Frequently asked questions

The WU® loyalty rewards program let's you earn points when sending qualifying transfers and receive exclusive promotions and offers.

When you create your Western Union profile, you are automatically assigned a My WU number during the registration process. You can also register in person at an Advance America store. Your My WU number will be printed at the top of your receipt. 

When sending money from an Advance America store, choose Bank account deposit as the money delivery option.

You’ll need:

• Within the US: Bank name, account name, account number and routing number
• Outside the US: One or all of the following may be required: Branch name, bank, or branch code; Account number or International Bank Account Number (IBAN); Routing number, International Bank Identifier Code (BIC), swift BIC or Indian Financial System Code (IFSC)

To cancel in person-initiated money transfers:

1. Please visit the same Advance America store where you made your transfer or any branch of the same agent.
2. Remember to bring your government-issued ID to the agent location.
3. You can also contact Customer Care to cancel your transfer.

Depending on the delivery and payment methods you choose, money can be picked up in minutes* or within a few working days.

Money Transfer delivery timelines are based on service type:

• Money in Minutes service for pick up at an Advance America – generally delivered within minutes*.
• Next Day service for pick up at an Agent location is generally available the next day*.
• Direct to Bank deposit typically takes between 2 to 5 business days, but could vary, depending on country.
• Bill Payment may vary depending on the selected speed of delivery or the biller.

To see if a money transfer is available for pickup, click Track transfer.

This depends on the money transfer delivery you choose and the destination country. You must be at least 18 years old to send or receive money with Western Union.

Your receiver will need the following for cash pick up at an Advance America location:

• Tracking number (MTCN)
• Sender’s complete name
• Sender’s country and state/city/province may be required
• Expected amount
• Government-issued ID
• In some receiving countries, a security question may be required

An Advance America representative can check if the Biller accepts payment from Western Union. Click here to find an Advance America store near you.

Bill Payment money transfer change, refund, or cancellation requests must be approved by the company the money is being sent to and are based on their own policies and time frames. Western Union cannot guarantee a refund once the payment has been sent.

Yes, you can track the money transfer as it is processed through Western Union by going to Track a Transfer. 

Ask an Advance America employee for the To Send Money Form (TSMF) for Bill Payments service. 

You will need:

• Company Name (or Code City)
• Account Number
• Amount

You can also start on the Western Union app, fill out the information requested, and finish at an Advance America location.

Send payments directly to participating billers in the United States for your mortgage, auto, credit card, insurance, utility, government bills, and more with Western Union's Bill Payments service at Advance America.

Sending money to an inmate is simple. Bring the transfer amount to an Advance America store and provide the following information.

• Correctional facility name
• Receiver's first and last name
• Inmate’s ID number

You may be able to cash your money order at banks and other retailers (grocery stores, check-cashing locations or other stores where you’ve been able to cash checks in the past). In some circumstances, the bank or retailer may charge you to cash your money order. You may also be able to deposit the money order into your bank account.

1. Complete and submit the Money Order Refund Request Form ONLINE, or
2. Complete the money order tracing/refund request form on the back of the money order receipt and return it, along with a $15 non-refundable processing fee, to the address listed.

If you DON’T HAVE the receipt: Print and complete the Money Order Research Request form and submit it with all available documents* showing you as purchaser, along with a $30 non-refundable processing fee, to the address listed. Processing can take as long as 6 – 8 weeks, and you may not be eligible for a refund.

If the company/person you sent the money order to is claiming they have not received the money order sent, please contact Western Union's Customer Care team. The Western Union Customer Care team is available to help 24/7.

To protect yourself from fraud, always think carefully about who you’re sending money to. Generally, you should only send money to friends and family you know and trust. Never send money to someone you’ve not met in person, or for an unconfirmed emergency.

We want to help you protect your money and details. We’d advise you not to proceed with a money transfer:

• For a purchase you’ve already made online

• For anti-virus protection software

• To claim lottery or prize winnings

• To pay your taxes

• To donate to charity

• To resolve an immigration matter

• To pay for goods or services from someone who recently tried to sell you something over the phone

Yes, you can track your money using your MTCN from your receipt and entering it on “Track transfer” page. If you’re sending a cash payment, you can also call your local Advance America store.

You will need the tracking number (MTCN) provided by your sender. Bring your government-issued ID as well as your phone number. This must match what was submitted by the sender.

The receive limit is $3,000.  We will provide up to $300 in cash and the remaining amount in money orders in increments of $500.

Yes, money transfers sent from an Advance America® store can be picked up at any Western Union® agent around the world, including at another Advance America® store.

• Your form of payment in-store is cash only.

• Your receiver's name as it appears on his or her government-issued ID.

