I have a good friend in Jamaica whom I've been helping financially for the last 5 years. This was the first time I tried to send money using MoneyGram. What a mistake!!!
At first everything looked good. The agent processed my transaction and provided me with the reference # for my friend to use when picking up money in Jamaica.
Few minutes after I received a call from a "security department" at MoneyGram telling me that they needed to ask few questions. Fine. I can appreciate that my interests are being protected. After answering the questions such as: How long have you known this person, How did you meet, Where is he going to spend this money, Would it upset you if other people send him money, Is it a loan and how would he pay you back, How does he contact you, etc... I was caught off guard and did answer all the questions. Only to think after that it was nobody's business how I met my friend and how we keep in touch and where the money were going to be spent! However, I did answer. Only to hear the lady on the other end to misinterpret my every response! For example, when she asked how we keep in touch, I said that we visited him few times and now he has our phone number, we have his and we call each other. Immediately she rephrased that he called me to ask for money...
After this conversation she informed me that my transaction is rejected. Reason? Listen to this!"Other consumers complaints"...
I returned to work and called the customer service number to find out what had I done wrong and what was the real problem with my transaction. Needless to say that I was offended and wanted to be treated with respect!
So, I call. Transferred to a consumer protection department where I repeat the above story and ask for some insight.
I have known my friend for a long time and I know who will receive the money and how they will be used. No, I was told, he is just a friend "as I state" and not a family member and thus they refuse to process my transaction. I have never been treated like that in my life! So, I am still trying to find the real reason why. And ask the lady: so, based on the other consumer's complaints, you are not processing transactions to Jamaica?" The answer simply left me speechless. She said " No, we are not processing your transaction to Jamaica.."
I paid cash for this transfer, when I came to get my refund I was given a cheque instead. How wonderful! Insult me, treat me like a dirt and not even have courtesy to pay me back my cash, but make me go to the bank.
The conversation was supposed to be recorded on their side when I called, so the proof should be there. It took place on August 25 at around 1:30 pm EST
Good Job MoneyGram! Hope you go out of business soon!
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