Hi

I am extremely disgusted with the Western Union Mney Transfer program, their horrible service and their lack of accountability. I spent hours on the phones hoping for help from anyone who could lead me to the right department just so that I could register a compaint.
I was sent money from Abu dhabi, UAE on 02July2011 and when I went to receive the same in Bolton, UK, I was told that I would not receive it since there was a hold on the transaction due to verification documents. After checking with my husband, who informed me that he had indeed submitted his ID ( UAE Driving License) and had proof of it, I relayed the information to the agent. The helpful and polite agent at Money Shop called 0800 833 833 and after being hung up on twice, put me on the call wherein I informed them that the documents had been sent and that I wanted to register a complaint. I was told by Jerry and Chris that they could only help customers who transacted in the UK (seriously can't there be one number for all customers???) and I was asked to call 1-732-6942136. I called the second number and spoke with Pearl who put me through to Robert, the supervisor, who told me that as part of the Customer Service team, he couldn't do any complains or escalations (wonder where that falls then!) and asked me to speak with Government Escalations Department and tranferred me to 1-314-2982324 where I had to speak with Andy, who sounded like it was his first day out of training. He sounded inconfident, barely knew what he was talking about, had no clue to my problem or what needed to be done and kept repeating the few words that I could barely make out. When I requested to speak with his suervisor, he came back to me saying his supervisor was unavailable! What kind of an answer is that? I was forced to end the call myself frustrated after being 45 minutes on the line with the 5th representative, shuttled back and forth and with no one having any idea of the procedure to help a customer register a complaint! Seriosuly, how difficult is that?
More than the incompetent phone staff, would blame Western Union company policies for making it so hard for one to register a compaint. No email address for complaints, no direct phone number, no escalation process and they call themselves an international player!!!
The last time I had to deal with this unprofessional company, these were their exact words - 'We apologize for any inconvenience you may have experienced with this issue and will forward your complaint to management for training purposes.' (#8770-145639239-6198)
I would like a complaint registered for my transaction being held even 2 days after all the necessary documents were submitted along with the money.

Mrs. Sheikh

Received an e-mail saying if I want to cancel the transfer of 694.50 Euro's click the below link. This is a copy of the e mail I received:
Dear customer,

Thank you for using the Western Union Money TransferÑž.

Your money transfer has been authorized and is now available for pick up by the receiver.

Transfers to certain destinations may be subject to further delay or additional restrictions.


Your Money Transfer Control Number [MTCN] is: 5904575482

Date of Order: Thrusday, 22 April 2011 8:23:41

Amount Sent: 694.50 EURO

Receiver: First Name : Anna, Last Name : Miles, Address: 36B Ranuid Rd, City : Aukland, Country : New Zealand


If you have not authorized this charge, click the link below to cancel the payment and get a full refund :


http://wumt.westernunion.com/WUCOMWEB/transactions/HomePage/cancel.php?session=&mtcn=590575482&summ=94.50&date=


SERVICE : Western UnionÑž Money Transfer Service.


Thanks

I received this email Friday Sept . 24, 2010. I know its a hoax and I thought of sending it to you for your info wall, I am also notifying the RCMP, computer fraud division about these clowns. I have attatched a copy of the email so you can post away.

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From: w u <[email protected]>
To: [email protected]
Sent: Wed, 14 April, 2010 2:30:12 PM
Subject: ATTN pinakin leuva


OFFICE OF THE WESTERN UNION MONEY TRANSFER.
COTONOU BENIN REPUBLIC/ADDRESS 4116 AGBOKOU, ANKPA ROAD
OPPOSITE TUNDE MOTORS COTONOU.


ATTN pinakin leuva
HELLO MY DEAR HOW YOU TODAY, WHAT IS GOING ON NOW THAT WILL MAKE YOU FORGET YOUR FUND HERE PLEASE ADIVCE TO TRY CLAIM YOUR FUND BUT IF YOU NOT INTRESRED OVER YOUR FUND I WILL LIKE YOU TO SIGN IT ATTORNEY WILL SEND THE PAPER TO YOU SO THAT YOU WILL SIGN THAT YOU NO MORE INTRESTED OVER YOUR FUND AGAIN OK BECAUSE WE DONT NEED ANY DELAY AGAIN OVER THIS TRANSFER ANY MORE


WE ARE INSTRUCTED TO SEND YOUR FUND TO YOUR ADDRESS IN YOUR CITY FROM THE FINANCIAL DEPARTMENT HERE IN BENIN REPUBLIC.YOU WILL BE RECEIVING YOUR FUND ( $5100.00 U.S.D ) PER DAY AND YOU WILL RECEIVE YOUR TOTAL SUM OF $2.500, 000, 00 WITHIN .

