Western Union Argentina international transfer: An overview

Western Union is one of the largest money transfer services in the world, with an impressive network of over 500,000 agents globally. With Western Union you can send money in person, online or using an app, and have it delivered to your recipient’s bank account or collected in cash.

Payments with Western Union can be a smart way to get cash quickly into the hands of someone on the other side of the world. However, the overall costs and fees for the services available may not always be the best out there.

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If you’re sending money directly to a bank account overseas, you might be better off with a modern payment provider which uses the mid-market exchange rate, like Wise. Even if your recipient doesn’t have a bank account yet, they may be able to open a free Wise online multi-currency account to benefit from low cost international transfers.

See if you can save with Wise

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Western Union Argentina fees

Western Union Argentina does not publish their fees online. To check how much your transfer will cost, you’ll need to download the WU app and create an account, or call into an agent location. ¹

It’s worth noting that the costs and exchange rates used may vary depending on whether you set up your payment online or via an agent, and even depending on which agent location you choose to use. You may also find that the charges are different if you want to have your recipient collect the payment in cash, compared to sending it directly to their bank account or mobile wallet.

When you get a quote for your specific transfer, you’ll see there is a service fee. This is one of the charges you’ll pay for your transfer - but it’s not necessarily the only one.

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You may also pay a fee which is wrapped up into the exchange rate used for your payment - this is known as an exchange rate spread or markup. Marking up the exchange rate is common, especially among money transfer services which advertise low upfront transfer fees. After all, they have to make a profit somewhere.

The problem with marked up exchange rates is that the true cost of the transaction isn’t easy to see. That can mean you pay more than you need to, or your recipient gets less than you anticipate. More on exchange rates, and how to see if a markup has been added, in a moment.

Sending to Argentina

If you’re in Argentina and are expecting a Western Union payment, you’ll be able to ask the sender to set it up for cash collection or to be paid directly to your bank account.²

If the payment is sent for cash collection you can go to a local Western Union agent to collect it. If the payment is set up for cash collection, but you’d rather have it paid to your bank account, you can call the customer service number to ask for it to be redirected.

Sending from Argentina

Western Union Argentina offers the option to send money in person from an agent location,³ or online using the WU app.⁴ Depending on where you’re sending money to, you may be able to have your transfer collected in cash by your recipient, or directed to their bank account or mobile wallet.

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Exchange rates

As we mentioned earlier, the transfer fee isn’t the only cost that matters when you set up an international payment. The exchange rate used can also make a big difference to the overall costs.

It’s common for banks and money transfer services to add a markup or margin to the exchange rate used. This is an extra fee, which means a little more profit for them - and an additional cost for the customer.

You’ll be able to see if there has been a markup or margin added to the exchange rate you’re offered by Western Union Argentina by comparing the WU rate with the mid-market exchange rate for your currency. The mid-market rate is the one that banks and money transfer services use when they buy currency themselves. You’ll find it using a simple Google search, or an online currency converter tool.

If the exchange rate you’re quoted through Western Union includes a markup, it’s worth taking a look at a service like Wise which offers the mid-market rate for all transfers.

International payments with Wise use the mid-market exchange rate and charge a transparent transaction fee. This means no hidden fees, so you can easily see what you’re paying - and what the recipient will get in the end of the transfer.

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What transfer and payment methods are available?

Here’s how to send money to and from Argentina with Western Union.

Payment methods

If you’re in Argentina, you can send a payment in person at an agent location, or online using the WU app. It’s also possible to start the transaction online, and pay in person via an agent.

Using the app you’ll be able to pay for your transaction online using a bank transfer or Mercado Pago, if visiting an agent is not convenient.³ ⁴

If you’re sending money to Argentina, the payment methods available will depend on the Western Union service available in your location. From the US you can send money online, by phone, or in person via an agent.⁵

How long does my transfer take

If you’re sending money for cash collection through Western Union, it can usually be available in just a few minutes. However, if you want to have your payment delivered directly to your recipient’s bank account, it’ll probably take 1 - 3 business days to arrive.

Available currencies

Western Union offers payments in nearly 130 currencies⁶ - check with your agent, or online using the WU app, to see if your currency is available.

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Western Union Argentina limits

Western Union Argentina offers transfers up to ARS335,000 in value, although transfers from Correo Argentino are capped at ARS50,000.

You can send a total of ARS335,000 per month, or ARS336,000 per year.

If you want to send more than this, you’ll need to visit an agent location to provide some additional paperwork.²

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Frequently asked questions

Here are the answers to some of the most common questions about the services available from Western Union Argentina.

What kind of customer support does Western Union offer?

Western Union Argentina offers support online or by phone - or you can call into an agent location if you would rather talk through your issue face to face.⁷

Online there is a helpful FAQ section on the Western Union website, or you can email the team on clientesargentina@westernunion.com.

By phone, you can talk to a customer service team member on 0800-800-3030.

How many locations does Western Union have in Argentina?

Western Union has a comprehensive network of agent locations in Argentina - you can find the most convenient agent for your needs using the agent locator tool available on the Western Union website.⁸

How can I track my transfer?

When you send a transfer you’ll be given a Money Transfer Control Number - MTCN. You can track the progress of the transfer online, by entering the MTCN into the tracker tool on the Western Union global website.⁹

Western Union’s key strength is its agent network, which makes it a good way to send or have a recipient collect a payment in cash. However, you may pay extra for this service, as the agents involved - as well as Western Union - need to make money from the transaction.

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If you’re sending a payment to someone with access to a bank account, you may be better off with a convenient low cost payment from Wise. All transfers are online so there’s no need to visit an agent - and use the mid-market exchange rate with no markup. This can mean that a transfer using Wise is much cheaper than using a bank or alternative provider. See if you can save with Wise, today.

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Sources:

1. Western Union Argentina - Main page
2. Western Union Argentina - Send money FAQ
3. Western Union Argentina - Sending money in person
4. Western Union Argentina App
5. Western Union US - Main page
6. Western Union - Corporate info
7. Western Union Argentina - Contact
8. Western Union Argentina - Agent locations
9. Western Union - Tracking a transfer

All sources last checked 29 July 2020