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IT IS IMPORTANT FOR YOU TO READ AND UNDERSTAND OUR TERMS AND CONDITIONS BEFORE YOU ACCEPT THEM. THEY CONTAIN LIMITATIONS ON THE SCOPE OF OUR OBLIGATIONS TO YOU, AS WELL AS LIMITATIONS AND EXEMPTIONS FROM OUR LIABILITY TO YOU FOR DAMAGE THAT YOU MAY SUFFER AS THE RESULT OF A WESTERN UNION® ONLINE SERVICE. THE RESPECTIVE PROVISIONS ARE HIGHLIGHTED IN BOLD. IN USING THE WESTERN UNION ONLINE SERVICE YOU AGREE TO COMPLY WITH THESE TERMS AND CONDITIONS AS WELL AS ANY APPLICABLE LAWS.
Our Terms and Conditions use the following definitions:
1.1. The Western Union Online Service is offered by Western Union Japan KK (Company number: 0104-01-114302), with its registered office at Metro City Kamiyacho 7F, 1-5 Toranomon 5-chome, Minato-ku, Tokyo, Japan.
1.2. Western Union® Money Transfers can be sent and picked up from Western Union® agent locations worldwide. Regular money transfers are usually available within minutes for receiver to pick up, subject to the opening hours of the receiving Western Union Agent (“Agent”) location. You can get information about the addresses and agent location operating hours by contacting Customer Care on 0120-961-623 or you can chat with us.
1.3. Western Union Japan KK is licensed by the Kanto Local Finance Bureau (registration number: 00039), to offer Type 2 fund transfer services business in Japan and conducts fund transfer transactions of 1,000,000 yen or less.
2.1. Western Union Online Service offers money transfer services nationally and internationally through arrangements with its correspondent agents. You must be at least 18 years old and a resident in Japan to use the Western Union Online Service. Each money transfer is given an individual transaction number, the Money Transfer Control Number or “MTCN”.
2.2. By completing and consenting to the information required to make a money transfer order and by settling the basic amount of money transfer plus our fees and accepting these Terms and Conditions, the Sender instructs Western Union to execute a specific money transfer in respect of such order, as accepted by Us, subject to these Terms and Conditions. Every individual money transfer order constitutes a separate agreement between Western Union and the Sender, which is limited to the execution of a specific money transfer in respect of such order only. We have no obligations to any other party. At no moment in time is a framework or master agreement concluded between You and Us, which obliges Us to execute each and every individual and subsequent money transfer transactions. The Sender shall inform the Receiver of the money transfer accordingly.
2.3. Subject to statutory or regulatory requirements, We undertake to make funds available for collection by the Receiver at the latest at the end of such day following the day on which the funds were received from You through a Payment Method (“Day of Receipt”). The moment of receipt is such moment when We receive the funds to be transferred and the fees associated with said transfer. Account-based transfers generally take up to 5 business days, though funds sent to mobile wallets are often available for use within minutes. For regular money transfers the funds are normally available for collection within minutes, subject to the business hours of the respective agent location. For some countries, the service may be delayed or other restrictions may apply. If You require further information, please contact the telephone number stated in clause 1.2 of these Terms and Conditions.
2.4. The Western Union Online Service provides various options to how the Receiver will receive funds including cash at an agent location, direct to a bank account or to a mobile phone, where available. Where funds are to be paid out in cash the Receiver must provide adequate proof of his or her identity in addition to all Transaction details required by Western Union, in particular the name of the Sender, the country from which the money was sent, the name of the Receiver, the approximate amount of money transferred and any and all other conditions and requirements that are mandatory for the funds to be paid out, such as the MTCN. The payment of funds to be collected will be made to the Receiver that Western Union or its agent deems entitled to receiving the money following verification of the identification documents. Payments may even be effected if the Transaction information provided by the Receiver contains minor mistakes. Neither Western Union nor its agents compare the address details of the Receiver. The Receiver may also be asked to answer a test question in order to receive the funds. Test questions do not constitute an additional security feature and cannot be used to time or delay the payment of a money transfer and are prohibited in certain countries. For Transactions to a bank account or to a mobile phone Western Union will transfer the funds to the account designated by the Sender. In the event of an inconsistency between the holder of the account number (including mobile phone numbers for mobile phone accounts) and the name of the intended Receiver, the transfer will be credited to the account number provided by the Sender.