• Your receiver's city/province/state and country.

• Your own government-issued ID.

1. Stage & Pay: Start your transfer on the WU app or online, select "Pay In Store” and pay in cash at an Advance America location. Click here to get started. 
2. In-person: Start and complete transaction at an Advance America store. 
3. Online: Start and complete the transaction and pay online with a debit or credit card. Click here to get started. 

If you believe that your Netspend Card has been lost or stolen, call us immediately at 1-866-226-1551. We will put a block on the card to prevent unauthorized transactions and mail out a replacement card.

You can call us at 1-866-226-1551. Our customer service team is available Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. - 10 p.m. CST, and Saturday through Sunday, 8 a.m. - 8.p.m. to assist you.

Netspend Prepaid Cards are available at most Advance America locations. Find your nearest location here or order your card online.

While we must verify your identity, there is no credit check to get a Netspend Card.

Ordered in store: Your personalized card will arrive approximately 7-10 days after your temporary card is purchased. If you do not receive your card, please contact Customer Service at 1-866-226-1551. When your card arrives, follow the activation instructions to activate the card. The personalized card replaces the temporary card.

Ordered online: Your personalized card will arrive in approximately 7-10 days. When your card arrives, follow the activation instructions to activate your card.

With your card, you can make purchases at stores, over the phone and online. Use it everywhere Visa^® debit cards are accepted. Withdraw cash at ATMs worldwide Pay bills, rent and other necessities. (Fees may apply.)

Yes. You have the option to get up to two additional companion cards with your Netspend Card account. All cards associated with your account will have access to the same funds. Simply login to your account to order your companion cards.

Yes, you can customize your Netspend Card with your favorite photo¹. To create a customized card, simply login to your account, click on ‘My Prepaid Cards’ and then ‘Design a Card’.

Yes, you may use your Netspend Card to pay at the pump. However, paying at the pump may cause a hold on your account until the final amount is processed. Since this can sometimes be a few days later, we recommend that you consider paying inside to avoid this hold instead.

Yes, you can use your card at car rental agencies that accept prepaid cards. However, they usually require a deposit of 15 percent more than the cost of renting the car. The rental agency will put an extra hold on the account for that amount of money and the hold could last for a couple of weeks. We suggest that you call the car rental agency to inquire about how much they require for a standard deposit if paying with a prepaid card and how long a typical authorization hold on a prepaid card will last.

It depends on the merchant. When you use your card at hotels and restaurants, or at other service-oriented merchants, it’s called an "open ended" transaction. That means the total amount due is unknown. The merchant has the right to estimate the final transaction amount. If this occurs, and the total amount authorized by the merchant exceeds the amount available on your Netspend Card, the transaction will be declined. The merchant also has the right to hold funds on your Netspend Card. In order to avoid these types of holds, we recommend you call hotels first to inquire about their prepaid card policy.

Choose from several ways to add money to your Netspend Prepaid Card:

• Direct Deposit. The easy way to add your paycheck or government benefits check.
• Reload Network Locations. There are more than 130,000 convenient locations in the U.S. where you can add money to your card account.
  www.netspend.com/account/login
• Bank Transfers. Add money from virtually any U.S.-issued bank account. If you have a checking or savings account or a bank debit card, use it to add money to your account. www.netspend.com/account/login
• Account-to-Account Transfers. It’s simple to transfer money from one Netspend Prepaid Card Account to another. Log in to learn more.
• Tax Refunds. Tell the IRS to electronically deposit your refund directly to your card account. Learn more.

You can view your balance and transaction history online by logging into your account or by downloading the Netspend Card Mobile App⁴ on your Android or iOS mobile device. You can also call 1-866-226-1551 for a balance inquiry 24/7, or you can sign up for text alerts¹ to monitor your account activity so you’ll always know your balance.

The Netspend Card gives you an optional savings⁵ plan so you can save up for a trip or a big expense. Earn up to 5.00% APY on balances up to $1,000 with our optional tiered-rate savings account². Login to set up your savings plan.

If you change jobs, the deposits from your previous job to your Netspend Card will stop after your last paycheck. To set up direct deposit with your new employer, simply login to your account and print, complete, and sign another direct deposit form and provide it to your new employer. Once your employer processes the form, your paychecks from your new job will be directly deposited to your Netspend Card.

There are several places you can find these numbers that you can use to set up direct deposit or with some billers for recurring payments.

• Login to your online account center – click on the “Direct Deposit” tab or download a direct deposit form and the information will be prepopulated

• If you are enrolled in Anytime Alerts⁴, Text “DIRECT” to 22622

• Visit any Netspend Retail location and ask the representative at the counter

• A direct deposit form with these numbers pre-printed comes with your personalized card