BigClassActions.com
Advertisement

$133M Settlement to Stand in Western Union Unfair Business Practices Class Action Lawsuit

- by

Santa Clara, CA: A $133 million settlement in a unfair business practices class action lawsuit pending against The Western Union will stand, according to a ruling by the Tenth Circuit court. The lawsuit alleged the company kept money from failed wire transfers for five years, even though they had the contact information for the senders.

Under the terms of the settlement, class members will recover interest for the time during which Western Union held these funds, something they would not have received simply by asking Western Union to return their money, court documents show.

Additionally, the settlement terms stipulate that Western Union must change its business practices such that it informs customers when their wire transfers fail.

The suit resulted from Western Union' practice of keeping money from failed transfers and earning interest, electing not to inform customers until their money was due to be absorbed by states' unclaimed and abandoned property departments.

According to the lawsuit, the period of time Western Union waited to inform customers of the failed transfers often meant that the contact information for those customers was no longer valid.

The case is Tennille, et al v. Western Union, et al, case no. 13-1310 in the U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit.

Legal Help

If you have a similar problem and would like to be contacted by a lawyer at no cost or obligation, please fill in our form on the right.

Reader Comments

Posted by

on
I send money to my son he never receive it from western union it he was in college, Then they block by account and my sons account from western union. never receive money back or fees.

Posted by

on
In 2012 we got a call that sounded like our grandson he said he need money to get home from Mexico. Found out couple days later the person was not our grandson. We lost 5000 dollars.

Posted by

on
On June 26th of 2017 I sent money via western union to my grandma who lives 1 hour away in WA. Within two hours I received a text stating it had been picked up so I called my grandma and she had yet to go pick it up and was still at the hospital so I went online and tracked it and it said that a refund had been requested and was ready for me to go pick it up so I go to the store and they tell me I have to call and get a special number before they are able to process the refund. I call western union and they state it was already picked up in MICHIGAN on the other side of the country I explained that somebody had stole it because I live in WA and so does the person I was sending it to. They opened a claim and told me they would contact me in 20 days via email on the 20th day I call to see what's going on and they say it was ligitamate and that my sender picked it up and they mailed me the proof. I asked if it would contain the ID of the person who picked it up because I made sure that I didn't put a password on it. The lady didn't know anything and just kept telling me to wait until I get my letter. I'm so confused as to where to go from here.

Posted by

on
On. January 12,2017 received an email saying western union had seen some suspicious activites on my online western union account that i would need to change information for security reasons so login on the account using the link little did i know that on January 15 someone start having excess to my western unu5on online account making several tranactions totaling 3500.oo dollars using my whole life money so when i contact western union they told to call the poluce and make a report which i did they was no help because they money was already puck up by the receiveri told them the tranactions was early in the morning and that person keep making numerous transaction until it went through the bank to approve them being no help me they gave fraud case number and they would be investigated this mattetr. So i contact my lical commerce of banking the couldn't help me They have banned me from using there services too and it hasnt my fault.As of yet i have not heard from Western union on this matter please what shoild i do help me i lost all that money.

Posted by

on
Western Union has stiffed me three times for $50. After the second time, I got a BlueBird card for my daughter but she lost it and I made a few WU transfers to her before she got the replacement and they did it again. She would go to pick up the instant money transfer and was told it had already been picked up. When I call WU they tell me an investigation will be done, but I always get a letter saying simply that their records show that it had been picked up. I don't think they do any further investigation other than what the person on the phones says. Can anyone tell me if there is any class action lawsuit or anything else to hold them accountable? I have the dates and transfer numbers.

Posted by

on
I transferred money via WU Dec 27th. I paid online via a bank ID application verified bank account. The transfer was cancelled by WU for undisclosed 'security reasons' and I got an email saying they would refund me in 7 days. Almost 3 weeks later and no refund. I raised a ticket and they came back asking for my BANK STATEMENT to be able to process my case. I called numerous times and I get answers from 'money has been refunded' to 'refund has been unprocessed and we are investigating. If we don't reach a decision after 20 days you will get an email of the status then. They still insist n a bank statement from me. I am in Sweden, I am sure Swedish and EU laws find this practice illegal so I am awaiting for some sort of legal advice from the Consumer Europe association. Beware of what info you disclose to them.

