Western Union review

Western Union fees and exchange rates explained

Western Union has different fees for nearly every country it sends to. These fees also depend on how you are paying for the transfer and how the transfer will be picked up. Agent location fees typically aren’t posted online, but Western Union’s online fees are based on:

• Location. The fees you pay will be different when sending to different countries around the world.
• Payment. Paying with a credit card versus a debit card or a bank account will have different fees. Additionally, if paying with a credit card you may be charged fees by your credit card provider, too.
• Receiving method. Picking up cash is typically more expensive than having money sent straight to a bank account.
• Variable exchange rates. Western Union applies different exchange rates to different transfer types. It also uses stronger or weaker exchange rates based on the currency you are transferring.

When sending from the UK for cash pickup, here are the fees we encountered using Western Union’s price estimator tool on 18 April 2024:

Payment and receiving options

There are many ways to send money overseas with Western Union, each with its own set of limits, fees and restrictions. Western Union’s online, phone and in-store options include:

Not all options are available for all markets.

How long does a Western Union money transfer take?

You can send your transfer a few different ways, depending on the amount of fees you want to pay and how quickly you need it to arrive.

• Fastest option – as little as 10 minutes

  Pay for your transfer with a credit or debit card and have it sent for cash pickup. When using a credit or debit card you’ll typically pay a higher fee, but your money can arrive in as little as 10 minutes. However, your credit card may charge a cash advance fee, further increasing the cost of your total transfer.

• Cheapest option – up to 2 business days

  Using a bank account to pay for your transfer is typically the cheapest way to send money, but is also almost always the slowest. Depending on verification needs you may have to wait longer while Western Union confirms you own the registered bank account.

How much money can I send with Western Union?

Your limits will vary based on your transaction history, the recipient’s country, your country, and the service you choose.

Online: If you want to send more than £800 over a 5-day period, Western Union will need you to confirm your identity first – after that you’ll be able to send up to £4,000 within a 3-day period. Unless you’re sending a bank transfer to another bank account, in which case you’ll be able to send up to £50,000 per transfer depending on the selected country.

Agent location: There’s usually no restriction on the amount of money you may send at an agent location. However, some countries set limits on how much can be received. If you have questions about a specific amount you’re sending or a specific country, you can call customer services on 0808 234 9168 to find out.

How do I use Western Union?

Western Union offers several ways for you to send money. As a minimum you’ll need:

• A Western Union account. It’s easy to set up a free account as part of your transfer.
• Valid payment method. You can pay by debit card for Western Union’s fastest and cheapest transfer or use a credit card or bank account. You can also pay in cash at an agent location.
• Recipient’s contact information. If sending to a bank account, you’ll need the bank name and account number. If you’re sending a prepaid card for home delivery, you’ll need the address and phone number.
• Your contact and payment information. The card number or account number and security information for the account you’re transferring from.

If your recipient is picking up cash in person, let them know to bring along a valid ID that matches the name you are transferring to.

The registration and transfer process

You’ll need to create a Western Union online profile before you can send funds online. It’s free and relatively quick to register. If you don’t want to register online you can contact Western Union by phone and provide the necessary information that way.

If you prefer the security of a face-to-face transaction, visit one of Western Union’s 12,000 UK locations to transfer funds using cash, a credit or debit card.

Steps to send a Western Union transfer online

Signing up and sending money through Western Union can be done online, in person or through the mobile app.

1. Create your free account using your name and contact information.
2. Verify your account through the email and phone number provided.
3. Provide the required identification, if asked.
4. Start your transfer by clicking Send money.
5. Fill in your transfer details, select payment methods and click Send.
6. Refer to your receipt for tracking details.

How do I track a Western Union transfer?

You have a few options: track online, through an agent or by telephone. All options require the same information, which is your MTCN or Money Transfer Control Number. This is Western Union’s unique tracking number assigned to your money transfer. Your recipient will need this number when picking up money at an agent location.

If you don’t have the MTCN, you can track transfers using:

• Sender’s phone number OR Sender and receiver names
• Receiver’s country and amount sent
• Date of transfer

Additional information may also be needed, which is why tracking with the MTCN is the easiest option.

What are Western Union’s Digital Locations?

Digital Locations are Western Union’s way of bringing agent location services to the digital world. This service is first launching in a handful of countries – Austria, Belgium, Italy, Portugal and Oman – but Western Union has plans to expand the program.

Users connecting to a Digital Location can expect the same level of customer service they’d get from a regular agent location, but digitally. Customers can expect multiple language support and video or phone chat with a Western Union money transfer personal-service assistant.