2.5. Applicable law prohibits money transmitters from doing business with certain individuals or countries; Western Union is required to screen all Transactions against lists of names provided by the governments of the countries and territories in which We do business, including the US Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) and the European Union. If a potential match is identified, Western Union researches the Transaction to determine if the name matched is indeed the individual on the relevant list. For this purpose, Western Union is entitled to request from the Sender or the designated Receiver additional details and proof of identification which may cause the Transaction to be delayed. This is a legal requirement for all Transactions processed by Western Union (including transfers that originate and terminate outside of the US). Western Union may, in certain circumstances also be required to freeze the amount of moneys received, where any refund of moneys received would constitute a violation of any applicable law (including regulations aimed at preventing fraud, money laundering or financing terrorism).
2.6. Transfer Fees: Information explaining how Western Union charges the Sender for making a money transfer is available on the Western Union Website and is shown to the Sender prior to completion of the money transfer transaction. The specific transfer fees for a money transfer transaction are indicated in the “Send Money Online” field at www.westernunion.com/jp. Simply select Your destination country, enter the amount to be transferred and click on “Calculate”. The Sender shall bear all fees due to complete the money transfer unless applicable law in the destination country requires otherwise. In certain cases money transfer payments may be subject to local taxes and service charges. The Receiver may incur additional fees for receiving the Sender’s funds through an account-based money transfer, a mobile telephone or to a bank account. Money transfers must be sent in local or specified non-local currency/ies, otherwise the receiving institution (where the Receiver has his or her account) may convert the funds at its own exchange rate or may even reject the money transfer. The Receiver’s agreement with his or her mobile phone service provider, mobile wallet account provider or other account provider governs the account and determines their rights, obligations, applicable fees, funds availability and account limitations. Western Union may charge additional fees associated with the use of an account for sending or receiving a money transfer. Western Union does not assume any liability pertaining to costs which the Sender or any account holder incur in conjunction with the exchange rate used for the conversion into non-local currencies or for actions or omissions on behalf of the destination or interim financial services provider.
2.7. Foreign exchange
2.8. SMS – Western Union may offer free SMS notification in some countries to indicate (to the Sender) that the transferred funds have been collected by the Receiver or that funds are available for collection (to the Receiver). Charges applied by the telephone service provider are the exclusive responsibility of the Sender or Receiver. Western Union is not responsible for any charges associated with SMS messages. If permitted by applicable law, the SMS will be sent to the Sender’s and/or the Receiver’s mobile number provided at the time of transaction. Western Union will send SMS messages to a gateway for forwarding, however forwarding is the responsibility of third parties, and cannot be guaranteed. Western Union is not responsible for technical malfunctions that occur outside of its proprietary systems.
2.9 NO RETENTION BY US
We shall not hold funds received from You which are not used for currency transactions. With respect to funds received from You via a Payment Method which are deemed not to be used for currency transactions, We shall return such funds to You or take other measures not to retain such funds.
As mentioned in clause 1.3 above, We will only conduct fund transfer transactions of 1,000,000 yen or less.
3.1. We declare Our willingness to provide to You the money transfer services and the respective information in accordance with these Terms and Conditions in the form of individual payments and to exercise reasonable care.
3.2. We do not assume any liability for:
3.3. We are under no obligation towards You to initiate or execute a money transfer if:
We do not assume any liability for loss or damages caused to You or any third party from the non-execution or late execution of a money transfer to a Receiver or if the Western Union Online Service fails or declines to execute a Transaction by reason of any of these matters.
3.4. We have the right, in our sole discretion, to refuse to provide the Western Union Online Service to You either partially or in full or to cancel or suspend a Transaction if such use constitutes a violation against Western Union regulations (including regulations aimed at preventing fraud, money laundering or financing terrorism), these Terms and Conditions and/or against applicable law, a court order or requirements of a regulatory or government authority or any other body having jurisdiction over us or, if We consider such a step necessary to protect Our own interests. If We refuse to provide the Western Union Online Service (partially or in full) to You for any of the above reasons, We will notify You accordingly if possible and give reasons for Our refusal unless We are prevented from doing so for legal reasons. It is a breach of these Terms and Conditions to use the Western Union Online Service for any Prohibited Purpose.
3.5. We may, in our absolute discretion, impose limits on the Transaction amount, either on a per Transaction basis or on an aggregated basis.
