Western Union: Not Just for Sending Money

What's the fastest way to send money from one part of the country to another? Sure, you can use wire transfer at a bank, but that can be expensive, especially if you and the receiver use different banks. You could always mail a check, but that takes time, and there's a chance the check could get lost in the mail. If you are in a hurry and either need someone to send you money or need to send money to someone else, the quickest, most reliable way is through a Western Union Money Transfer.

Using Western Union Money Transfer system to send money is easy. It can be done online, at a location, or over the phone depending on your preference. Most people who send money do so by visiting a Western Union location. Locations can often be found in supermarkets, payday loan establishments, and even gas stations on occasion. Simply fill out a form and the money will be transferred to the party in need of cash. If you are on the receiving end of the transaction just take your picture ID to a station in your city and in a matter of only a few minutes you will have cash in hand. There are fees associated with sending money via Western Union however they vary depending on the amount of money being sent. Western Union also allows international money transfers for an additional fee.

Most people have at least heard of Western Union for sending and receiving money. Many have even seen the commercials where someone has a run of bad luck and needs a family member or friend to bail them out of the bind. While Western Union is a great source for sending money they also offer other services that many people don't know about.

Have you ever forgot to pay a bill? Chances are at some point in your life you will overlook or misplace a bill only to find it the day before it's due. Being late on your bills can adversely impact your credit rating. It can cause you to have to pay higher deposits on your utilities. More importantly it can also cause late fees and cause your interest rates to skyrocket. What if you could quickly pay your bills in cases like this? Western Union can help in this situation.

Many companies now accept Western Union as a form of payment for bills. Using the Western Union Quick Collect form at a Western Union location you can quickly send money to your creditor and stop any late fees or negative reporting to your credit history. These Quick Collect transactions take less than five minutes to complete and arrive to the company instantly. You have the security of a conformation number provided by Western Union. Fees for Quick Collect are $12.95 which is definitely more than a stamp. However, since your payment is received quickly and is not late you avoid fees and interest rate increases. Western Union Quick Collect transfers are accepted by many mortgage companies, auto financing companies, collection agencies, and other major bill collectors. If you are not sure whether your bill collectors accept Western Union be sure to ask. All you will need is their receiver code and city to complete the transaction. This could save you a lot of money in the long run.

Perhaps you are looking for a prepaid credit card to for financial transactions. These days more and more people are deciding to use cards that aren't attached to a bank account. The provide the convenience of a credit card or debit card but don't come with any over the limit fees or late fees. In order to use these cards you have to actually have money pre-loaded onto them. The work anywhere that accepts the major credit card logo imprinted on the card.

If you are interested in this type of debit card the Western Union prepaid Visa card can work for you. Apply online at www.westernunion.com and a card will be shipped to you in about a week. To activate you will need to go to a Western Union location and pay the initial $9.95 fee as well as a $4.95 load fee. Each time you need to add money to the card you will have to pay the $4.95 fee unless your paychecks are directly deposited onto the card. Because this card has the Visa logo imprinted you receive all the safety features Visa offers their card holder. Also, if you have bad or less than perfect credit you won't have to worry about a credit check to get this card.

While Western Union is the most popular way to send money these additional features and products make Western Union more than just a money transfer company. They make Western Union appealing to many different groups rather than a select clientele.

Sources:
personal experience using Quick Collect and the pre-paid Visa Card
www.westernunion.com