Western Union Company is an American Financial service and communications company with its headquarters in Meridian Colorado. It was the best known U.S Company in the business of exchanging telegrams until it ended its services n 2006. It is now operating in several other divisions such as, person to person money transfer, money orders, business payments and commercial services. Western Union offered many other cheerful products such as Candygrams, Dollygrams, etc as well.
Western Union operates online also. In Pakistan it is the primary source of money transfer from other countries. It has opened its online services as well, which can be accessed on its official website. Western Union has millions of customers in Pakistan, but it has not officially established its office over here. Although Western Union is operating in Dubai through its official office, but in Pakistan it is operating through collaboration with agents. A list of agents is listed on its website westernunion.pk according to city, street and postal code.
[junkie-alert style=”white”]Western Union has no official office in Pakistan [/junkie-alert]
In order to send money through western union, a sender needs to visit the nearest western union agent and present funds plus fee for next day or within minutes transfer. The sender will be asked to fill out his/her name, address, the amount being sent and the recipient’s name and designated payment destination. A 10-digit MTCN (Money Transfer Control Number) number and a receipt are provided by the Western Union agent. The recipient will also visit the nearest western union agent office and presents the 10 digit code and then receives the payment. In other countries, the sender will usually contact the nearest Western Union office, no agent is involved then. The money may be received from the agent, but in Pakistan, the agents are operating at both the ends. Send Money Transfers are available at Zarco Exchange Company, Pakistan Currency Exchange Company and AA Exchange Company locations only.
Western Union has been the primary mode of money transfer in Pakistan. It is expanding its services in Pakistan by providing online access through the My WU membership that will allow the customers to avail special services as well. The MTCN number can be used to track if the money transfer has been completed or not. The MTCN number can be entered on their website which will be processed to give the final status of the money transfer. Western Union has collaborated with several banks that will act as collection centers for the money sent from abroad through Western Union.