Posted by

on
I sent transfer the agent misspelled my name. Now you know I have to send a copy of my I.D. this was on the 1st of November 2016. And still have not heard anything from them.

So I called them. They said at first, they vouldnt find it.

Then they said they didn't have a copy of my ID. So I faxed both again. With both confirmation notices such I kept.

Posted by

on
whho do i contact

Posted by

on
Western Union sent me a letter stating my $500 money transfer could not be completed for "undisclosed reasons". I called to asked for a refund to my bank account from where the money was transferred. After repeated calls and numerous excuses it is now 6 weeks later and Western Union still refuses to refund my money? Every time I call they have another excuse. They promised to send me a check. They said they would send a MTCN number to pick up cash, but every time nothing happens? Every time you call, the WU person puts you on hold and then goes to the supervisor to see what excuses to use next to stall you out. WU uses unfair business practices with their plan to keep your money. In my opinion WU is a bunch of liars and thieves.

Posted by

on
Recently sued WU for two money orders that was purchased in the amount of $1000 each in May 2013. It's a habit that I keep ALL receipts until receiver receives payment. In my case, MOs ended up in someone else's hand where they erased my information and replaced it with their information and cashed it. Although I paid WU $30 fee to investigate and had my original receipts, still WU refused to issue me a refund. After suing, the court ruled in my favor for $2,000 plus interest and court cost. Well, it's been six weeks now and I am still waiting for WU to return my money. If you must buy a WU MO, please use a FELT TIP pen to fill in your information. The ink cannot be erased which will be the thieves very upset.

Posted by

on
Has anyone also had problems with Money Orders? I mobile-deposited (a picture of the MO) a $420 MO to my bank, Western Union declined to pay it (submitted by my bank twice) saying the MO was "illegible". My bank sent me all copies of what was submitted and there is absolutely nothing wrong with the MO...all #'s are clear. WU wants me to submit a Refund Request form, pay them $30, and wait up to 90 days....while they hold my money interest-free. Note: MO deposited on 6/20/2016 and WU waited till 7/7/2016 to decline to pay...I destroyed the MO and receipt after 10 days so only have my copies that were submitted to my bank. So, any thoughts? Is this a usual practice for them to keep your money?

Posted by

on
There should be another lawsuit for this practice:
They cancel your transfer, kept the fee paid. ie. say i sent $1000, and the fee is $10, so i paid them $1010. A couple of days after i sent the money, they called me or emailed me telling me the transfer has been cancelled without any reason. they also told me they will send me i will get my refund within a week or so but everyone knows it will take atleast 1 month for them to send you the refund in a form of check. Fast forward 1 month or 10 years, you got your refund and it's only $1000. Where's the damn $10. How can they keep the $10 fee when they cancel your transfer/ and didn't provide any service?
I can understand if you cancel the transfer yourself and they kept the fee but damn

Posted by

on
i need help

Posted by

on
Recently, I received that says I have a pending lawsuit with western union. I sent money to my friends awhile ago and western union kept money for more than forty-five days. I would like to know if an attorney can help me

Posted by

on
esos de westers union son unos malditos ladrones en alguna veses algunos envios se perdieron yo use mucho esa company pero son unos ladrones pague miles de dollar en cobros por transaccion

Posted by

on
Western union and pay omatic are both rip off artist they have no respect for honest hard working people they have no regard for people who live pay check to pay check this article is very important it shows how big financial corporations steal from the public policy thanks

Posted by

on
I am seeking a lawyer to open a case against western union recently i sent money online using my western union account i received two email confirmations that the money was ready for pick up. When the receiver went to pick up the money western union would not release the money stating the receiver cannot use western union. This made no sense because they already approved the receiver in the email they sent me stating specifically that the receiver can pick up the money. They said they would refund me the money in three to five business days and that my transaction was cancelled. They sent me no notice of my transaction being cancelled. Western union is holding on to my money which prevents me from being able to send the money via a different method. They promised me a service via email and failed to provide me the service. I have documentation of all emails and attempts to resolve the matter with western union with no progress made.

Add Your Comment on This Issue

Please read our comment guidelines before posting.


Note: Your name will be published with your comment.


Your email will only be used if a response is needed.

Request Legal Help