| EW_writer |
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Edited by: EW_writer Jul 15, 10, 03:51PM
| #1 |
Joined: Jul 2, 07
Threads: 27
Posts: 2,171
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I have a direct client who wished to pay me via Western Union. After making the payment, the client fell ill and was not able to give me the MTCN (code needed to claim the money). When he got better, he sent me the MTCN but it came out unrecognized by the Western Union tracking system. I asked him why this was so and he said that the MTCN expired because I was not able to collect the money within 3 days (since he was sick and was not able to give me the code). So, he called his WU branch up and had the code reactivated but the code is still unrecognized at the moment (it's been less than 12 hours since he asked WU to reactivate it).
I have little doubt that this client would pay me (as he has done so several times before) but I don't know if we're missing something in the whole WU process as I rarely receive payments from WU and during those rare times, I never encountered this problem. So, I'm asking if any of you have experience using WU and can give me some advice regarding this matter. Thanks.
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| pheelyks |
Writer |
Jul 15, 10, 05:02PM
| #2 |
Joined: Jan 20, 09
Threads: 8
Posts: 3,435
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Been there once, and vowed never to go there again. I can't offer real advice except to say that I've been in a similar situation and now insist on PayPal as a method of payment. It sounds like you're doing everything right, but WU is such a giant company any number of things could be screwed up on their end.
The customer should be able to cancel the first transfer and set up a brand new one that is available instantly--maybe have them try that.
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| FreelanceWriter |
Writer |
Jul 16, 10, 12:19AM
| #3 |
Joined: Oct 8, 08
Threads: 3
Posts: 600
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I don't start writing until I've actually received payment; if it can be cancelled on the sender's end, that means it's not "received" on mine until it's in my hand. I've been paid that way a few times but I went and collected the cash before I started writing.
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| EW_writer |
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Jul 16, 10, 05:14AM
| #4 |
Joined: Jul 2, 07
Threads: 27
Posts: 2,171
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Thanks for the advice guys. We're still waiting for the code to be reactivated.
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| KISSmyACE |
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Edited by: KISSmyACE Jul 23, 10, 07:13AM
| #5 |
Joined: Jul 23, 10
Posts: 5
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Hey there EW_Writer,
I used to charge some of my international clients through WU, and one time I ran into a similar situation to the one you related. Have you tried asking the fellas at your WU branch to search for the payment using the information of the sender (customer)? IIRC, they can cross-reference your info with that of the sender, but only if there is a valid MTCN for the transaction.
For what it's worth, after I registered my business as a sole proprietorship at Citibank, I was able to purchase a credit card swiping terminal. It's a lot more convenient than using WU, and the fees are a fraction of what Paypal charges...of course, it also depends a lot more on how much your clients trust you with their cc info.
Hope some of that info helped. Let us know if you learn anything new, and I'll try to follow up. Take care mate.
-ACE
P.S.: I whole-heartedly endorse Freelance's position of taking payment up front. While my particular clientele never screw me over, I've been in situations where I've had to wait unexpectedly long periods before I could finally collect. Any stable business has to be built on controllable/predictable cashflow....just my two cents. tc
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