Frequently Asked Questions

Anyone who needs to send or receive money quickly uses Western Union. These include people supporting friends or relatives abroad, travellers and business people who need to make fast, international remittances.

Western Union agent locations are independent businesses that provide money transfer services to their customers on behalf of Western Union.

Western Union agent locations offer the ability to send money worldwide using cash.

You’ll need to complete a “To Send Money” form and pay the agent the amount you want to send, plus fees, in cash.

To pick up the money, the receiver will complete a “To Receive Money” form at any Western Union agent location and provide proper identification. The agent then pays the transfer amount to the receiver.

You will need to bring your proof of identity to make transfers at an agent location. Sending money with Western Union from an agent location doesn’t require credit cards, debit cards, bank accounts or memberships.

Depending on the country and the agent, where the receiver picks up the money, the acceptable IDs will vary. In general passports and national IDs are acceptable. A driver’s license might not be valid.

In some cases the receiver might also need to verify their current address, for example with a utility bill.

You can usually send any amount. However, for certain amounts and transfers, you may be subject to additional security and asked to provide additional information or documentation.

Generally, we will pay cash to your receiver. But, in some cases, payment may be made by cheque or a combination of cash and cheque.

Other restrictions may apply.

Any time after the money has been sent, you can check your transfer status online. All you need is the tracking number (MTCN), which is printed on your receipt, the receiver’s country and the amount (receive amount).

You can check your transfer status online. All you need is the tracking number (MTCN), which is printed on your receipt, the receiver’s country and the amount (receive amount).

You can pick up your money at any agent location. You’ll need to complete a “To Receive Money” form with the following information:

• Name
• Address
• Amount expected
• Sender’s name
• Sender’s city and country

Acceptable ID documents are also required.

Some restrictions may apply.

Each Western Union agent location determines its own hours of operation. Some have extended hours and some even stay open 24 hours.

Find a nearby agent location.

Find a nearby agent location online or look for Western Union in your local telephone directory.

All Millennium Bank S.A., Towarzystwo Finansowe SKOK S.A., Accord Finance and Twister locations only send money transfers in PLN.

• For Towarzystwo Finansowe SKOK locations: Maximum principal payout amount is 10.000 PLN per person, per transfer, per day.
• For locations offering US dollar payout: receivers should contact Customer Care.
• For Mazowiecki Bank Ragionalny: they will pay on test question alone for amounts up to $500 US dollars or local equivalent per person, per transfer, per day.
• For Millennium Bank S.A., Towarzystwo Finansowe SKOK S.A., Accord Finance and Twister locations: they only pay in PLN.
• Receiver must be 18 years old to collect money.
• Receiver must present the correct tracking number (MTCN).

Beginning in November 2009, the Western Union system will automatically reject certain transactions. These transactions will be rejected at certain principal thresholds and according to other criteria, which we are not publishing so as not to compromise the integrity of the controls. Western Union will refund the money plus the fees back to the sender. The process can take from 24 to 48 hours before the sender will be contacted.