MoneyGram tracking: how does it work and alternative ways for sending money abroad

Need to send money overseas? There are lots of ways to do it, from banks to specialist transfer services. These online solutions are growing in popularity, as they tend to be quicker, easier and cheaper than using a traditional bank.

One of the biggest money transfer services around is MoneyGram. It’s a US-based money transfer company, which provides its services to around 150 million customers all over the world. Users based in the UK can send to over 200 countries worldwide with MoneyGram, with a choice of payment and delivery methods.¹

A useful feature MoneyGram offers is tracking. But how exactly does it work, and what happens on the rare occasions that something goes wrong? We’ll answer these and other questions here in this helpful guide.

We’ll also take a quick look at alternatives to MoneyGram, such as Wise. It offers low-fee transfers and fair exchange rates, as well as offering a similar tracking service.

But more on that later. For now, let’s focus on how tracking works with MoneyGram.

Please see the Terms of Use for your region or visit Wise fees & pricing for the most up-to-date information on pricing and fees.

How to track transfers with MoneyGram

There are a couple of ways you can track the status of your transfer with MoneyGram. You can do it online, through the MoneyGram website.

And importantly, you don’t need to have a profile set up already. This is useful for people looking to take advantage of introductory offers, and make just one standalone transfer using the service.

Once you’ve hit ‘send’ on your transfer, you can track it using one of these two methods:²

1. If you have an account - go to the MoneyGram website, login to your account and view your Transaction History.
2. If you don’t have an account - go to the MoneyGram website and click on the ‘Track + Receive’ tool. To retrieve your transaction, enter your reference or authorisation number, along with your last name.

Using one of these methods, you’ll be able to see where your transfer is up to and the estimated time of arrival.

Tracking MoneyGram transfers through the app

Another way to keep an eye on your MoneyGram transfers is using its mobile app. It’s already a handy way to set up and send transfers on the move, and tracking is a useful extra feature.

To access tracking, you’ll first need to download the MoneyGram app. It’s available from both Google Play and the App Store.

If you have a MoneyGram profile, you can log in to check the status of transfers you’ve sent. You can also check in on the status of transfers you’re expecting to receive, so you can see how long it’ll be before your money arrives.

If you want to be kept updated without having to login to the app, you can even set up notifications.³ These will let you know when there’s been an update on your transfer.

The MoneyGram app also offers exclusive discounts, promotions and offers. So, it could be a useful thing to download if you’re thinking of making a MoneyGram transfer in the future.

How long do MoneyGram transfers take?

MoneyGram is pretty fast, but its delivery speeds vary depending on a few key factors. This includes where the money is being sent from and to, along with the currency, payment method and chosen delivery or collection method.

However, as a guide, MoneyGram does provide some transfer times for each delivery method. These are:⁴

Delivery method	Transfer time
Cash pickup	As little as 10 minutes (subject to agent opening times)
Bank account deposit	Up to 1 hour; Same or next day for some countries
Direct to debit card	Within minutes
Mobile wallets	Within minutes

Using these average transfer times, you’ll be able to let your recipient know roughly when to expect the money. Or if it takes a little longer than expected, you can always track the transfer online or in the app - just to see where it’s up to and if there are any delays.

What to do if something goes wrong with your transfer

Everything should run smoothly with your MoneyGram transfer, especially with the option to track it online or in the MoneyGram mobile app.

But what do you do in the unlikely situation that something goes wrong? For example, your money doesn’t arrive when you expect it to, or it doesn’t turn up at all. Another potential problem may arise if you can’t access tracking, to check in on where your transfer is up to.

If this happens, you’ll need to contact MoneyGram and see if customer services can help. Here’s how to get in touch:⁵

• Send a message by filling in the online contact form
• Chat with a customer services representative via live chat
• Call 0800 026 053

If you suspect fraud or your money hasn’t arrived at all, MoneyGram advises that you should call on 0800 026 0535 instead of submitting the online form.

Alternatives to MoneyGram

Of course, MoneyGram isn’t the only international transfer service around. There are lots of alternatives to choose from, including Western Union, Remitly, OFX and Xoom.

You could also use your bank to send money overseas, although this can be slow and expensive. It’s also not the most convenient option.

For consistently low fees and margin-free exchange rates, Wisecould be the best choice. It’s quick and easy to open a Wise multi-currency account online, and from there you can send money worldwide in just a few clicks. Note - eligibility is subject to verification of customer’s identity.

There’s also the handy Wise app for managing and tracking transfers on the move.

Join Wise today

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And that’s pretty much it - everything you need to know about MoneyGram tracking and how it works. It’s a very useful feature, especially if you’re using the MoneyGram mobile app.

It can sometimes be a little unnerving to hit a button and send your money out into the ether, especially if it’s a large sum. So, it’s good to have a way to check in on your transfer and make sure it arrives safely.

And for recipients, tracking is helpful when estimating when to expect your money. You don’t need to chase up the sender or contact MoneyGram, as you can simply use the app to see where the payment is up to.

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Sources used:

1. MoneyGram - About MoneyGram
2. MoneyGram - FAQ - Sending Money
3. Google Play - MoneyGram® : Send Money Online
4. MoneyGram - FAQ - Receiving money
5. MoneyGram - Contact

Sources last checked on date: 28-Apr-2023