Is Western Union Safe?

Bank wire transfer is the quickest and best way to go. A few problems with Western Union. I had a buyer in the U.K. who wanted to make payment this way. Forget about a certified check drawn on a bank from the U.K. IT TAKES ONE MONTH TO CLEAR!!! The 800 toll free number at Western Union was stocked with not-too-bright people who were just about USELESS in solving the one BIG problem with a W.U. money tranfer. If you're getting a large chunk of change, most payment centers will give you A CERTIFIED BANK CHECK, NOT CASH!!! Depending on the issuing bank, this can take several days to clear problem free at YOUR bank, as well as the remote possibilty of screw-ups with a bank check (some Bozo or a computer glich mistakenly lists that particular # check as STOLEN!) Make sure that you can find a payment location that has cash on hand to`pay you. W.U. can't help here. They will give you a list of locations, then YOU will have to call each one to see if they will pay you by cash or check! Good luck.