Western Union Reviews
Based on 39 customer reviews and online research, westernunion.com has a consumer rating of 1.6 out of 5 stars, indicating that most customers are not satisfied with Western Union.
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1 Star(30)
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How would you rate Western Union?
Top Reviews
WU recently instituted a new policy which constitutes harassment and intrusion into personal affairs. A money transfer to my family in China which was being repeated over a year was rejected. I spent 2 hours getting to their compliance dept. which finally told me they were just checking for possible fraud and there was no issue. My money was tied up for 10+ days. I was assured by the first contact that I should not have this problem again. The second time, after 4 days I saw the transfer had not gone through and I had to call. The rep started asking personal questions about how long I knew the transferee (my wife) and even how we contacted each other, when last seen etc. The sheer arrogance! This despite the record of probably 20 transfers in your system. I finally gave up answering their personally intrusive questions and told them to cancel and return my money. This will be another 10 day wait for me. I'm done with WU for good.
The money nannies at WU denied my $2,000 transfer to my fiance in Ukraine based on the fact they think we're committing fraud. I tried initially via the website which is what I've always done, and it denied the transaction (and no reason was given). I was forced to go to a bank, withdraw the money, then drive to the nearest WU location 30 miles away, because the locations WU lists on their websites are out-of-date/incorrect. Then when I found out my fiance could not get the money I had to call their customer service, where I spoke with some Hispanic woman with an irritating voice that kept saying she couldn't understand me. I had to answer 10 annoying questions about the purity of my motives in sending the money. Finally, after being on hold another 10 minutes, they denied the transaction.
They have no right to cancel transactions for valid members/senders and make anyone answer questions they have no right to ask, and it's not their place to save people from themselves. If you can't protect yourself from fraud and depend on others to do it for you, you deserve what you get.
This isn't 1950, and Western Union isn't a division of the U.S. government, no matter how much they'd like to pretend to be. There are other, better services now to use, and with lower fees.
Customer Reviews (39)
I live in CA and have friends from Nigeria and Ghana, those I used to visit before Covid-19 and those on the Continent. Covid-19 really negatively impacted my friends but I seemed to have really benefited financially from it and wanted to start sending money while helping my friends here as well. Friends here suggested Western Union. My first couple of transactions were bumpy but ok, then they took my money. I finally called since my friend didn't receive and they asked me lots of questions and accused me of scamming. Then they canceled my transfer and told me I would get my money back in my account in about 7 business days. I had to file a complaint with my bank to get my money back.
I told them what I am here to say, I have had enough of RACIST companies like this. I have a Masters degree and all my friends are here in school or have degrees and so are the people I was trying to help. The amounts I sent were well below policy and no other WU policies were broken. DON'T USE WU Services. Corrupt companies like this will soon go bankrupt, go out of business. WU will collapse and END. It is time for them to END so don't do business with them to speed their END along.
I purchased a Western Union money order that was lost in the mail. I followed all of the instructions on the back of the money order referencing a Western Union money order tracing request which included providing the original money order receipt and enclosing a $15.00 non-refundable processing fee. The instructions also noted that at its discretion, Western Union may deduct the fee from your refund if it, the $15.00 service fee is not enclosed... please allow 30 days for processing. Per the instructions, I sent a check for $15.00 which was cashed by Western Union. In return, I received a check for $7.00, citing that since my money order was over 1 year old, per the terms of their service contract, a $18.00 service fee was deducted. Mind you, this "service contract" noting that if the money order has not been used within one year of purchase date is not found on the front or back of the money order. Mr. J L, Legal Analyst, if you're going to publicly document this information, as I filed a complaint with the Better Business Bureau, it's important to know your product. Western Union did return the $15.00 processing fee. The $18.00 should have never been deducted to begin with. It's not about the amount, it's the principal. Again, know your product, and if you're wrong, learn from your mistake and make it right. The customer service reps are awful. In the letter received from the Legal Analyst, he stated that the service contract is on the back of the money order. Stephanie at least that's the name that she gave me, a CSR, said no, the service contract is on the front... know your product. Complaints aren't bad... learn from them.
I don't think I've ever sent money without having an issue. It's never clear if the money has been sent or not and I'm always concerned about a double transfer.
