this thread isnt as much against western union, as its about who use western union for what, i myself used it when i lost my wallet on holiday, and i must admit that western union did a fabulous job in sending over some money real quick to save my life, while bank is slow and not a pat in comparision in such regard, however, with such speed and ease, pls read also reply nr.3, scams arent slow to take full advantages of it neither! once again, we re not saying its western union who did the [causing problems], but rather, those scams who abuse western union to trick the un-awared's! tho in the case of ann83, i see too, that western union should take their responsibility of having given the money to the wrong person.

heres my experience, tho i wasnt convinced enough to hand over the money: rental 1: the landlord got angry when i asked him for bank transfer instead of using western union, because of all the scams around, its too strange, think about it, why would he insist on receiving less(after deducting WU fee) and go through the trouble of having to pick it up at WU office over the ease and comfort of full sum money directly in his bank? oh, if he gets mad now, and start shouting that my concern for scams is an INSULT! then how am i going to deal with him once i do become his tanent? another point, he said hes just finished a job in england, yet i may view the property 'only on the outside'!? well, i d presume that even if he doesnt want to use an agent, he d prehaps has a friend or two who could show me the place despite that hes out of town, that is, if he did worked in england, it isnt convincing to me that he knows no one, em... not only fishy, but aggressive, too! i dropped that one faster than hot spud! rental 2: also asked for western union, and this one asks for a 1 year lease, well, does she expect me to pay her monthly via western union, instead of auto-pay, sure and secure via bank? quite illogical! and she mentioned too, having her family lawyer to handle the documents, i thought to myself, if you have the money to hire a family lawyer, why are you on this free rental site? and not an estate agent instead? perhaps she thought it sounds more reliable mentioning that it involves a lawyer, but, well, not sure its just me being sceptical, to me, it raises more doubt than realiability. i havent taken up any of these two offers and dont think i will as long as they give me enough reasons to doubt, so to sum up, i d say if not using an agent, the more acceptable option is that you check the rental, meet the landlord(seeing that he has the house lease), and preferably, rent via bank only(banks do a better securiy check than western union does). goodluck to us all!