Paying through Western Union

[TeeBee]

Hi,

A supplier in India has asked for payment through Western Union. They have asked me to use the option 'send to receiver's location' rather than giving me bank account details.

This looks to me like a personal payment, rather than putting it through a company

Is this normal practice? Should I insist on a bank account number to send money to?


Thanks

Tony

 

[MOIC]

Have you worked with this supplier before?

How much is the payment for?

Is the payee legally connected to the business that you can have verified?

It's important to do due dilligence on any supplier, especially when the payee is not connected to the company.

 

[cautiouscapy]

It's extremely easy to fall prey to scammers using Western Union - all someone needs to collect the cash is suitable ID.

Western Union the SERVICE is reliable, it's just that as others have said, the money's not traceable or recoverable once it's been collected.

Western Union is used a lot in countries where few people have bank accounts, for example your country is poor, you have a relative who comes to Europe to work and needs to wire his family money back home. Western Union doesn't need your family to have a bank account, they just turn up to the Western Union office with the right ID and can collect the money.

Don't forget IDs can be faked! So someone in China or India says, wire to Mr ABC at this office. Mr ABC is a made-up identity with a fake passport, he collects the cash with that and makes off into the sunset.

If you are trying to buy from a supplier or manufacturer, particularly overseas, DON'T use Western Union. I've been looking into importing from overseas - on business forums you read again and again, DON'T use Western Union unless you already have a trusted relationship with the supplier.

Reason is that PayPal must be linked to a bank account. With Western Union, I could get online from my bedroom, pretend to be a supplier of e.g. Designer watches at amazing prices. You might be tempted, send me cash via Western Union and then hear nothing, receive nothing. You can't trace me via my bank account, the law enforcement agencies can't trace me.

 

[Chris Ashdown]

Don't do it, every company around the world has a bank account, western union will just be a fraud with no comback

 

[TeeBee]

Have you worked with this supplier before?

How much is the payment for?

Is the payee legally connected to the business that you can have verified?

It's important to do due dilligence on any supplier, especially when the payee is not connected to the company.

The payment will be around £2000. I have received samples from the supplier and their name is associated with the company on their website and the shipping paperwork I received. The company is also listed on alibaba - does that give some indication that they are legitimate?

Thanks

Tony

 

[cautiouscapy]

Merely being listed on Alibaba is not sufficient If I Recall Correctly (IIRC). Don't they have some "verified" classifications - like "Gold"? (Do Your Own research here, this is from memory not experience).

You'd be well advised to talk to someone who offers a service like My Office In China above, for India.

 

[Etiquette]

I have sent to India via Western Union and received the goods as described..........there again the order value was £250 so not much of a risk tbh compared to yours