This "in person" MG and WU bites

[cyb2004]

Yes. But think they are nicer in person, than online. But agree with all of the above. Must get spelling right.

[justinslegacy]

Well I just used MG for the first time today and boy was it a trip.
First of all I felt like I had to scope out the place to see where the MG booth or kiosk was. Had no idea what to look for. And then I saw the red phone...ahhh there it is. I'm walking toward the red phone and BOOM just like that some girl with tattoos all over jumps on the phone out of no where. I was kinda glad though bc I didnt want her behind me waiting for me to give all the information of my OP...heck she prob knew him lol. I was trying to listen in to see where she was sending a "relative" or "friend" money bc they lost their job...at least thats the story I practice.
Anyway, everything went smooth but I def wish I could simplify the process and do everything online. One thing I was never told was that the do not accept DEBIT or CREDIT CARDS...CASH ONLY. So I had to go to an ATM to withdraw money to complete the transaction...Def wish online was available and easy but from what it sounds like...its not.

[Sherlock]

Since I usually take up DrBoris' bandwidth with idiotic off topic chatter, I decided to post something that might actually be useful to someone.

I've chatted with a few people who were nervous/hesitant about sending moneygrams in person and thought I'd offer up a few tips for what its worth. The following information has been semi carefully reviewed by my personal editor. Her name is Helen Waite. If you have any serious issues wth what you see below, please go to Helen Waite.

I use Walmart for a number of reasons - it's cheap, anonymous, and easy once you get the drill down. Below are my suggestions, based on doing business in Florida. YMMV.

The first time I did this - I hated it. I walked in with this look about me like I was guilty of something. I took the form and the vendor info I had printed off. I filled out the form wrong the first few times. After I finally got it right I turned around and noticed 3 busloads of total strangers had just arrived and they were all staring at me like I was guilty of something. The clerk behind the counter was with the department of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and ne'er dowells getting moneygrams at Walmart for illegal purposes and watched my every move. All of this of course was all in my mind but it seemed real at the time. Now it's a hoot. OK .. here we go:

1) Pick up a rew MG forms in advance. Fill the form out at home or someplace where you have time to check your sppeling (intentional bad joke - but you get the point) and address info. Also verify that the information the vendor gave you has a corresponding place on the form. My last vendor gave me a maternal last name. The form has no place for that. I contacted the vendor and we used maternal last name as first last name (there is space for two). A sample form is shown below. There's not a lot of info required. Filling the form out in advance also makes you more relaxed when you walk in. I was nervous the first few times. Now I enjoy it. it's a game.

2) When you go to the counter, smile and be friendly. I've sent money to Pakistan, Baja, and a country that starts with a V that I had never heard of before. On one occasion I had the clerk (who I spotted as a potential b*tch while approaching the counter) remark "Well Mr. XXXXX I see you've sent money there once before". I kept the smile, kept laser lock eye contact and said "Yes I have". End of discussion and I got the money sent. With that one exception, every clerk Ive dealt with was either friendly back or didn't care. Most of the time, they're just waiting for their shift to end.

3) Dress somewhat nicely. I'm usually in business clothes. I'm not suggesting you have to put on a tie, but try to avoid clothes with holes or tears in them.

4) I've read where people hate Walmart because the clerk always types things in wrong. That CAN happen .. I've never had the problem .. but here is how you protect yourself from that. When you pay for the MG, you get a big ole' honkin receipt back, along with a copy of the form you turned in. That big ole honkin receipt has a lot of information on it. What YOU care about is that the receivers name and address is correct. While you're at the counter, compare the receivers name and address on the receipt with the copy of the form you turned in. (HINT They should match - if they don't take care of that while you're standing there. It's a 30 second exercise to triple check while you're standing there. There is no valid reason not to check while you're there. You're not holding people up.

5) Below is a receipt I received with my personal info blanked out and generic info in red explaining what you'll see there. You'll notice teh MG form doesn't ask much. Squeemish about sending to Baja? The Florida Walmart MG form doesn't ask for a city. It's easy. Relax and have fun with it. And oh yeas, the red number circled at the bottom of the receipt image is the one you'll need to supply your vendor. by the way, send whatever is printed there, not 12345678 (unless that's actually the number). Anything in red in the images is sample information.

@drboris could you please make @Bungalobill 's tutorial on how to send a MG in a separate closed thread, which can be updated with only newer MG fill-out forms? It took me a while to find a great guide on how to use one. @Bungalobill do you have one for Western Union?

[Ms. Lab Rat]

I want to reiterate what several earlier posters mentioned - if you are buying from MX, go to a MX company.. If they need to find someone who speaks English enough to help you, and if there is a family in line behind you, you hit the jackpot.

One thought I had today is how closely do they monitor your ID. Do they enter the drivers license number at MG or is it just for ID? If they don't enter the number, I'm all about getting a fake ID and a disposable cell phone. If they do enter the number though, well, that's back to square 1.

[Racerx]

Just thought I would share my experience for those of you who are nervous about MG in person(I was one of them). On my way home from work I drove to a area of town where almost everyone speaks spanish. I stop at a convinence that had a big MG sign out front. I went inside and bought a gatorade and grabbed a MG sheet basically just to feel the place out. The next morning went inside and handed the lady at the counter the sheet and the money and about 2 minutes later she handed me a reciept. She didnt even ask me a single question because she didnt speak english. It was as simple as that.

Ms. Lab Rat, they didnt even ask me for ID.