3.6. We are entitled to either partially or fully cease operating the Western Union Website or the Western Union Online Service if circumstances that are beyond Our control compel Us to take such action and if We therefore consider appropriate (“Force Majeure”). If the services provided on the Western Union Website or by the Western Union Online Service should be interrupted for whatever reason (whether by Us, a third-party provider or in any other manner), We shall take adequate measures to keep the duration of this interruption as short as possible.
3.7. Our communication with You is normally conducted via the Internet and by e-mail. However, this has no effect on Your right to contact Us in any other form (see clause 1.2 above) if circumstances require this.
4.1. You agree and declare that You will pay to Us Our fees (see also clause 2.6 above) for every money transfer which You initiate via the Western Union Online Service.
4.2. You must settle to us the basic amount of a money transfer plus Our fees, from Your bank account (insofar as Western Union permits an account-based money transfer) through certified collection partners or with a Bank Card, subject to availability, before we process the specific money transfer for which MTCN has been given to You.
You consent to the basic amount of the money transfer plus Our fees for the respective Transaction being transferred from Your bank account, paid through the certified collection partners or that this amount is cleared by Your Card Issuer to Us prior to Us executing the Transaction. Prior to the final authorization of the Transaction, You will be notified of the precise amount which You will debit from Your bank account, You will pay through the certified collection partner, or We will clear with Your Card Issuer.
4.3. You consent to and acknowledge the following:
4.4. In the event that We come to know or have a reason to believe that You are a member of an Antisocial Force or has association with an Antisocial Force, or, if You are a corporation, that any of Your respective directors, officers or employees is a member of an Antisocial Force or has association with an Antisocial Force, We will immediately take all the necessary steps to prevent any further use of the Western Union Online Service by You. Prompting these steps does not make Us liable for any loss or damage that are the result of Your failure to comply with Your responsibility in accordance with the preceding paragraph.
4.5. In the event of loss, theft, copy or the misuse of the Transaction data (see above clause 4.3.c) You must immediately notify Us by e-mail or by telephone (see clause 1.2). Until the moment when Western Union has been notified, You will be liable to Us for damages resulting from the improper use of the Transaction data if You have passed such information to any person other than the Receiver of the money payment or if You have facilitated the improper use of the payment instrument with fraudulent intent or violated Your duty of care intentionally or with gross negligence. Upon receipt of the notification by Western Union You are released of any further liability unless You contributed towards the misuse with the intent to defraud. You shall equally notify Us immediately upon learning of a money transfer which You did not authorise or which was executed erroneously.
4.6. You consent to and acknowledge that We may forward any particulars about You and the Receiver and about the services that We provided to You if necessary to regulatory or government authorities or their bodies if:
4.7. It is your responsibility to ensure all details are accurate before you submit a Transaction request. Once a Transaction request has been submitted, it is not normally possible to amend details of that request. You will have the opportunity to review and confirm all Transaction details before submission.
If You detect errors or encounter problems on the Western Union Website or with the Western Union Online Service, please contact Us by e-mail or by telephone (see clause 1.2).
Prior to the first money transfer order You will be asked to provide a password and a valid e-mail address as Your username. The password and the username must not be used by any other person than Yourself. It is Your responsibility to keep Your password and Your username safe as well as all Transactions carried out using Your password or Your username. NEVER SHARE YOUR PASSWORD WITH ANYBODY AND DO NOT WRITE IT DOWN ANYWHERE! You consent to notifying Us immediately of any unauthorised use of Your password or of Your username or of any other breach of security, by telephone (see clause 1.2). Once You have informed Us of the unauthorised use of Your password or Your username We will immediately take all the necessary steps to prevent any further use of this information. Prompting these steps does not make Us liable for any loss or damage that are the result of Your failure to comply with Your duty in accordance with this paragraph. However, You might be entitled to the reimbursement or credit of a certain amount from Your Card Issuer if Your Bank Card or Your bank account were used in a fraudulent manner.
Western Union will use and process your personal information as described in Our Privacy Statement, including the cross border and third party transfer which it describes and you explicitly consent thereto. Click here for Our Privacy Statement. We are entitled to amend Our Privacy Statement at any time.
8.1. We are liable to You for the proper execution of the money transfer order in accordance with these Terms and Conditions. This means that we will refund the principal amount of the money transfer and the transfer fees plus default interest as stipulated by law to You if a money transfer failed or was faulty due to Our default.
