Frequently Asked Questions

You may be able to borrow up to 2,000 AUD with Beforepay¹. 

The limit can, however, vary based on your income, spending habits, debt, and repayment history with Beforepay. 

For more details, please visit https://help.beforepay.com.au/ or send an email to support@beforepay.com.au.

¹  Beforepay Terms and Conditions and Eligibility criteria apply, which may affect your cash advance (cash out) limit.

Western Union may receive a referral fee for introducing you to Beforepay. Western Union does not represent or endorse Beforepay or its products.

Beforepay is an ASX-listed fintech that provides cash advances to its customers. 

While sending money with us, you can take a cash advance of up to  2,000 AUD from Beforepay for a flat 5% fee with no interest or hidden fee¹.

¹  Beforepay Terms and Conditions and Eligibility criteria apply, which may affect your cash advance (cash out) limit.

Western Union may receive a referral fee for introducing you to Beforepay. Western Union does not represent or endorse Beforepay or its products.

For any help, please write to support@beforepay.com.au. 

Beforepay will directly debit the amount from your account in instalments, in sync with your pay cycle. You can check the instalment options on their website or app when taking the advance.

Your eligibility will be determined based on several factors, including, amongst others, regular income and spending behavior. Learn more.

Yes, you’ll need to sign up with Beforepay and verify your identity with them to apply for a cash advance.  

All banks and financial institutions in the New Payments Platform (NPP) accept PayID payments. ANZ Bank, CBA, National Australia Bank and Westpac are some of them. For the full list, visit NPP Australia.

Your POLi payment may be put on hold for additional verification. If your payment is on hold for more than 24 hours, please contact our Customer Care.

POLi will automatically initiate a refund. If you are not notified within 24 hours, please contact our Customer Care.

POLi is a free, fast and secure online payment method for Western Union money transfers.

When you pay with POLi, the transfer is completed within your bank or financial institution’s online banking service. Your banking information is never shared with Western Union or POLi.

For more information, visit POLi Payments.

PayID is a unique code generated when you choose POLi as a payment method. You will need this code while paying through your bank’s website. PayID is needed by POLi and your bank to identify your payment.

Please note that a PayID expires after 15 minutes. After it expires, you will need to request a new one.

POLi payments are usually instant. As soon as we receive your money, we’ll transfer it to your receiver. In some cases, it can take up to 5 business days.

Just choose POLi from the available payment methods and follow the instructions.

POLi does not support partial payments. If you make a partial payment, it will be declined and your money will be refunded to you.

Yes, POLi is a safe way to transfer money directly from your bank account without the need to register. Your banking information will never be stored or shared.

To send an online money transfer, you’ll need to provide the following information:

• Your name, residential address, and other details as they appear on your government-issued ID.

• Your receiver’s name and address as they appear on their government-issued ID.
• Your bank or Australian-issued credit/ debit card or prepaid card details.

For sending an online money transfer, you’ll need to create a profile and provide your passport or Australian driver’s license to verify your identity.

If we need any additional information, we’ll ask you to call our Customer Care.

Note: You must be above 18 years of age to send money with Western Union.

1. On WU.com, log in to your WU profile.
2. Click the Menu icon and select Pay inmate from the dropdown.
3. Select the Correctional facility from the dropdown and follow the instructions provided.

• Facility name
• Amount
• Receiver’s first and last name
• Inmate’s account/register number

1. Log on to your WU profile.
2. On the bottom right, tap More.
3. Tap Pay bills/Inmate.
4. Locate the facility by tapping Inmate at the top of the screen. 
5. Type the company name in the Search field or scroll through the list of billers.
6. Follow the instructions provided.

• Facility name
• Amount
• Receiver’s first and last name
• Inmate’s account/register number

• Facility name (enter into Company Name (or Code City) field)
• Inmate’s account/register number followed by the inmate’s last name (enter in Account Number field)
• First and last name (enter in Attention field)
• Amount

• Facility name
• Amount
• Receiver’s first and last name
• Inmate’s account/register number

• Your complete name as it appears on your government-issued ID
• Your email address
• Your mobile number
• Your billing address

To add a receiver on your Western Union profile, please follow these steps:

1. Log into your Western Union profile.
2. Go to Menu and select My receivers from the dropdown.
3. Select Add new option.
4. Enter your receiver’s information.
5. Select Save and continue to add the new receiver.

To delete or remove a receiver on your Western Union profile, please follow these steps:

1. Log into your Western Union profile.
2. Go to Menu and select My receivers from the dropdown.
3. Select the receiver’s name.
4. Select Remove to delete the receiver’s information. 

