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About MoneyGram
MoneyGram provides online and in-person money transfers, money orders and bill payments. Customers can send money domestically or internationally and choose from nearly 50 different currencies.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Large global availability
- Flexible payout options
- Fraud education resources
Cons
- Exchange rates can be poor
- Fees can vary
Bottom Line
MoneyGram is one of the largest wire transfer services in the world. It lets you send and receive money, pay bills and more. The company does its best to make sure transfers are convenient, easy and safe.
Top MoneyGram Reviews
I changed to MoneyGram and never had any of the issues or problems that I experienced with Western Union. MoneyGram is very quick, efficient, professional and polite...I have neve...
Read full reviewThe App is easy to use, the fees are clearly indicated based on the amount you wish to send and one gives the option to send money using your bank account or debit/credit card… I...
Read full reviewWhat is MoneyGram?
MoneyGram is one of the world’s largest money transfer providers. The company has decades of experience and a trustworthy reputation. MoneyGram has made it a goal to educate its customers on fraud and take whatever precautions it can to avoid having customers transfer money to scammers.
How does MoneyGram work?
MoneyGram lets customers send money either online or in-person. To send money online, you must first create an account. From there, select either a bank or MoneyGram agent location and choose how you want to pay.
It's also possible to set up an online transfer and later pay in-store with cash by showing a government identification. For in-person service, you can go to your closest agent location with a government ID, the receiver’s information and the money you’re sending.
If you're receiving money, the sender can transfer it to a bank account, a mobile wallet or an agent location for pickup. If the money is going to a bank account or mobile wallet, there's nothing you have to do — the funds arrive in your account once the transfer is processed.
For an in-person pickup, you need the transfer reference number and a valid government ID. You may need to fill out a receive form, but it's not always required. Money sent to a MoneyGram location will be ready in minutes, but bank account transfers take longer.
MoneyGram fees
MoneyGram aims to match its competitors' rates as closely as possible. Fees vary based on several factors, including the money's destination and the type of transfer you choose. The website offers a fee estimator for a more precise idea of the costs. Exchange rates are updated in real time, but customers have noted in reviews that these rates aren’t always as good as what some competitors offer.
MoneyGram FAQ
Where can I cash a MoneyGram money order?
There are a couple of ways to handle a money order from MoneyGram. It can be deposited into your bank account or cashed at many check-cashing businesses.
Can you receive MoneyGram online?
You can receive MoneyGram online if it's sent directly to a bank account or a mobile wallet. If this is the case, the money should be available online without you having to do anything.
Why does MoneyGram hold money?
MoneyGram doesn’t specify much when it comes to its policies on holding money. With most money transfer companies, holds depend on authorization, the amount sent, the destination and identification requirements.
How do I open a MoneyGram account?
Opening a MoneyGram account is a simple process. Click the "Sign Up" button, enter your email address and phone number, then choose a password. You'll then have to enter your legal name, your birth date and address. Finally, click the "Create Profile" button.
How do I get a refund from MoneyGram?
If you cancel your money order within 30 minutes of sending it, MoneyGram refunds the full amount. After that, you can still get a partial refund for up to 180 days, excluding fees.
Is MoneyGram better than Western Union?
Western Union has more locations than MoneyGram and is sometimes more competitively priced. The best thing to do is to compare rates to find which service offers a better value.
Is MoneyGram safe?
You should always treat money requests from unknown parties with extreme caution and never wire money to someone you don’t know. If you’re sending money to a friend or family member, however, MoneyGram is a safe option. As one of the world’s largest wire transfer sites, MoneyGram has plenty of experience and is a viable option for consumers who want to transfer funds.
MoneyGram Reviews
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Today I sent $1,500.00 to my wife. I thought they would not be any problems. Boy was I wrong!! When she went to retrieve the money she was told that there was a problem. She called me and I provided the 8 digit reference number and texted photo of the receipt. They still treated her like a criminal. I got so frustrated and I called Money Gram toll free number. You won't believe the numerous questions I was asked. Who was I sending it to? What is their relationship to me? What is the last four digits of my driver's license?
