How to track a Western Union money transfer

How to track a Western Union money transfer is probably the first question that jumps to your mind when sending or expecting money from Western Union. You’ll be glad to know that this can be done in a few minutes.

We’ll explain all the steps to you in this article.

The most important thing you need to track a Western Union money transfer is the MTCN number.

Every time you do a money transfer, a unique tracking code is attached to it. That’s what this is all about. Let’s explain that a little more.

What is MTCN and where do you find it?

MTCN simply stands for Money Tracking Control Number. It’s a 10-digit tracking number unique to every money transfer. Your tracking number (MTCN) can be found on your transfer history page and in your printed or emailed receipt.

There can’t ever be two identical MTCNs, even with the millions of transactions carried out daily around the world by the Western Union.

Once you have this “magic number”, how to track a Western Union money transfer becomes as easy as a click.

How to track a Western Union money transfer in 4 simple steps.

Step 1: Go to the Western Union website and click Track a transfer.

It will prompt you to enter the sender’s name and 10-digit MTCN. If you are the receiver of the transfer and you were picking up cash in person, the sender should have given you the MTCN when they made the transfer. If you are the sender of the money, you should have received the MTCN when you made the transfer.

Step 2: Type in the MTCN Once you input the MTCN and hit continue, it will show you the detailed screen, followed by a few final steps.

Step 3: Choose the receiver’s country and the amount of the transfer If you are the receiver, choose the country where you are currently residing. If you are the sender, choose the location of the person to whom you sent the money.

Step 4: Follow the remaining simple prompts and confirm your identity. Once you’ve done all that, Western Union will provide you with the exact status of the money transfer and confirm if it’s ready for collection, or if it’s already been collected.

Also read about - Western Union Money Transfer Review

That was simple, wasn’t it?

You can also track a Western Union money transfer by phone or in person. To find a Western Union location near you, go to the customer service homepage. Scroll down to the box that says, “Find Your Nearest Agent” and click on the box.

The MTCN number is also all you need to track a Western Union money transfer by these means.

How to track Western Union without an MTCN number

What if you don’t have the MTCN number will your money be lost? Absolutely not.

Tracking is easiest if you have the MTCN. However, if you don’t have that tracking number, it’s still possible to track your Western Union money transfer. You will need to have some other details at hand.

You’ll be asked to provide either the sender’s phone number or the names of both sender and receiver, as well as the exact money transfer amount. All that information will be used to track your Western Union money transfer.

What are your alternatives to Western Union?

You might be wondering if there are other trusted alternatives to Western Union in sending money to your friends and family back home.

There are quite a few other money transfer services that are also able to track the money as it goes.

A great alternative to Western Union is Remitbee - an online money transfer service created by immigrants in Canada for other immigrants. It offers competitive exchange rates and minimal fees, knowing that every dollar counts.