FW Admin
6 July 2006, 17:49
Further to recent events surrounding the money transfer activities of Western Union, we feel that it is necessary to qualify some of the advice given from this forum.
Firstly, Western Union Operators on their toll-free assistance lines inform callers that money transfers effected through Western Union can only be collected from the same country as the recipient address. For example, if a person sends a money transfer from a Western Union agency in the USA to a recipient in the UK, then it can ONLY be collected from a Western Union agency within the UK. If this is indeed the case, then it is welcome news.
However, on viewing the policies and procedures of Western Union money transfers on their own website, there is a distinct contradiction:
From this Western Union FAQ link (http://www.westernunion.com/info/faqMT.asp?country=global):
3. How does the Western Union Money Transfer service work from an Agent location?
http://www.westernunion.com/images/pixel.gif
The sender initiates the transaction by completing a "To 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 "To Receive Money" form at any Western Union Agent location and provides proper identification. The agent then pays the transfer amount to the receiver. As can be clearly seen, the policy states that money can be collected at any location. Further in the FAQ page, it states:
9. How do I pick up a money transfer?
http://www.westernunion.com/images/pixel.gif
You may pick up your money transfer at any Agent location. You will need to complete a "To Receive Money" form with the following information: name, address, amount expected, as well as the sender's name, telephone number, city and state being sent from. Valid identification is also required. Some restrictions may apply. Once again, you can see the clear contradiction in payment policy on transfer collection. As of this date, there is no mention anywhere on the Western Union website that collections can only be made from within the recipient's own country.
I spoke to Western Union, initially to Customer Services, who firstly assured me that it was not possible for payments to be collected from any other country apart from the recipient's. When I questioned him about the FAQ contents on their website, he quoted that he could not comment and referred me to their "legal department".
I called the number, and after waiting a considerable time, was put through to a person in their "security department" who could not tell me one way or another, as it was not within their scope. Their legal department can only speak to law enforcement and/or lawyers, so I was transferred back to Customer Services again.
On speaking to a supervisor, I was informed of a slightly different policy than before; namely that "collections SHOULD not be paid in any other country apart from the one in the recipient's address", but that in fact it depended upon the "curtains" of the country in which the collection takes place, as to whether they can effectively "see" money transfers outside of their own agency scope. Basically, this was confirmed by a manager, so in reality, if a Western Union agency in, say, Nigeria, can see the transfer details, then they can pay it out to the recipient (after meeting the other conditions of course). This scenario was not rejected or denied.
To summarize; we would again urge everyone to be extremely vigilant in sending money by means of Western Union transfers, as we have not been informed for certain one way or another as to the precise definition of their collection policies.
Until this has been clarified beyond any doubt, we shall continue to include warnings that money may be collected at any location in the world within our information posts and bulletins.
Please contact any of the administrators or moderators on this website (or use the Contact us form) if you have any further evidenciary information that will help resolve this issue.
Firstly, Western Union Operators on their toll-free assistance lines inform callers that money transfers effected through Western Union can only be collected from the same country as the recipient address. For example, if a person sends a money transfer from a Western Union agency in the USA to a recipient in the UK, then it can ONLY be collected from a Western Union agency within the UK. If this is indeed the case, then it is welcome news.
However, on viewing the policies and procedures of Western Union money transfers on their own website, there is a distinct contradiction:
From this Western Union FAQ link (http://www.westernunion.com/info/faqMT.asp?country=global):
3. How does the Western Union Money Transfer service work from an Agent location?
http://www.westernunion.com/images/pixel.gif
The sender initiates the transaction by completing a "To 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 "To Receive Money" form at any Western Union Agent location and provides proper identification. The agent then pays the transfer amount to the receiver. As can be clearly seen, the policy states that money can be collected at any location. Further in the FAQ page, it states:
9. How do I pick up a money transfer?
http://www.westernunion.com/images/pixel.gif
You may pick up your money transfer at any Agent location. You will need to complete a "To Receive Money" form with the following information: name, address, amount expected, as well as the sender's name, telephone number, city and state being sent from. Valid identification is also required. Some restrictions may apply. Once again, you can see the clear contradiction in payment policy on transfer collection. As of this date, there is no mention anywhere on the Western Union website that collections can only be made from within the recipient's own country.
I spoke to Western Union, initially to Customer Services, who firstly assured me that it was not possible for payments to be collected from any other country apart from the recipient's. When I questioned him about the FAQ contents on their website, he quoted that he could not comment and referred me to their "legal department".
I called the number, and after waiting a considerable time, was put through to a person in their "security department" who could not tell me one way or another, as it was not within their scope. Their legal department can only speak to law enforcement and/or lawyers, so I was transferred back to Customer Services again.
On speaking to a supervisor, I was informed of a slightly different policy than before; namely that "collections SHOULD not be paid in any other country apart from the one in the recipient's address", but that in fact it depended upon the "curtains" of the country in which the collection takes place, as to whether they can effectively "see" money transfers outside of their own agency scope. Basically, this was confirmed by a manager, so in reality, if a Western Union agency in, say, Nigeria, can see the transfer details, then they can pay it out to the recipient (after meeting the other conditions of course). This scenario was not rejected or denied.
To summarize; we would again urge everyone to be extremely vigilant in sending money by means of Western Union transfers, as we have not been informed for certain one way or another as to the precise definition of their collection policies.
Until this has been clarified beyond any doubt, we shall continue to include warnings that money may be collected at any location in the world within our information posts and bulletins.
Please contact any of the administrators or moderators on this website (or use the Contact us form) if you have any further evidenciary information that will help resolve this issue.