Understand I suffer from anxiety and panic attacks. I'm a Veteran and today is Memorial Day. I went through the freaking roof. Bottom line, I had to take additional medication to deal with this ordeal. After reading other reviews, I decided that I needed to write one too. If you have an emergency situation, I would advise you to choose another method to send your hard earned dollars. Hopefully this review will help someone else avoid stress and anxiety.
I purchased 2 money orders and mailed them both to pay a fine back in June 2022. Just found out the money orders were never received. I check and neither had been cashed. I went to request a refund/reissuance of the money orders, but the fees to replace cost 184.763% more than what the cost of the original money order. Original cost $0.99 cost to replace $25.00. This I consider Highway Robbery.
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I’ve been using the company to send money from US to my family and all of a sudden I cannot use it anymore because they suspended my account and they never provide the reason why. The only people I send money to was my family back in the island. No transparency and inconvenient.
I sent Money to my cousin and she never receive it. I keep calling MoneyGram and they keep saying they are investigating. I have seen other people say they never got their money. Now am scared I will never get my money. At this point I have to get a lawyer because they are not about to take my money.
On February 7 I send $560 dollars to a family member in Nicaragua. Moneygram cancelled this transaction, Reference No. **. They said by phone that I was going to be refund in 10 business day. To this moment I have not received the refund and they keep telling that the refund was made and to call my bank. I called my bank and they said there is no pending credits on my account. I submitted a complaint to them and they said it make take 90 days.

I sent a money from USA to turkey on December 17, after one week my brother in low told me he didn’t receive the money when I went to the branch to see where is the money, they said the money is received!!! Then I called the MoneyGram to make complaint or to provide me with any information, they said they will do investigation and it may take 90 DAYS , they didn’t give me any information about which branch the money received or anything. I waited 90 days I found an email said the money is received with no documents or evidence. They not even give me what branch the money received!! l lost the money and very bad system to handle the problem.
This company means well but your customer service reps are beyond me! I received money using etransfer method. Been calling for days giving the same email and no one can tell me where the money went. I was given a code to receive the money. Haven’t gotten any email with the link and the rep was laughing when I asked to speak to his supervisor. Horrible customer service. Western Union is better, fast and efficient. I wish I had an option to give 0 stars.
I tried to send money to my brother who needs it urgently. I received an email that the transaction was cancelled. However, MoneyGram said it would take 10 business days for the money to be refunded to me. It took them minutes to withdraw the money from my account but they want to take 10 business days to refund it. That is not acceptable. I called MoneyGram and they said the money is with a third-party. I would never use unless the recipient doesn't need the money urgently so that if anything goes wrong with the transaction, the recipient would not be stranded.
I sent money to my Fiance in Colombia in Novermber 2022. It never arrived, Contacted Moneygram and was told like another review here I had to wait 3 months for them to investegate. It has been over 3 minutes now and have been told I have to wait another week for them to investigate where the money is. If they do not know where your money is how can they be trusted. They have sent the money so they should be keeping track of it until it has been delivered. If you need to send money overseas I suggest another company as Moneygram are a very disorganized company when it comes to helping customers.
I used MoneyGram for the first time to transfer money to my wife’s family in Ukraine. After setting up an account and providing all required information, 5 business days passed and the money was still not available to our family. No communication from MoneyGram about any problem. I called customer service and was assured that the money had been transferred and would be available for pickup on the fifth business day. When that day passed, our family was told there was a hold on the funds from MoneyGram. I finally spoke to a customer service person who told me that Ukraine was considered a high risk country and I would need to provide additional detailed information about the recipient and the reason for the transfer, the same information I provided to the previous representative. I was told, after this interrogation that the money would be released immediately.
As of now, our family still does not have the money. None of this information was ever communicated by customer service on my previous calls, nor have I received an email stating that I needed to provide additional. Absolutely the worst experience with a financial institution I have encountered. I wonder how much money goes missing? This company needs to be investigated!
MoneyGram Company Information
- Company Name:
- MoneyGram
- Website:
- global.moneygram.com
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