YOU ARE REQUIRE TO SEND US OUR TRANSFER CHARGES THE SUM OF $138 USD FOR THE $5100 THAT WE HAVE ALREADY SEND, MEANWHILE SEND THE $138 USD TO US IMMEDIATELY TODAY FOR FASTER SENDING OF YOUR FUND CORRECTLY BY TOMORROW MORNING.

AFTER THE MONEY HAVE BEEN TRANSFERED CORRECTLY TO YOUR ADDRESS WE WILL MAIL YOU THE PAYMENT INFORMATIONS YOU NEED TO PICK UP YOUR MONEY IN ANY WESTERN UNION ARROUND YOU CORRECTLY BECAUSE THE ONE THAT IS HERE IS NOT CORRECT BECAUSE WE HAVE NOT RECIVED OUR $138 ONLY.

REASON WHY WE NEED YOU TO SEND US THE $138 USD IS THAT WE TRIED TO DIDUCT THE TRANSFERING FEE OUT FROM YOUR FUND BUT THE MINISTER AMINISTRATOR TRUST FUND OF BENIN REPUBLIC TOLD US THAT NO ONE HAS RIGHT OVER YOUR FUND AS IT HAVE BEEN SIGNED AND STAMPED THAT NO MONEY SHOULD BE DIDUCTED UNTIL IT GETS TO YOUR HANDS TO AVOID STEALING SOME OF THE FUNDS.

SO IF YOU WANT TO TRACK THE MONEY AND CONFIRM IF THE FUNDS IS TRANSFERED ENTER OUR WEBSITEWWW.WESTERNUNION.COM<http://www.westernunion.com/
THEN CLICK TRACKING AND ENTER THE MTCN NUMBER; 1310474311 ENTER SENDERS FIRST JOY... ENTER SENDERS LAST NAME.. FRANK AND CLICK TRACKING AND IT WILL SHOW YOU THAT YOUR FUNDS IS AVILABLE TO PICK UP AS SOON AS YOU PAY THE TRANSFER CHARGE $138

HERE IS THE ONE WE SEND TO YOU BUT IT WILL REMAIN ON HOLD UNTIL YOU SEND US OUR TRANSFER CHARGES OF $138 BEFORE WE CAN REALISE IT MEANWHILE YOU WILL TRACK IT AND CONFIRM THE MTCN BY WWW.WESTERNUNION.COM
SENDER: NAME: Joy FRANK
RECEIVER'S NAME pinakin leuva
(QUESTION; WHAT COLOUR
ANSWER: GREEN
MTCN: 1310474311
AMOUNT:$5100.00


http://www.westernunion.com/info/selectCountry.asp

FINALY URGENT SEND US THE $138 USD TO ENABLE US PROCEED ON YOUR PAYMENT IMMEDIATELY RIGHT.

BELOW IS OUR ACCOUNT'S INFORMATION FOR YOU TO SEND THE $138 USD THROUGH WESTERN UNION MONEY TRANSFER BEEN OUR TRANSFERING CHARGE FOR YOUR $5100.00 USD.

1.RECEIVER NAME:...CHUKWUEMEKA MARCEL

2.COUNTRY:... Republic of Benin.

3.CITY :... Cotonou.

4.TEST QUESTION:...WHAT COLOUR?

5.TEST ANSWER:...GREEN

6.AMOUNT:...$138, USD


YOUR URGENT RESPOND IS HIGHLY NEEDED .
WAITING TO HEAR FROM YOU SOON AS SOON AS YOU RECEIVE THIS MESSAGE TO QUICKEN THE PROCESS.call us on this immediately +22996251365 you made the payment.

Yours in service
DR. JOY FRANK
DIRECTOR
www.westernunion.co.uk
Western Union Payments


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Western Union staff were involved in fraudulently taking funds from the intended receiptent ( a two leat employee of ours) when he could not produce a current identity card when asked. His photo ID card had expired one month earlier. Before hand he did complete the form WU asked him to complete to receive funds and he correctly answered the skill testing question. He spoke to the local manger who advised hi mthere wasn't anything they could do. The form which he completed was left in the WU office in Post Bank offices in Wandegeya district of Kampala Uganda in Oct 26th, 2009. The receiptent then contact us, and as the sender we checked the transfer. WU advised that the funds had been received. When we advised they had not been received as intended... they said they would investigate and send us a letter. A few days afterwards a letter arrived advising us that WU had paid the funds as per their contract. If we wanted help we were give an 800 number to call. Sadly the number given does not work from our calling areas (Canada)! WU were not at all helpful. They advised that we would have to have the receiptent have local police investigae and then contact them with details. We are convinced a staff member of WU (or their agent Post Bank were involved in absconding with some $200. This cold only have been accomplished as an "inside" job. We definitely do not intend to use Western Union again.