Example:
Meaning: The person you are sending to has received too much money recently.
Fix: The receiver must contact Western Union to verify their identity and increase their receiving limit. You cannot fix this from the sender side.
What it looks like: "Error 6010 – Your card was declined. Please use another payment method."
What it means: This code comes from your bank, not Western Union. The card issuer rejected the authorization. Reasons include: insufficient funds, incorrect CVV, daily spending limit reached, or the bank blocking international wire transfers as a standard fraud precaution. western union error codes
How to fix it: Call your bank first. Ask if they see a declined transaction from Western Union. Request them to whitelist the merchant or raise your daily limit. Then, return to Western Union and try a different card (credit cards often fail more than debit cards) or use bank transfer/cash at an agent location.
What it means: Your transfer’s destination country has been flagged for elevated compliance scrutiny. Western Union is holding the transaction pending manual review.
Why it happens: Sending to certain nations—or even specific regions within a nation—can trigger additional checks, especially if the amount exceeds a local threshold (e.g., $500 to a conflict zone).
The fix: You cannot bypass this code. Western Union will typically email you requesting proof of relationship with the recipient (e.g., a letter or prior transfer history) or the source of funds (e.g., a pay stub). Respond immediately. The hold can last 48–72 hours. If you cancel, you may face a refund delay of up to 10 business days. Example:
What it looks like: "E112 – This service is temporarily unavailable in your region."
What it means: Regulatory restrictions. For example, sending money from the EU to a non-cooperative tax jurisdiction, or sending from a US state that has specific money transmitter laws (e.g., New York or Louisiana have stricter rules). It can also appear during site maintenance from 2-4 AM local time.
How to fix it: Try an in-person agent location instead of the app/website. If that fails, you must wait. This is rarely a user error—it is a compliance wall. Consider alternative corridors (e.g., send from a friend’s account in a different state) or use a different remittance service.
Before diving into specific codes, it’s crucial to understand the why. Western Union’s system is designed to prioritize security over speed. Error codes generally fall into five categories: Meaning: The person you are sending to has
Most codes are not a sign that your money is lost—only that it is temporarily paused.
"Hello, I am getting error code [INSERT CODE]. I have already checked my daily limit, confirmed my bank has no hold, and matched the receiver’s name exactly. Can you please tell me if there is a compliance flag on my account or the receiver’s account?"
This script bypasses tier-1 troubleshooting and gets you to a compliance officer.