quality of any goods or services.
If you receive an email from a company representing itself as Western Union and you are not sure it was sent by Western Union, do not click on any links in the email. This may be a “phishing” attempt to fraudulently acquire sensitive information from you. Instead, immediately forward the suspicious email to spoof@westernunion.com.
Western Union will never send you an email asking for your user ID, password or credit card details.
The “Test Question” feature in the Western Union® Money Transfer service is designed for emergency situations where the receiver does not have proper identification (e.g. his or her wallet and identification have been stolen). It should never be used as additional security to time or delay the payment of a transaction. In many locations, Western Union will pay the receiver whenever the receiver shows proper identification, even if the receiver does not know the answer to the test question.
Western Union does not offer an escrow service or any type of “purchase protection” policy. Western Union’s business is to transfer funds from a sender to a receiver. We caution people who use our services against sending money to people they don’t know. It is the sender’s responsibility to know the party to which the funds are being sent. Using a fictitious name or changing the Receiver name after the money transfer has been sent is not a guaranteed means of securing funds. If a receiver presents proper identification with the same name as on the money transfer, payment will be made.
Be wary of 3rd party “collection” or “holding” services unless they are a reputable, licensed escrow service. Western Union is not an escrow service, should not be used as an escrow service and is currently not affiliated with any escrow services.
For online auctions, examine seller feedback carefully and know the warning signs associated with fraudulent auction sales. Most online auction sites have safety guidelines or FAQs that can help you identify potentially fraudulent sales. Be wary if the seller is using a free email address or insists on accepting only one form of payment. Report any suspicious activity and file non-delivery of goods complaints with the auction site through which you purchased the item.
Remember that Western Union never acts as a guarantor of an auction buyer or seller’s performance.
Contact your government’s Office of Consumer Affairs if you are uncertain or suspicious of a telephone, mail or email solicitation.
If you feel you have been the victim of fraud, you can contact your local police.
Western Union employs a variety of technique, including SSL technology, to keep your personal information safe.
Additionally, the following tips can help keep your password secure:
You can further protect your passwords by making sure that your virus-scanning software is kept up to date, and by running anti-spyware programs. These programs can help protect you from viruses or other malware that could compromise your identity even though your computer may seem to be working fine.
If you use Microsoft Windows, make sure your Windows updates are enabled to help keep your operating system protected. You can learn more about Microsoft Windows updates at http://www.microsoft.com.
Use extra caution when entering your password on a computer that does not belong to you. Viruses, spyware, or the browser settings might be used to compromise your account by recording your user name and password.
You can check the status of your money transfer by clicking Track Transfer on our website. All you need is the sender’s name and the tracking number (MTCN).
After the money transfer has been sent, you can use the Track Transfer service on our website to check the status. All you need is your name and the tracking number (MTCN).
Just use the Track Transferservice on our website to track the status of your money transfer. All you need is the sender’s name and the tracking number (MTCN).
There are a few reasons why a money transfer might be on hold. If its been less than 30-40 minutes since you completed it, it may not be fully processed yet. Please wait a few more minutes and then check the status again.
Sometimes we need to confirm the sender’s identity before we can process a money transfer. If this is the case, we’ll send the sender an online web receipt and an email asking them to call us. Once we’ve confirmed the sender’s information, the transfer will be completed and the receiver can pick up the money.
To protect our customers, we review every money transfer to make sure it’s safe. For a variety of reasons, we may ask you to provide us with more information before we can allow you to continue using our services.
We need additional information to understand why you use Western Union and the relationship between you and the person or entities you’re transacting with. The more information you provide, the quicker we’ll be able to complete your request.
To have access to our services again, follow the steps below:
a. Valid government-issued photo ID is needed to verify your identity.
Examples: passport, driver’s license, national ID.
b. Source of funds is needed to make sure that the money transfers are not related to illegal acts and correspond to the nature of your activity.
Examples: at least the latest 3 months of bank statements, at least the latest 3 months of pay slips, employment contract with salary, loan papers, sale agreement, winning receipt, tax return statement, etc.
c. Purpose of money transfer or intended use of money is needed to understand the basis for making the payment and the type of relations between the sender and the payee.
Examples:
Personal remittance/family support – the following documents are suitable to prove relationship: pictures with persons you transacted with, marriage certificate, counterparty’s birth certificate, counterparty’s government issued ID, etc.
Business remittance/payment for goods/services – bills, receipts, sale or purchase agreements, etc.
Education – evidence of tuition fees, etc.
Medical expenses – hospital bills, pharmacy receipts, health insurance premiums, etc.
Charity support – written acknowledgment from the charity, etc.
Purchase home – purchase agreement, mortgage documents, etc.
Gift – receipts, etc.
Travel expenses – travel tickets, hotel bookings, etc.
d. Third party activity (sending or receiving money on behalf of individual or business) information is needed to understand the purpose and nature of your relationship with Western Union.
Examples: business registration documents, letter of authorization by the company or notary, bank statement showing access to third party funds, etc.
After we’ve received your completed questionnaire and required documentation, we’ll email you a response within 3 business days.
In case we have additional questions, we may contact you via the email address provided in the questionnaire.
We’re committed to the security of your personal information. We use organizational, technical and administrative safeguards that comply with applicable government laws and regulations to secure your personal information. We also restrict access to the personal information that we process to only our employees, agents and representatives that have a business need to know it. For more information, read our Terms and Conditions and Online Privacy Statement.