As it’s not available yet in the UK, though, if you want to send money digitally then be sure to compare your options to save money on your next transfer.

Western Union lawsuits and customer complaints explained

A large number of customer complaints is fairly standard for companies as massive and far-reaching as Western Union, but that doesn’t mean it can’t improve.

Online seller fraud and money transfer scams

This is the most common type of complaint by users online, and there is little that Western Union can do besides educate its customers to help them avoid these situations. Typical scams through Western Union include:

• Payment requests. Someone online offers to sell you something and asks that you pay through Western Union. They pick up the cash that you sent to a Western Union agent location and you never hear from them again.
• Overpayment scam. You receive a check that appears to be valid for a new job, a service or a product you are offering. The check amount is more than you earned, so the sender requests you return the extra amount by money transfer. After sending the money transfer you’ll learn that the check bounced, and there is no way to reverse the money transfer.
• Tax scam. You are contacted by someone claiming to be from a government agency, stating that you owe taxes and they must be paid immediately. They will claim the fastest way to send money and avoid penalties is through a money transfer.

To combat these types of scams, Western Union has started providing clear warnings on their website before a user sends a money transfer. This popup warning requires users to click Accept before sending their transfer. Also, Western Union has a specific Twitter account dedicated to fraud awareness that tweets about the newest and most relevant scams while they are popping up. Also, Western Union now operates 24/7 phone lines for customer support all over the world.

Western Union reviews and complaints

Western Union reviews are generally positive, with the expected negative reviews popping up on review sites like Trustpilot. It is no surprise that there are many users with great experiences and many users with poor experiences, given that Western Union has hundreds of millions of customers. Independent research of any brand is therefore always a great idea before using it.

We’ve done some of the footwork for you and compiled reviews from around the internet. These reviews are accurate as of 18 April 2024.

How safe is Western Union?

Between 2004 and 2010, Western Union was accused of allowing fraudulent transactions and received more than 550,000 complaints about fraud. Since then, Western Union has paid over $586 million in fines to settle this issue. The outcome of the lawsuits lead Western Union to agree to:

• Provide clear fraud warnings.
• Increase its websites and telephone numbers to handle customer fraud.
• Block any and all money transfers sent to a person who is the subject of a fraud report until it is cleared up.
• Refund a money transfer if Western Union fails to comply with its anti-fraud procedures and the sender is the target of fraud.

Being extra cautious by only sending or receiving money from people you know is a necessary extra step for your safety.

Western Union now protects your international money transfer using digital safeguards and boasts a long history of service.

• SSL technology. Western Union uses encryption technology to keep your bank and identifying information safe along every step of the transfer.
• Backup for recipients without ID. If your recipients are in an emergency situation without ID, you can establish a test question to ensure that your funds are not delayed.
• In business since 1851. You can rest assured that Western Union has had many years to work out any kinks.
• Publicly traded company. It has a reputation to uphold and shareholders to keep happy.
• 24-hour customer support. It offers around-the-clock help online and by phone.

How do I report suspicious activity to Western Union?

If you receive an email or call from somebody claiming to be Western Union, do not click any links or provide any information. Western Union will never email you to confirm your ID, password or payment details.

Forward the email or send details of the call to spoof@westernunion.com, and report it to Action Fraud and the FCA.

Does Western Union have an app?

More on the best money transfer apps

How does My WU: Western Union’s reward program work?

My WU is Western Union’s membership program and it is free to sign up for. You can earn points by completing qualifying transactions. Follow these steps to get started:

1. Sign up for free. An email and mobile number is required to sign up, and you have to opt-in after creating your Western Union account.
2. Send money to earn points. You’ll earn 5 points for every transaction made.
3. Redeem points for rewards. 20 points get you 25% off your next transaction fee and 30 points get you 50% off; with other special promotions offered throughout the year.

Pro tip: Saving your My WU points to spend in larger amounts may net you greater rewards per point spent. Although it can be tempting to spend 20 or 30 points, save those points up and you can reap even more savings.

Bottom line

Western Union offers plenty of useful transfer and cash pickup options when you need to send money abroad. Before you commit to sending your hard-earned cash, though, make sure you compare other available options to find the best deal. Although Western Union is often one of the most convenient options, it is always worth checking to see if there are additional companies with lower fees and stronger exchange rates for you to benefit from.

Want to compare Western Union with other services side-by-side?

• Western Union vs. MoneyGram