marky2000

Hi all, first post, any help appreciated.

I am currently staying in USA and tried to send some money to a family member in UK, $1000 dollars.

I dont have USA bank account so paid cash at Western Union office to be paid into UK bank account, Nationwide Bank.

Western Union tell me it was rejected by Nationwide. Is this some sort of anti money laundering rule or just a technicality?

Any advice would be great. Thanks!!

lansbury

Have the intended recipient ask Nationwide for an explanation. Seems like a good place to start, as Nationwide rejected the payment.

marky2000

Yep I did that but she isn't great with this sort of thing (she'll do it tomorrow) so was hoping someone could cast some light on it or offer some other advice.

quiltman

Probably money laundering as the funds came from a CASH payment to Western Union. Why not just send it standard Western Union and get family member to pick it up. My son used to send me money from Vancouver via Western Union to refill his UK prepaid card as they also would not accept a cash payment from Western Union.I collected it, and in the same office paid it onto his prepaid account!

Bob

xoom.com for a fiver might be easier?

marky2000

The problem with cash to cash at Western Union is it will cost about 100GBP more to send it than sending it to a bank account. Also its much more convenient and safer for the recipient to receive it to the account and not in cash.

Xoom.com only works as I understand it for payments from a bank account and I do not have a USA bank account.

Any way round the money laundering issue?

Thanks for replies!!

petitefrancaise

get a usa bank account.

Not too difficult.....
walk in with 2 forms of ID and proof of address.
Don't need social security number for a normal checking account.

quiltman

All I can suggest is ask a friend with a US account to send it for you to Nationwide.

mrken30

I would recommend this option unelss you are only here for a short while. Another option is to use paypal, you can load the cash on at many retailers and then use paypal to send the money online.

https://www.paypal-cash.com/

Pulaski

IMO most likely a discrepancy in the account number and details, so Nationwide couldn't apply the funds with certainty, OR WU didn't attach all your details (specifically name, dob, address, and preferably passport details - country and number), and therefore couldn't screen it against the Bank of England's list of undesirables. ..... So effectively a money laundering/terrorism issue.

mrken30

I agree with Pulaski

I vaguely remember Nationwide used to have a single account number for bank transfers and then the money was applied to the roll number account. Similar to when you pay a utility bill. This is no longer the case as far as I know.