8.2. TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, WESTERN UNION AND ITS AGENTS SHALL NOT BE LIABLE FOR DAMAGES FOR DELAY, NONPAYMENT OR UNDERPAYMENT OF THIS MONEY TRANSFER, OR NON-DELIVERY OF ANY SUPPLEMENTAL MESSAGE, WHETHER CAUSED BY NEGLIGENCE ON THE PART OF THEIR EMPLOYEES OR AGENTS OR OTHERWISE, BEYOND THE SUM EQUIVALENT TO US$500 (IN ADDITION TO REFUNDING THE PRINCIPAL AMOUNT OF THE MONEY TRANSFER AND THE TRANSFER FEE). TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, WESTERN UNION AND AGENTS SHALL NOT BE LIABLE FOR ANY INDIRECT, SPECIAL, INCIDENTAL, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES. NOTWITHSTANDING THE FOREGOING DISCLAIMER, NEITHER WESTERN UNION NOR AGENTS EXCLUDE LIABILITY FOR ANY CONDITION OR WARRANTY THAT CANNOT BE EXCLUDED BY LAW INCLUDING ANY IMPLIED WARRANTY THAT IT WILL RENDER SERVICES WITH DUE CARE AND SKILL. WESTERN UNION’S AND AGENTS’ LIABILITY FOR THE BREACH OF SUCH CONDITION OR WARRANTY SHALL BE LIMITED TO THE GREATER OF THE COST OF PROVIDING THE AFFECTED SERVICE AND THE SUM EQUIVALENT TO US$500. WESTERN UNION SHALL NOT BE LIABLE TO YOU FOR ANY COSTS, EXPENSES, LOSSES OR DAMAGES WHATSOEVER ARISING FROM THE TRANSFER OR DISCLOSURE OF INFORMATION (AS DEFINED BELOW) WHETHER BY REASON OF ANY MISSTATEMENT, OMISSION, DELAY OR ANY OTHER MATTER IN CONNECTION THERETO WHATSOEVER.
8.3. Every claim for damages which You assert must be substantiated with the full available and relevant documentation.
8.4. Subject to applicable law, in any event We do not assume liability for damage that is due to any unusual and unforeseeable events over which Western Union has no control and whose consequences, in spite of exercising due care, Western Union could not have avoided (caused, for example by Force Majeure, failure of telecommunication lines, civil unrest, war or other events such as industrial action or lockouts over which We have no control).
8.5. You agree that no Western Union affiliate owes You any duty of care in respect of any function which may have been outsourced to such affiliate by Western Union. The foregoing disclaimer shall not limit Western Union’s liability for damages resulting from Western Union’s or its agents’ wilful misconduct, gross negligence, death or personal injury in those jurisdictions where such a limitation of liability is void.
8.6. Neither are You liable to Us, nor is Western Union liable to You for damage caused by the proper exercise of Your or Our rights pursuant to these Terms and Conditions.
8.7. Western Union does not guarantee the delivery or suitability of any goods or services paid for by means of a Western Union money transfer. The Sender’s Transaction data is confidential and should not be shared with any other person other than the Receiver. The Sender is cautioned against sending money to any person he does not know. In no event shall Western Union be liable if the Sender communicates Transactional data to any person other than the Receiver. Subject to applicable law, in any event Western Union shall not be liable for any indirect, special, incidental, or consequential damages.
The Western Union Website and the Western Union Online Service, their content and all intellectual property pertaining thereto and contained therein (including copyrights, patents, database rights, trademarks and service marks) are the property of Western Union, of Western Union affiliates or of third parties. All rights to the Western Union Website and the Western Union Online Service remain Our property and/or the property of Western Union affiliates or other third parties. The Western Union Website and the Western Union Online Service must be used only for the purposes permitted by these Terms and Conditions or as described on the Website. You are entitled to display and save a copy of the pages of the Western Union Website for Your personal use. Without Our express written approval You are not entitled to duplicate, publish or modify the Western Union Website, the Western Union Online Service or parts thereof, or to create derivative works from the same, to participate in their assignment or sale, to publish them in the World Wide Web or use them in any other form for any public or commercial purpose. You are not entitled: (a) to use a robot, spider, scraper or any other automated programme to access the Western Union Website or the Western Union Online Service, and/or (b) remove or modify information related to copyrights and trademarks or proprietary information published on the Western Union Website (or printed pages of the Website). The name Western Union and all other names as well as proprietary designations of Western Union products and/or services named on the Western Union Website are exclusive brands of Western Union, Western Union affiliates or of other third parties. Other product, service or company designations appearing on the Website may be the trademarks of their respective owners.
