I went to collect a cash transfer from Western Union at Central Festival yesterday and they would not pay out because the name on the transfer form did not have my middle name, which appears in my passport...I have used the service a few times over the years where the names did not completely match, with no problem...the girl there said the Western Union there is run by the same agent as the ones at HomeWorks and BigC, and that I would get the same answer there.

Can anyone suggest a branch in Phuket Town with a more reasonable policy, preferably one open on the weekend? Thanks for any help

I also fear the potential for scam here: now that she has my transfer code and a copy of my passport, what is to stop her from collecting it herself?

Got to the next WU and collect ... There are so many...

In my mind Western Union is itself a huge scam.

At one time I sold electronic kits and in the process collected a bundle of Western Union chits which I was unable to claim.

I lived in a large city, yet could never find a local agency, in spite of them advertising widely.

When I made the effort to travel to other centers, they tried to tell me that the chits were "the wrong type" and couldn't be cashed.

I've formed the opinion that a big part of Western Union profits is in making it so hard for people to claim that they give up.

Go to a branch of Bangkok bank,

Why this about the weekend, it's Monday.

agree, same as the banks here, what one branch wont do the next will. As for the scam did you sign any forms or a receipt. If not then if she takes the money and tries to say you got it they wont have a matching signature on the receipt. Also they have cameras in the place.

Best Western Union services are normally at the banks that offer the service.

Malls and the like have different rules??? Back in the day there was a western Union in the mall

and they would force us to obtain a copy of the receivers ID/Passport before I could send funds.

It wasn't a scam it was (THEIR POLICY) and possibly OK'd by WU

I would go to my bank and bada bing normal WU procedures.

Even when they mucked up the zip codes and funds ended up in Nome Alaska, The bank staff work brilliantly

with WU people and in min. had the funds going where it was intended.

It sounds like receiving funds is a hoop jumper in Thailand.

If you have a bank here they most likely offer WU services and

can easily verify it's you.

Good luck

God I wished they had refused payment all those years ago when I was sending money to a very nice Thai girl for her sick buffalo and sick family!!

Off topic rant removed.

Sorry, can't help you with your query, afaik all WU's have the same policy and try to make it difficult to release your money (they will say they have to keep it safe).

But out of curiosity, why are you using WU, isn't that working out terribly expensive?

Contact the person who sent the money and they can amend it easily at the point where they transferred the money.

I've sent the wrong name a few times and have been able to change when the receiver contacted me and told me about difficulties receiving the money.

WU are the biggest monkeys in the world, not even able to organize their branches.

Some ask more or less details that are actually NOT NEEDED ! You only need sender name and amount transferred, THIS IS ALL.

Any requirement of address or anything else is agent BS and these retarded shouldn't ask anything more than what is REALLY required to receive a payment.

Best Western Union services are normally at the banks that offer the service.

Malls and the like have different rules??? Back in the day there was a western Union in the mall

and they would force us to obtain a copy of the receivers ID/Passport before I could send funds.

It wasn't a scam it was (THEIR POLICY) and possibly OK'd by WU

I would go to my bank and bada bing normal WU procedures.

Even when they mucked up the zip codes and funds ended up in Nome Alaska, The bank staff work brilliantly

with WU people and in min. had the funds going where it was intended.

It sounds like receiving funds is a hoop jumper in Thailand.

If you have a bank here they most likely offer WU services and

can easily verify it's you.

Good luck

Banks or booths are exactly the same thing, and only the smart mon... manager decides the rules without telling WU.

Didn't realise they were still in business.

Only money launderers and bar girls use it.

...the code is really key...but yes, they put you through the grinder when you want to receive funds...just the slightest discrepancy....

Go to a branch of Bangkok bank,

Why this about the weekend, it's Monday.

Good luck with that. I went in to my Bangkok Branch here in Pattaya that I have always dealt with, and they did not want to accept my signature to do a transfer from one of my accounts to another one of my accounts. She had me sign my name 25 times before she said "okay, it looks like the signature on your passport." 25 chances I could probably copy anyone's signature!

Have used the same signature for 40 years, and have never been questioned on it.

Transfer your funds through the SWIFT code banking system. Much more efficient! If you're from the US you can transfer though the US ACH system to Bangkok Bank branch in New York. I have to agree with Hans on his comment!

In my mind Western Union is itself a huge scam.

At one time I sold electronic kits and in the process collected a bundle of Western Union chits which I was unable to claim.

I lived in a large city, yet could never find a local agency, in spite of them advertising widely.

When I made the effort to travel to other centers, they tried to tell me that the chits were "the wrong type" and couldn't be cashed.

I've formed the opinion that a big part of Western Union profits is in making it so hard for people to claim that they give up.

No, everything is fine.

What you describe is how a ton of people made money back in the days on ebay. They would find an ebay seller with very little knowledge on the issue and clone his wu transfers. They'd take the money and when you went to cash yours well the money was already gone.

Thanks for all your input. In the end I was able to get it at the Bank of Ayudhaya main branch in Phuket Town no problemo.