Western Union Tracking with MTCN

If you are a Western Union customer and occasionally send money transfers through this payment system, you probably would like to know where your money is at any given time. The good news is that Western Union allows you to check the status of your transfer in just a few steps. In most cases, you will need to provide some personal information, including the Money Tracking Control Number — the topic of today's article.

So, what is MTCN, how can a Western Union money order be tracked using this code, and how long does it take to check its status? In this article, you will find a step-by-step guide on tracking Western Union money orders. You will also learn whether it is possible to monitor and receive a transfer without MTCN.

What Is MTCN?

MTCN stands for Money Tracking Control Number, which is a unique 10-character code used to identify international money transfers. This code is assigned to every transfer and can help you track your Western Union money order’s status. If you’re a recipient, Western Union won’t notify you about the funds being credited to your account, so tracking with MTCN might be the only method to find out where the money is right now. In addition, it is impossible to pick up the transferred cash at a branch without MTCN — the sender must provide this code to the recipient.

The sender receives the Money Tracking Control Number when initiating the transaction and is required to keep it safe until the operation is processed.

4 Steps to Track a Western Union Money Order

Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to track your Western Union money order without leaving the comfort of your home.

Step 1: Find Your Tracking Number

To track the status of your money transfer, you must find its MTNC. If you made the transaction at a branch, you can find the identifier on the receipt. If you performed the operation online, locate it in your account’s transaction history. In both cases, keep in mind that the code should stay confidential, as otherwise, you risk getting your money stolen.

Step 2: Go to the Official Western Union Website

With your tracking code, you can check the Western Union money order status directly on the provider’s website. Locate the “Track your transfer” section of the site, enter your MTCN in the appropriate field, and click “Continue.” You may be required to provide other personal information to verify your identity. It might include your name, recipient country, and the amount of the transfer. Finally, it goes without saying that all this data must be correct.

Step 3: Track Your Money Order

Once you prove your identity to the bank, you can click the “Track Transfer” option to have the system analyze the status of your transaction. After a short delay, the website will display all the information regarding your money order, including details such as whether the money has been sent, has been credited, or is still on its way to the recipient. Note that you cannot check the terms of crediting this way, as they are not fixed and depend on the recipient's country and other conditions.

Step 4: Keep Monitoring Your Transaction

You can continue to track your transfer to stay updated about its status. When your money transfer is delivered to the recipient, Western Union will notify you.

Is It Possible to Track Western Union Transfer without a Money Tracking Control Number?

In general, Western Union tracking without MTCN is possible, but it will require some additional steps and make the procedure less convenient. In this case, you will need to provide other data regarding the transaction, the sender, and the recipient.

So, let’s review several alternative ways to track a Western Union money order.

Personal Data of Transaction Participants

You may check the status of your transfer using the information you provided when placing the money order. To do this, you’ll need to contact customer service and provide the sender’s and the receiver’s names along with the receiver’s phone number.

Customer Service Help

You can contact Western Union representatives directly to track your transaction. You may be asked to provide not only the transfer details but also a document verifying your identity. After a successful verification, Western Union agents may be able to offer you alternative tracking methods.

Transaction Receipts

Transaction documents such as receipts and confirmation letters contain all the data necessary for WU money order tracking, including the MTCN code. In case you cannot use the MTCN, receipts and confirmation letters should still provide you with enough information to access the Western Union money order tracking system.

How Long Will It Take to Receive a Western Union Money Order?

There are no fixed terms for international transactions — a money transfer can be completed near-instantaneously or take several business days. All Western Union can do for you is provide accurate status of your transfer.

There are many factors that impact your wait time in this case. Firstly, you should take into account that transfers to certain countries take additional time due to currency trading limitations or even technical limitations. In addition to the destination country, you should also consider factors such as the payment option and the transfer method. For example, if you are replenishing a bank account or transferring money to a mobile wallet, the wait may be longer due to extended checks and additional steps. Last but not least, if you initiate a transaction outside business hours or on a non-working day, your order may take longer to process because the WU employees might not be able to initiate the transaction immediately.

In case you encounter a transaction delay, the best you can do is check the status of your transfer and reach out to the service’s support staff. As usual, you can contact Western Union representatives by phone or email.

Is It Possible to Receive a Western Union Transfer without MTCN?

If the transaction is made directly to your bank account, the money will arrive there without any input on your part. If this is the case, you won’t need to provide an MTCN to receive the transaction. However, if you want to receive money at a physical branch, you may need to present the code to receive the funds. Do not neglect to contact the sender and ask them for the MTCN code — they can find the Western Union tracking number on the receipt or in their payment history.

Western Union is a proven, reliable, and secure system for making international payments. It does everything to keep you up to date about your transaction status for the entire duration of its processing. With Western Union tracking the money order for you, international transfers can be simple and convenient — all you need is to provide the MTCN code. Finally, note that even if you don’t have access to the code, there are ways you can still monitor your transfer and receive the money.