The Western Union Website may contain links and pointers to other World Wide Web Internet sites and resources (“Linked Sites“). Links to any Linked Site do not constitute an endorsement by Us or Our association with any third party resources or their contents. Links do not imply that Western Union is affiliated or associated with third parties or is legally authorised to use any trademark, trade name, logo or copyright symbol displayed in or accessible through a link, or that any Linked Sites are authorised to use any trademark, trade name, logo or copyright symbol of Western Union. You should direct any concerns regarding any Linked Site to such Linked Site’s site administrator or webmaster. Western Union does not represent or endorse the accuracy or reliability of, and expressly disclaims, any advice, opinion, statement, or other information displayed or distributed through any Linked Site. You hereby acknowledge that reliance upon any opinion, advice, or information displayed on or otherwise available through any Linked Site shall be at Your sole risk.
11.1. You have the right to request for cancellation of a money transfer order issued through the Western Union Website within 14 days. The request for cancellation must be notified via chat or by mailing it to us on Western Union Japan KK, Metro City Kamiyacho 7F, 1-5 Toranomon 5-chome, Minato-ku, Tokyo, Japan. For more information, contact Customer Care at 0120-961-623 (toll-free from Japan) or +81-3-6868-0758 if calling from overseas or you can chat with us.
11.2. We will refund to You the amount of the money transfer at the Western Union exchange rate valid at the moment of the refund, however at least at the nominal value of the transfer amount insofar as the funds have not been paid out to the Receiver. Generally, if payment was made by online banking, Western Union will endeavor to refund the funds to the same bank account subject to Western Union having the required bank account information. If the required customer bank account information is not available with Western Union, a refund will be made available through an agent location. In either case, the mode and method of refund will be at the discretion of Western Union.
11.3 Western Union has developed procedures to outline the proper handling of consumer fraud claims. The Western Union global consumer fraud claims procedures are designed to respond to potentially fraudulent money transfer transactions and take appropriate action to mitigate the risk to consumers and Western Union. These procedures outline the process for consumers initiating a consumer fraud claim request to Western Union and describes the method for data collection, investigation and reimbursement. You can reach out to Western Union’s Fraud hotline# 0120-961-623 to lodge a claim request.
These Terms and Conditions, jointly with all other contractual items referred to in these Terms and Conditions, constitute the entire agreement between You and Us and supersede any prior agreements which may exist between You and Us.
If one or several of the provisions to these Terms and Conditions are invalid, unlawful or unenforceable, then this does not affect the validity of the remaining provisions.
14.1. If you wish to make a complaint regarding the Western Union Online Service, please contact Western Union Customer Care number at 0120-961-623 or you can chat with us
14.2. These Terms and Conditions shall be governed and construed in accordance with the laws of Japan and the parties submit to the non-exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of Japan and any courts which have jurisdiction to hear appeals from such country and you waive any right to objection proceedings being conducted in such courts.
15.1. The Transaction is not conducted by a bank.
15.2. The Transaction does not involve the acceptance of deposits or term deposits, savings or installment savings.
15.3. The Transaction is not the subject of insurance payment prescribed by Article 53 of the Deposit Insurance Act (Act No. 34 of 1971) or Article 55 of the Agricultural and Fishery Cooperation Savings Insurance Act (Act No.53 of 1973).
15.4. Western Union has signed and executed a Guarantee Agreement with Mizuho Bank, Ltd. to ensure that all users in Japan are protected by the Performance Protection Funds contained in Article 44 of the Money Transfer Business Act
15.5. You have the right to claim onto performance security funds defined in Article 59 of the Money Transfer Business Law (Act No.59 of 2010).
15.6 The required security deposit amount is determined on every Saturday at 24:00 midnight New York time (every Sunday at 1:00pm Tokyo time) as the maximum of the required security deposit amounts during the 7-day period of the previous week from Sunday 0:00 midnight New York time to Saturday 24:00 midnight New York time. The required deposit amount will be added to the Guarantee Agreement with Mizuho Bank as described in clause 15.4 above. In case the Guarantee Agreement would not work for whatever reason, the required deposit will be deposited with an official depositary within 3 (three) business days (excluding Sundays, Saturdays, holidays prescribed in the Act on National Holidays, January 2nd, January 3rd, and from December 29th to December 31st) from the end of the 7-day period so specified in the preceding sentence.
1 Currently, bank transfer and payment through certified collection partners is the applicable Payment Method. Therefore, the terms “Bank Card” and “Card Issuer” are provided for illustrative purposes only.