• Western Union

Western Union

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Overview

Western Union has a rating of 1.2 stars from 282 reviews, indicating that most customers are generally dissatisfied with their purchases. Reviewers complaining about Western Union most frequently mention customer service, money transfer, and bank account problems. Western Union ranks 172nd among Money Transfer sites.

  • Service
    131
  • Value
    123
  • Quality
    120
Positive reviews (last 12 months): 8.7%
Positive
2
Neutral
0
Negative
21
28
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How would you rate Western Union?
Top Positive Review

“Transferring money to Philippines”

Steven W.
12/23/23

I transfered money to Philippines 3 times with their app didn't have any problems. They gave me a good exchange rate and everything went through smoothly. 2nd time I made a slight mistake with the receivers surname and when I contacted them about it they sorted it out quickly. I don't know why all the negative reviews I found western union excellent

Top Critical Review

“Never would I use Western Union”

Michael K.
10/23/24

I will never never use Western Union again. I put a stop pay on a money order in June and still have not gotten my money back. Very unworthy company. Every time I call they tell me to wait a couple more days. It has 3 months. I wouldn't pick a star at all if I didn't have to.

Reviews (282)

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Reviews that mention popular keywords

customer service (76) money order (19) bank account (20) money transfer (43)
Thumbnail of user fucky283
Utah
1 review
1 helpful vote
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August 29th, 2022

I sent a money transfer and realized there was a typo that prevented the receiver from picking up the money. I immediately calcelled that and did another one that worked, eventually. Now try to get your money back from them! They have promised at least 6 times that I will get my money in no more that 7 days. Now it's over 40 days and all I hear is more promises. I wonder if I will ever see it! Time to call again to complain, and hear more worthless promises. I would give 0 stars if it was an option.

Products used:
none, jjust money transfer

Service
Value
Quality
Thumbnail of user deboraho67
Arizona
1 review
0 helpful votes
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April 28th, 2019

In my entire life I have NEVER had to pay a $15 processing fee for a lost money order that was lost by the United States Post Office. These people are thefts and it's LEGAL! Thank goodness that I have not had to send any money to anyone. Who the #%#% knows how much it would have cost if that had not made it. I have purchased money orders from this company for a decade without a problem. I HAD NO IDEA they charged this enormous fee if a money order was lost. Thinking all the time I had no worries if one did get lost in the mail. They would stand behind it with my receipt. Who the heck can afford such a charge? Western Union are bigger thefts than the BANKS! Honestly, I didn't think it was possible for anyone to be worst than our BANKS in this country. I stand corrected!

Thumbnail of user johnk5444
New York
1 review
0 helpful votes
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September 9th, 2023

Easy to send money from US but when receiving, you can't fine location that dispense your money.
I googled WU locations. There's a lot near me so I went to a place. They don't do this anymore.
So I went to another location. Something

I went to Rite aid. They said I only can receive up to $300. What?
Then I went online WU app and entered my info. It gives me other locations. So I went to two locations and one finally said I can receive my money. I went there and gave my ID and tracking number. The he asked, did you sign up online? If then you can only get money from check cashing place. Sorry dude. WTF!

Never ever use WU!

Service
Value
Quality
Thumbnail of user myyen5
Canada
1 review
2 helpful votes
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September 23rd, 2023

I'm from Canada, my friend sent me USD 900 and the current exchange rate is 1.35 Western Union forced you to do the conversion in CAD they gave 1.21% they wouldn't let you receive your money in USD (900X1.35=1215) (900X1.21=1088.50). See the difference 126.50. Do yourself a favour and do not send money through Western Union, they gave you a terrible exchange rate. Sept 23,2023

Thumbnail of user josea813
California
1 review
0 helpful votes
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March 25th, 2021

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..

Service
Value
Quality
Thumbnail of user stanislavd8
New York
1 review
0 helpful votes
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June 14th, 2022

They used to have a good service. Not anymore. I spent half an hour on the phone over a $200 transfer to my fiancée. When they said it was approved, my fiancée mentioned that she was not able to pick up the monies, because of some issue. I called Western union again and they mentioned that I've reached my daily limit. What, over $200? So what happened, they said now i have to wait over 7 days to get my monies back. Why are they stealing my monies to use it for their needs for 7 days? Plus, my fiancée relied on that monies and then she will be starving for the entire day until I find some other means. Western union should be prohibited from use. They will steal your monies!

