Issues with Western Union

[JuanCarlos70]

Greetings friends, I sent my Kateryna some funds earlier this week for her to take care of some things for her family, I have known this woman since January, she has never asked for anything, I offered to assist, when I attempted to send a few extra dollars the next day, I received some max error from Western Union, is this a block on her name or on mine?  Western Union has no definitive answers, I tried MoneyGram but they are useless, are there other ways to send money to her?  Any information would be gladly appreciated

- J

[msmob]

J

WU have a helpline

I have used it when there has been issues with the receiver collecting

If it is your first transaction... expect security checks

[Boethius]

You may have to go to an outlet for WU or moneygram, rather than sending money online.  I know I ran into that issue, which is because of fraud in Ukraine.


I use moneygram, I have found it better than WU, and my relatives can pick up the money 10 minutes after I send it.

[jone]

Greetings friends, I sent my Kateryna some funds earlier this week for her to take care of some things for her family, I have known this woman since January, she has never asked for anything, I offered to assist, when I attempted to send a few extra dollars the next day, I received some max error from Western Union, is this a block on her name or on mine?  Western Union has no definitive answers, I tried MoneyGram but they are useless, are there other ways to send money to her?  Any information would be gladly appreciated

- J

Western Union uses a variety of tests to determine whether you should be able to send money.  One of the tests is the creation of a repeating distribution.  i.e. you are sending money to the same location the day after you sent some before.  Their software believes that this is a red flag.  I should point out that you are now probably blocked from doing any online transfers.   It has happened to me before.

[Boethius]

I was blocked by WU as well.  I called them and was told the only way to send money would be to go to an outlet. 

[LAman]

I used to use WU but now use moneygram ( as Bo mentioned). Never use online anymore, just go to an outlet, plenty of them everywhere and use cash and send. Never had a problem, always went through

[HoundDaddyLee]

I was blocked by WU as well.  I called them and was told the only way to send money would be to go to an outlet.

Hi Boe,


Was this recent? Is this just a block on Ukraine? I sent money to Belarus about a month ago using the web site without issues. I hope this is not how things will work from now on. It is not always convenient to go to a brick and mortar outlet. Damn this cyberage is making me lazy! 

HDL

[Boethius]

No, not recently, a few years ago.  But it was part of the reason we changed to moneygram.  One of us just goes the local drugstore, which has a post office, and sends money from there.  In our neighbourhood, there is a WU in Safeway, and a moneygram at Canada Post, almost side by side.  I just found moneygram easier to deal with, and their fees were a little lower, though not significant.

In Kyiv, moneygram can be picked up at the Central post office, and the recipient can ask for dollars or euros.  WU is usually picked up at banks, and often, the local has to take UAH.  That's since Maidan, previously, they could take the money in foreign currency.  If they don't need all the money immediately, because of their inflation, it's not optimal to take UAH.  That may not be an issue in Russia or Belarus.

[2tallbill]

I posted my advice in the guys introduction thread here
http://www.russianwomendiscussion.com/index.php?topic=21964.msg463425#msg463425

Bill