The last 4 times I have attempted to use this service it has been an awful experience! WU has no problem taking your money and CHARGING YOU HIGH FEES but won't release the funds TO THE RECICIVER. WU puts transfer on hold and your forced to call back to have funds released and after a lengthy hold time you get a customer service personnel that barely speaks English. WU says they are protecting your from FRUAD well who is protecting us from WU? Don't use this service there is too much competition out there for money transfers. Don't be fooled WU is a trap.
BTW: I just spent 20 mins on hold (3rd call back for same transaction)and the system automatically disconnected me. WU should be put out of business.
My first time involved in a Western Union transaction and it has been terrible.
You look up locations to receive a transfer only to discover many of them have a low maximum, usually $300, others only allow you to send out money, not receive it, and other locations are dead locations no one bothered to purge from the list.
Western Union sucks and I will never use it again.
Terrible at resolving customer grievances. My pending cases were unresolved and money unrefunded. Despite providing WU with all the information like Tracking numbers, MTCNs, bank receipts etc. I kept getting the run around. Extremely incompetent after service, with no coordination between departments. Very time-consuming and frustrating experience for me.
Here is the copy of my letter sent to the Western Union, which is self explanatory/ Search about Western Union settlement and you will find out how this company have taken millions of dollars from their clients. "Greetings, there is a long story of corruption and no one can deny it. I have sent $45,000 via Western Union and received back on U$20,000. I put this behind me and continue to use your company
I have sent you the numbers of the transactions, the amount and the date of the transactions, yet your company gave me only 4 transactions within four months, skipping 36 months of transactions. I really don't know what else to do but to look for an attorney and bring you to court to present the records I'm entitled to.
Western Union has had a reputation of fraud that caused billions of dollars in losses for your clients. In my particular case I have proof that the money was cashed out, I'm just asking you for the income tax records and your company is fraudulently presenting a 4 months records when I asked for a 3 years records. Not to mention that at every request your company maliciously request another document from me and start the date of the research 2 weeks after the original request and it did so on and on and on, until it ran out of excuse and time and presented me with a 4 months records.
I know it is easy to send money via western union and it is easy to lose it too... I hope that people, myself included, find an honest means to send money instead of being ripped off by your company time and again. Your campany took over US$45,000 from me and settled with U$20,000.00 and in this missing transaction, different from the original rip off, you are omitting over US$6,000 for one client and a few thousands dollars more to other clients. Your company has stolen and caused me enormous grief." I hope people understand that the small fee that is charged and the convenience that Wester Union offers, does not pay for the fraud your company is embedded with and the enormous loss and suffering your company causes.
They have no customer service to speak of if you’re unhappy with their services you have to email them with your complaint not one of your customer service representative can help you
I used their services maybe half a dozen times and then all of a sudden they put my account on hold but no one could tell me why or cared.
I would not recommend them for sending money as it turns out the rates are higher and exchange rates more expensive than other options you have I recommend you do some research
I’m very unhappy with the customer service of Western Union and When I talked to them they didn’t really seem to care
Today 4/21/2021-no fluently English speaking CS guy (sounds like African or Indian guy) needs more training on how to be an effective customer service. He was so fast and he put this echoing noise on me while he claimed he was explaining which I didn't hear any of those because of that noise then when I told him I didn't hear anything because of that echoing noise, he told me this "You let me talk & talk then you will tell me you did hear it & you want me to repeat it"? Is that how Western Union trained this guy to work as customer service? I told him he was rude & I don't want to talk to him. Zero star for him. Whoever you are, or for those who are like him, go online even YouTube, you will learn & get ideas on how to be an effective customer service or just learn the basic to work as customer service. Next CS who helped me correct the name of the receiver is really good. Kudos to you & to those who are like you. Western Union needs more employees like you. Mahalo
outdated , slow support ! the only thing their support knows is : We apologize for any inconvenience and look forward to help you with your money transfer needs.
Thank you for choosing Western Union. no sorry this is the last time i will ever use your services !!!!!!
It really been difficult working with western union but still recommended
Why is it western union given people hard time to collect their money? After all your service is not for free. Why is there a problem to send 1500 or 2000?
And people are allowed to send to countries like mexico? And yet there is a problem to collect? This sucks..
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