[no name]

I want to reiterate what several earlier posters mentioned - if you are buying from MX, go to a MX company.. If they need to find someone who speaks English enough to help you, and if there is a family in line behind you, you hit the jackpot.

One thought I had today is how closely do they monitor your ID. Do they enter the drivers license number at MG or is it just for ID? If they don't enter the number, I'm all about getting a fake ID and a disposable cell phone. If they do enter the number though, well, that's back to square 1.

The problem you will run into with a fake id is that if your transaction is declined and they find that you have used a fake id you will lose your funds and possibly be banned! tread lightly
NN

[akl63]

Yea a lot of people have lost their money using a fake name/id. If you mess up the maternal/paternal name and have to change it, its a real problem cancelling the payment and getting your money back.

[snowangel308]

I would not recommend using a fake name and/or fake id. If for some reason the name is not spelled correctly, or you need to cancel your MG or your vendor asks you to change the receiver( I have read posts where that has happened) you MUST have a valid id(drivers license) to get your money back.

[Sherlock]

I would recommend using MoneyGram by filling out the paper form.
I first went to CVS, but I noticed that they only use the phone to place an order. However, this could vary depending on the location. Assuming that CVS only uses the RED phone to place an order, I would recommend Walmart where they offer the paper form.

I went to Walmart to make my payment. When I gave my filled out form to the Walmart clerk, she didn't look suspicious at me for sending $200 to Mexico for "crafts". She was so carefree. However, that could vary depending on the person you are dealing with and the atmosphere of the place.

I agree with Bungalobill that you should go to Walmart and pick up 2 - 3 forms (just in case you make a mistake) and fill it out at home.

REMINDER!!!!! There are TWO Forms
Form Type 1= a form you can use to send money to any country.
Form Type 2= a form made specifically to send money to Mexico. (Usually the more colorful form.)

You can use either Form 1 or Form 2 to send a payment to Mexico, however, the fill out order for Form Type 2 is different from Form Type 1.
The image that Bungalobill posted is Form Type 1.

Has anyone used a MG paper form at CVS?

[Fanbased]

I used MG today for the first time. I had no problems. I do have a question though. Is there any way to check status of the transaction besides calling the 800 number. It would be alot more convenient if I could check online.

[snowangel308]

@Fanbased if you do have an open online account, even though you didn't send the actual transfer online, your transaction WILL show up on your account and you should also get an email when the money is picked up. I do anyway. I am not sure if you have an open account or not, but if you don't have an online account, calling is the only way I believe.

[UserName348]

Use prepaid Visa if possible. Green Dot works best and will work for ordering from ********. Just load as you go.

[strungoutlagwagon]

I just tried MG for the first time, and thought I'd try online for the heck of it.
Most stressful 15 minutes of my life haha. They made me call them, and they started interrogating me about why I was sending money and it caught me off guard so I made up some excuse fumbling my words around. They denied my transaction. After I hung up, I decided that I'll go use the stupid red phone instead.

Well, 2 hours later I got really impulsive and tried online again through a different vendor (in the same city). Was this a horrendously stupid mistake??? I wish I hadn't tried right after I sent the payment! uh oh ): ahhh why does this have to be so difficult!

EDIT: IT WENT THROUGH! No call or anything???? woah

[Lynx4]

Years ago I made my first payment through Western union online. They called and asked some security questions and then asked me what the transfer was for. So I went on and on about this cool makeup club I belong to where we have people all over the world in it (we did) and that we send each other makeup from other countries to see what it looks like and I was sending her the shipping amount to mail the makeup and some extra as a thank you. I went on and on until he said "okay". I sent like 5 online WUs after that with no problem, then just went to WU in person. I think if you confuse them and you're all happy and excited about it that it throws them offguard

[stavros]

I was just informed that an in-person WU transaction I attempted to make was blocked at the receiving end. I'm going to have to go to the store location, cancel the transfer, and attempt a new transfer. This sort of stuff makes me really nervous. I wonder if I should use a different location.

[beavis2]

Although some may be hesitant to use this route because they're not Hispanic, it's really not an issue. They don't care if you're white, black, or purple-the only color that matters is $green$

This is so true. I completely quit screwing around with online, "red phone," etc., transfers and now use human agents entirely. Nobody gives you a hard time when you show up with $100 bills in hand.

[SedateMe]

I sent money through wu in person for the 1st time today. It wasn't too bad but took really long, like 10 min. I can do it online in less than 2. I had to go in person cuz wu online would not let me make an online payment to the country of interest. I really don't understand that whole situation. Can't pay online but can go see an "agent".

[Itzalah]

@stavros @JTT even in my country, WU is a pain (tho ive never had an in-person transaction declined). Very official-like, have to fill out forms (I HATE filling out forms. Any forms).

Much prefer in-person MG - I print out the basics of the transaction using Windows notepad or whatever (actually i have a template saved so i only need to type in receivers name, country, city, $amount, my name & phone number), hand that to him and he does the rest on his MG computer. 5 minutes max (8 minutes if he has to turn the MG computer on and wait for it to boot).

[Agls]

Last time I had to send money this way I found a small 'mercado', in my town family owned and sent from there, seemed much more comfortable to me as it seemed somewhat common event to them.

[SedateMe]

I have been using wu online without a hitch, occasionally though they will not let me send to certain destinations but say I can go in person and complete the transaction. This has happened to me maybe 1/5 times. I prefer the online route as its much easier and faster. However, I may start going to an agent to create less of paper trail.