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Western Union Complaint - Where's the money? - transfer of money

transfer of money - Complaint
Review by frustratedbrenda on 2011-03-31
I am a host mother for students who come to the US to study. On March first, 2011 the brother of one student sent him $1985.00 by Western union. He went to the Meijer store #121 to collect his money. They told him they couldn't give it all to him in cash. They gave him $985 in cash and a check for the remaining money $1000.00. He took the check to Bank of America in South Bend and deposited it into his account. They told him the money should be available in his account the next day. With the $985 he paid school fees, etc. thinking he would have more money the next day. It wasn't available the next day, nor the next, nor the next. He was being sent back and forth between the Meijer store and the Bank of America for the next week and still had no money. I finally said I would call Western Union for him and see what was going on. On March 10th, 2011 I called Western Union. The agent pulled up the file and told me they were aware of the problem. He said they had talked numerous times with the Bank of America branch manager and the manager at the Meijer store where the check was issued. He told me there was a computer error and the check was logged as "cashed out", when it wasn't. He said the case had been "expedited" (they don't use that word) on March 8th and a case should be resolved within 24 to 48 hours of the "expedite" so by morning he should have his money. He still doesn't have his money four weeks after it arrived! I have talked to the bank manager, the Meijer manager and numerous agents, supervisors and managers at Western Union. Meijer says the mistake was western union's and the check is being shown as paid out when it was not paid out. Whether the mistake was made at Meijer or a Western union office, all agree that the student didn't get his money. I have called and called and called Western Union, been on the phone for over an hour numerous times and I get nowhere. Where is his money and why won't they give it to him.
Comments:
Posted by tnchuck100 on 2011-03-31:
First key question here is what bank and account was the check from Meijer store drawn on? You did keep a copy of that check didn't you?

Tracing THAT check is the trail to persue.
Posted by trmn8r on 2011-03-31:
Wow. Bizarre. I know that WU is very wary of fraud, and I am surprised that you have been able to pursue this matter for the student. Usually, privacy rules would prevent that, and WU is the most stringent I have experienced in this regard. Did you have to go through a procedure to act on his behalf?

It sounds like WU admits the status was logged incorrectly at the store WU terminal. I don't see why WU has been unable to fix this. Weird.

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