Service
Value
Quality
Thumbnail of user arthurb58
Texas
39 reviews
136 helpful votes
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September 1st, 2016

I created an account with Western Union online in hopes to having a more convenient way to pay some of my household bills, however so far NONE of my creditors to include my mortgage company shows up in their data base. For as long as this company has been in existence, they sure do seem to be under-established, from my personal experience so far, I would tell anyone considering using them to not waste their time.

Thumbnail of user oriolv1
Benin
1 review
1 helpful vote
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February 9th, 2023

If possible, I would give them an even lower review.

My wife and I are expats living in Benin and we tried to send money from our French bank account to a WU office in Benin –our French bank did not allow us to retrieve more money and we needed the cash to buy a car–. The local WU office would not give me the money and suggest me to contact the French customer service to solve the problem.

Well, let me tell you that I had the worst customer service experience EVER. Treating me like a criminal, and mocking me because I did not speak a perfect French on the phone (yes, I'm from Spain and obviously I have an accent). I cannot express the frustration and impotence that I had after that call.

The funniest thing is that the same story happened to us twice! First to my wife and after some months the same happened to me. Unbelievable.

I tried to file a formal complaint but never got a reply.

Service
Value
Quality
Thumbnail of user usertime61
Jamaica
1 review
2 helpful votes
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October 6th, 2023

These people made me 5 whole days to pick up the money my husband sent and after 5 days I still didn't get anything I had to cancel and wait 8 additional days and my husband still can't the money back up until now I would have starve if it was for western union what ever had u do please don't use western union ever save yourself the hassle imaging waiting three weeks and still haven't gotten a dime

Products used:
Direct to account

Thumbnail of user nansimbif
GB
1 review
0 helpful votes
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November 22nd, 2021

Usually I just send money through Western Union without checking the exchange rate, that is until I noticed a hug drop, checked the exchage rate and Western Union were offering a considerate big difference... very very low rate. Its very angering because they charge a fee... so they are making money on top of your money. That is not transparency its very crooked

Value
Thumbnail of user abdulr99
Pakistan
3 reviews
7 helpful votes
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May 24th, 2020

Be aware! Scam western union Do not send payment to this company!
Do not send payment via western union Very bad customer services and very bad payment transfer system!

Payment sending date 22/May/2020 today is 25th May and still not deposit payment in my Ac!
4 days and payment still in progress!
Be aware! Scam western union. Do not send payment to this company!

Thumbnail of user vipulp17
Georgia
1 review
0 helpful votes
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October 13th, 2021

After two workings days, not getting money or confirmation when will get money … tracking shows I will get my money in after 0 hours. That's being said I should get my money … there 24*7 chat is useless … not answering… only today I tried almost 20 times and I got two time response. First response - technician error and 2nd response- I will get my money end of the day. Now time is 9.04 pm … I didn't get my money and tracking says under process …giving 1 star because can't find option for 0 star

Thumbnail of user pamrosel
Washington
1 review
0 helpful votes
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December 12th, 2021

I send 4 times money to my son to Australia, to this day my son can't get his money. I'm trying to get the money out even when I have everything to ID to get my money out.

Western union I want my money back over 5000. 00

Thumbnail of user darnelln1
California
3 reviews
3 helpful votes
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March 6th, 2013

Western Union is the worst. Any website that wants you to pay with Western Union is usually a scam. And Western Union itself charges extortionist rates on all sorts of its financial products. I'd avoid at all cost out of principle as well as as a consumer.

Thumbnail of user felt
Washington
1 review
1 helpful vote
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April 27th, 2021

NOT a good company to deal with. I called customer service to fix a minor mistake but they said he can't fix.
What's the use of a customer service if you can't help the customer?! USELESS!
So I asked if he can't fix it, can he cancel it... customer service said, I have to wait 7 days to get my money back... WHAT THE "F!...

Thumbnail of user myradimadima
Philippines
1 review
0 helpful votes
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May 31st, 2023

Maricel (HC Pawnshop-Western Union authorized agent) in Bongabong Or. Mdo. Had provided me with a great customer service, showed great patience & understanding. My 1st time to wire money, not only successfully & quickly but also painlessly. (Not quite as smooth at first due to Western Union's system, but Maricel was patient, diligent & assisted me well through the whole process). Thank you Maricel & HC Pawnshop. Mabuhay!

Products used:
Money Wire Transfer

Service
Value
Quality
Thumbnail of user jawaida1
California
1 review
0 helpful votes
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February 10th, 2022

I sent money to Pakistan 3 weeks ago for medical reason and after 6-7 calls and 3 weeks later the money is still not transferred. When I call, i keep getting the run around, we are checking... Agents are rude and incompetent... WU needs to be reported to the FDCC for their operations and customer service.
You do business with these people, you will be sorry! And dont say I didnt warn you!

