How to send money using Western Union in the UK?

If you need to send money internationally from the UK, there are quite a few different ways you can do it. There’s your bank (although that could turn out to be slow and expensive) or there are online money transfer services.

One of the big names in international transfers is Western Union (WU). The US-based company has been around since 1851, and now serves millions of retail and digital customers every day. It operates in 200+ countries and territories, and has a huge global network of agents.¹

If you’re thinking of using WU, you’ll need the lowdown on how it works. Read on to find out how to send money using Western Union, including how much it costs. We’ll look at exchange rates, supported currencies, transfer times, payment and delivery methods, and much more.

We’ll even throw in an alternative, so that you can make an informed comparison before choosing a provider. With Wise, you can send money in multiple currencies for low fees* and mid-market exchange rates, all in just a couple of clicks.

Learn more about Wise

How to send money using Western Union - online and via the app

There are three ways you can send money with Western Union - online, via the app or in person at a WU agent location.

But the first thing you’ll need to do is to create an account.

To do this, head to the Western Union website or download the WU mobile app. Then, follow these steps:²

1. Select ‘Register’
2. Enter your personal details as requested, making sure that you type your name exactly as it appears on your photo ID (just in case you need to use this to collect cash in person at a WU agent at any point)
3. Once you’ve completed the registration process, you’ll receive a confirmation email.

Sending money online - a step-by-step guide

Once you have a Western Union account, you’ll be able to send your first transfer. Here’s how to do it online:

1. Go to the Western Union website and login
2. On the ‘Send money’ page, enter your recipient’s country and the amount you want to send
3. Select the delivery method - how the recipient will receive the money, such as bank account or cash pickup
4. Choose your preferred payment method, such as bank transfer or debit/credit card
5. Check the fees and exchange rates, and once you’re happy click ‘continue’
6. Enter your recipient’s details and confirm the transfer.

Sending money using the Western Union app

If you’d prefer to use the Western Union app to send money, you’ll first need to download it from the Google Play Store or Apple App Store.

Sign in, and then follow these steps:³

1. Start a money transfer
2. Enter the destination country and the amount you’d like to send
3. Choose the delivery method
4. Enter your recipient’s details
5. Pay for the transfer using your preferred payment method
6. Check the details, fees and exchange rate, and confirm
7. You’ll get a tracking number for your transfer, known as an MTCN, to track it on the app.

Sending money in person at a Western Union agent location

Prefer to drop off the cash or pay in person for your transfer? You can find your nearest Western Union agent location here.

Then, simply drop in with the money (or a valid payment method) and your ID. The agent will help you set up the transfer, and you’ll pay them directly. You can also set up the payment on the WU mobile app, then complete it in person at an agent location.⁴

Western Union payment and delivery methods

Western Union offers a choice of different ways to pay for your transfer, and for your recipient to get their money.

Your payment options include:

• Bank transfer
• Credit or debit card
• Cash in person

Delivery methods can vary depending on the destination, but usually include:

• Cash collection
• Bank transfer
• Credit or debit card
• Mobile wallet.

What currencies and countries are supported?

Western Union doesn’t state exactly how many currencies it supports, but it does cover more than 200 countries and territories worldwide.¹

This means that all the major currencies are covered, from USD, GBP and EUR to AUD, CAD, CNY and CHF.

Western Union transfer times

How long does it take to send money with Western Union? Well, it depends.

If you need the payment to arrive fast, you can send it online and pay with your credit or debit card. It’ll arrive in minutes for cash pickup, or to the recipient’s mobile wallet in countries where this delivery method is supported.⁶

But for other transfers, such as money sent to a bank account, it could take up to 2 days to arrive.⁶

Delivery times generally vary depending on the payment and payout method, as well as the currency and destination.

Western Union fees for sending money

So, now we come to the important question - how much does it cost to send money with Western Union?

Again, it depends. WU transfer fees vary depending on how you send, the destination and currency, the amount and the delivery method.

But the good news is that you can check the fee upfront, before you send. Simply enter the details of your transfer on WU website to see how much you’ll pay.

Western Union also runs promotional offers which could bring the cost down.⁷

Western Union exchange rates

Another important thing to check when sending money internationally is the exchange rate.

This can make just as much difference to the overall cost as the upfront fee. This is because it determines how much of your money makes it to the recipient - and how much is lost in currency conversion.

When converting currency, Western Union is likely to add its own margin to what is known as the mid-market or interbank exchange rate.⁸ This is known as one of the fairest rates you can get. Providers such as WU add a margin in order to make money from the transfer. Unfortunately, though, this makes the transfer more expensive for you.

A quick price comparison - Western Union vs. Wise

To give you an idea of how much the exchange rate can affect the cost of an overseas transfer, let’s run through a quick example.

Let’s imagine you want to send £500 to a friend in the United States (USD). Here’s how much your recipient will receive with Western Union and an alternative such as Wise, a provider which always uses the mid-market rate with no margins added on.

And that’s it - everything you need to know about sending money with Western Union in the UK. It’s all pretty straightforward, from setting up an account to sending your first transfer.

And with WU, you’ll have lots of options for payment and delivery too, so you can choose what works best for you and your recipient.

Just remember to scrutinise those fees and exchange rates carefully, and do a quick comparison of other providers in case there’s a cheaper solution out there.

Sources used:

Sources last checked on date: 29-May-2023