Yes, you can send money directly to your receiver’s mobile wallet. Before sending, just be sure of the following:

• Wallet transfer service is available for the receiving country.
• Your receiver has an activated mobile wallet with one of our partner mobile operators in their country. Check available receiving countries and mobile networks.

To pay with POLi¹, just choose POLi under Pay by and follow the instructions.

After you complete the transfer, you can track it with the tracking number (MTCN) on your receipt.

¹ POLi is an online method to pay for your transfer directly from your bank account. You’ll just need to provide your bank details to pay for your transfer instantly. Learn more.

• Branch name, bank, or branch code 
• Account number or International Bank Account Number (IBAN) 
• Routing number, International Bank Identifier Code (BIC), swift BIC or Indian Financial System Code (IFSC) 

Money-Moving Ambassadors

Sending Thanks via Western Union

• Mailing address
• Security question and answer, and
• Mobile number

• Branch name, bank, or branch code 
• Account number or International Bank Account Number (IBAN) 
• Routing number, International Bank Identifier Code (BIC), swift BIC or Indian Financial System Code (IFSC) 

You can send money with Western Union:

• Online using our website or the Western Union mobile app.
• In person at a Western Union agent location.

Online using our website or the Western Union mobile app

To send your first money transfer¹ with Western Union, create a profile on our mobile app or website.

1. Log into your Western Union profile or register if you are a new user.
2. Select Send money.
3. Select the receiver’s country and enter the amount and currency.
4. Select how your receiver would like to get the money:

• • Cash pickup
  • Bank account deposit
  • Mobile wallet  

5.  Choose your payment method²: 

• • Credit³ or debit card
  • Bank account
  • Cash at a Western Union location
  • Mobile wallet

6.  Review the transfer summary

7.  Select Submit.

Tips:

•  Service availability may be different for each receiver’s country⁴.
•  You can add or delete the details of your receivers in your profile.
•  You have the option to resend the same amount to your receivers. 

At an agent location or in-store

If you want to send money in person, visit a Western Union agent location and pay via cash or a debit card⁵. 

If you want to send cash, you can still start your money transfer online with our pay in-store service to save time and then pay in cash at one of our agent locations. 

To pay in-store:

1. Log into your Western Union account on westernunion.com or the Western Union app.
2. Select Pay in-store.
3. Go to a nearby agent location and provide your phone number and pay to complete the money transfer.

You can check the status of your money transfer using our Track a transfer service.

Superscripts:

¹ You must be at least 18 years old to send or receive money with Western Union. 

²The payment and receiving methods are different for each country.

³Card-issuer cash advance fee and related interest charges may apply. Use a debit card to avoid these fees and charges.

⁴We might ask you to verify your identity depending on the service, send amount and the receiver country.

⁵ This service is available only at some agent locations.

You can pay for your online transfers with any of the following:

• Visa® or Mastercard® credit/debit card
• Apple Pay

You can make up to 5 transfers to the same receiver on Alipay wallet within a 30-day period starting from the date of the first transfer. If it’s urgent, you can always choose a different payout method such as bank account or cash.

To pay using Google Pay (GPay), please do the following:

1. Choose GPay under Pay by.
2. Add your receiver’s details.
3. Select Pay with GPay¹ and choose a card. You can also add another card².

¹ If you haven’t set up your GPay account yet, you’ll be asked to do so when you select Pay with GPay. All you need to do is enter your Gmail address and card details.

² Please note that you can only add up to 5 valid Mastercard or Visa debit/credit cards.  

Note: Currently, this feature is only available on the android app.

1. Go to WU.com.
2. At the top of the web page, click Pay Bills.
3. In the Biller name field, start typing the company name. If the company name appears, they accept payments from Western Union.

1. Tap Pay bills.
2. On the top right, tap More.
3. Type the company name in the Search field or scroll through the list of billers.

1. Go to WU.com, at the top of the page, choose Send money.
2. Enter the required information. Before selecting Continue, choose I have a promo code.
3. Enter the promo code and click Apply.

1. On the home screen, select Send money.
2. Enter the required information. Before selecting Continue, select Transfer discount: (enter code).
3. Enter the promo code and select Apply.

You can usually send any amount from an agent location. However, for sums larger than 23,000 AUD, you may be asked to provide additional information.

• Tracking number (MTCN)
• Sender’s complete name
• Sender’s country state/city/province may be required
• Expected amount

We need to confirm your identity before your first money transfer. Once we have confirmed your ID, you’ll be able to send up to 50,000 AUD using Australian issued Debit card, PayID & PayTo and 9,000 AUD using Australian issued Credit Card, Apple Pay or Google Pay online.

You can find the send limit for a specific receive country on the Send money page.