Thumbnail of user yassmineo
Texas
1 review
0 helpful votes
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September 26th, 2021

This is the worst money transfer service I have ever used. I sent the money and unfortunately the receiver had problems picking it up. So I supposed to get my money back. Whenever I called thier customer service they are rude and uneducated people. Who don't let you finish a single sentence to explain the issue. They don't know how to solve problems so they go the easy way keep redirecting me from person to the other or a store to store. And I still did not get my refund. I won't use it again and I am going to fight thier rudness until I get my refund back. I don't recommend this service to anyone money gram is better service and professionalism.

Service
Value
Quality
Thumbnail of user rubyg38
Canada
1 review
2 helpful votes
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January 12th, 2019

I tried to send money to a friend in South Africa. They refused to release the funds because they ASSUMED that it was a Fraud Scam. I told them it was for an emergency for a friend that I both knew and trusted. This is what happens when a lie is started by someone and spreads like wildfire. I am now being viewed as an accomplice to suspicious activity in my bank account. There was No such evidence and because of the way I was treated Do Not Send Money thru Western Union or Moneygram unless you want to be treated like a criminal.

Thumbnail of user shereet13
Hawaii
1 review
2 helpful votes
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June 22nd, 2022

I tried to use this service for years. Every since I moved to Oahu, Hawaii when money transfers are most important, these bots are GARBAGE! They are crooks. You send money and they lie with horrible customer service. You can't understand the customer service agents when you call in. If you send money, then of course it's urgent! They lie, say service is not up for years. TrashBags!

Products used:
Waiting 7 to 10 business days for a refund! They are TRASH!

Service
Value
Quality
Thumbnail of user jdt21
Georgia
1 review
0 helpful votes
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July 19th, 2022

I had an emergency situation where I needed to send $100 USD to a friend presently in the Philipines. WU decided they had to 'protect consumers' and cancelled the transfer. Three calls to their customer service center were totally unproductive... they were still freezing (and eventually cancelled) the transaction. I was finally able succeed in sending my friend the needed funds through PAYPAL, which took less than 10 minutes and the funds were available to my friend 3 minutes later. I've been a regular user of Western Union for years but today will mark the last day to EVER use Western Union again. Oh, and PayPal handled it with no fees to me or the receceiver on the other end. Let me repeat: NO FEES! Won't find that at WU either I'd bet.

Tip for consumers:
Use PayPal instead.

Products used:
Western Union International Money Transfer.

Service
Value
Quality
Thumbnail of user elizabethp1790
Australia
1 review
0 helpful votes
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August 17th, 2022

They owe me $1200. It went out of my ANZ bank account and Western Union is saying they have not received it. My ANZ bank have confirmed with me it has gone to them and it says so on my bank statement. I have called them 15 - 20 times. They cannot problem solve. They cannot speak English well. They talk about some back office whom they have no contact with. I still dont have my $1200. They wont give it back as they said they never got it which is a lie. Now I have to email them my bank statements. They ARE THE WORST. DO NOT USE THEM.

Tip for consumers:
I have had to call the Colorado Head Office with this ongoing issue

Service
Value
Quality
Thumbnail of user bibiazleemaa
KN
1 review
0 helpful votes
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July 11th, 2022

Very bad service, you have to go back and change the misspell the country that receives the money not allowed a single mis typed... more than twice my name was misspelled at money gram and the reciever get to collect it and I don't have to change it... please look into this we don't have times n gas to waste

Service
Value
Quality
Thumbnail of user elaineh591
Florida
1 review
0 helpful votes
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July 11th, 2022

Sent funds to Jamsica and the recipient was asked to present 2 ID. Unable to do so within a few weeks funds were returned to the sender. Sender went and collected the funds and was barred by WU from using their services. Thank God for Money gram

Thumbnail of user marynak5
Ukraine
1 review
1 helpful vote
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September 11th, 2020

Disgusting service and attitude towards customers. We tried to send money from Ukraine to Germany, the money was accepted from us and not sent to our recipient. For a week they fooled our heads with calls and different stuiped questions. As a result they said that they would not send the money, because Ukraine is not a safe country. Is it ok that you accept money in Ukraine? Was it safety to take our money? If it's not safety for you in our country, you should close the representative offices in Ukraine in general and do not waste your clients' time.

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Use Western Union to send money online or in person to friends and family around the world to more than 200 countries and territories from the United States.

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