To pay with Apple Pay, just choose ApplePay under Pay by and follow the instructions.

After you complete the transfer, you can track it with the tracking number (MTCN) on your receipt.

Note: ApplePay is available only on iOS devices.  It is an online method to pay for your transfer using your credit or debit cards. Learn more.

Verified by Visa® and MasterCard SecureCode® help prevent unauthorized online use of cards. These services use personal passwords or identity information and are available for most cards from participating financial institutions.

Once your card is activated, your card number will be recognized whenever it is used at participating online stores. A window will automatically appear, and your card issuer will ask for your password. You’ll enter your password to verify your identity and complete your purchase.

Even if you haven’t activated Verified by Visa® or MasterCard SecureCode®, your card can still be used on our site.

• Your transfer history
• Your location
• Your receiver’s location
• The service you choose
• Your payment method
• Agent location limits
• Country receive limits

Sending on westernunion.com or mobile app

Sending in-person

Sending by phone (Telephone Money Transfer)

Depending upon the transfer method, transfer amount, and send and receive countries, it takes anywhere between a few minutes to 4 business days for the money to reach your receiver. To know more, please check the Terms and Conditions for online money transfer and retail money transfer.

We need to double-check a few details before we send your transfer. This is a standard process and sometimes takes longer than usual.

If necessary, we’ll reach out to you. Otherwise, no further action is needed.

For online transfers, we’ll notify you when your transfer status has changed. For transfers at agent locations, you’ll need to check your transfer status after some time for any updates.

Exchange Rates

When you send money internationally, your receiver will get it in their local currency. You can calculate the actual transfer amount based on the exchange rate applicable at the time of sending the money. However, for some countries, the actual transfer amount depends on the exchange rate applicable at the time of receiving.  

Transfer Fees

We charge you a transfer fee for every transfer. The transfer fee along with the foreign exchange rate and taxes may vary depending on the brand, channel, and location for various reasons. You must compare transfer fees and exchange rates at the time of sending money. The transfer fees and exchange rates are subject to change without prior notice.

1. Click Send Money and select the destination. 
2. Enter the send amount and currency.
3. Choose Bank account as the payment option.

• Tracking number (MTCN),
• Sender’s complete name,
• Sender’s country and state/city/province may be required,
• Expected amount, and
• Government-issued ID*.
• In some receiving countries, a security question may be required.

• Exact name as it appears on their government-issued ID
• Receiver’s street address, city/province/state, and country

westernunion.com or mobile app:

• Credit** or debit card
• Bank account info

Start in app, pay cash in person:

• Receiver’s full name as it appears on their government-issued ID
• Receiver’s city/province/state and country

Mobile Money Transfers (send to a receiver’s mobile wallet):

Direct to Bank:

• Within the US: Bank name, account name, account number and routing number
• Outside the US: International bank account number (IBAN) and international bank identifier code (BIC), or the receiving country equivalent

Bill payment:

• Company name (also known as code city and state)
• Account number
• Reference number, if applicable (provided by the company or biller)

Telephone Money Transfer:

Sending money to an inmate:

• Correctional facility name (also known as code city and state)
• Inmate’s number
• Inmate’s complete name
• Reference number if applicable (provided by the correctional facility)
   

Some card issuers may charge additional fees for using our services. You can contact your card issuer for more information.

You can send money with us in any of the following ways:

Online or start online and finish in-store

• Log in to your profile. If you don’t have a profile yet, create one.
• Choose your receiver’s country and select Continue.
• Enter the send amount or the receive amount and select Check fees.
• Then choose any of the following send and receive methods¹:

        You pay by:

• • Australian credit or debit card
  • PayID
  • GooglePay
  • ApplePay

        Receive by:

• • Cash pick up
  • Bank account²
  • Mobile wallet²
  • Credit or debit card²

• Select Save and Continue to receiver.
• Enter your receiver’s details.
• Then select Continue to review and finally Send.  

After you complete the transfer, you can track it with the tracking number (MTCN) on your receipt.

¹You can try a combination of different send or receive amounts and methods to get the best possible exchange rate, transfer fee, and delivery time.

²The receive method is applicable to select receiving countries.

In cash at an agent location

• Visit any of our agent locations with your original government-issued ID.
• Pay with cash or with debit card.

After you complete the transfer, you can track it with the tracking number (MTCN) on your receipt.

• Send more for less – Transfer amounts up to $2,500 at fees lower than our other services
• Easy and convenient to send 24/7
• Money is ready to be picked up by your Receiver by 10 a.m. PT on the third business day after the day you sent the transaction
• Add your bank account to your profile in order to easily send in the future with one click.