Paying your phone bill and sending money home are two expenses that often show up in the same monthly budget. Now, one wireless carrier is trying to combine them. Total Wireless has announced a new partnership with Western Union that gives eligible customers one fee-free money transfer every month as part of their wireless plan.
The perk is available starting now and marks the first time a major U.S. wireless carrier has bundled international money transfers directly into a phone plan.
What customers are getting
Customers on Total Wireless’ MAX 5G BYO, MAX 5G, and ALL ACCESS plans will now receive one money transfer per month without paying a Western Union transaction fee. Transfers can be sent to more than 200 countries and territories through Western Union’s global network. For people who regularly send money to family overseas, that could mean meaningful savings over the course of a year. According to the company, many customers who send remittances make more than a dozen transfers annually.
This is quite a big deal, as wireless carriers usually compete on familiar perks from streaming subscriptions and hotspot data to international calling or discounted devices. A free money transfer benefit is something entirely different. The move seems to be aimed at customers who frequently support relatives abroad and already rely on international money transfers as part of their monthly routine.
Instead of adding another entertainment bundle, Total Wireless is betting that helping customers move money internationally may be a more valuable everyday benefit.
Eligible customers can redeem their monthly transfer online through Western Union’s website or through the company’s mobile app. Recipients can receive funds through bank accounts, debits or credit cards, digital wallets, as well as one of Western Union’s more than 360,000 payout locations worldwide.
The feature is included with select premium Total Wireless plans, which range from $25 per month for eligible bring-your-own-device customers to $60 per month for the ALL ACCESS plan when enrolled in Auto Pay. Those plans also include unlimited hotspot usage, unlimited 5G data, international talk and text to more than 200 countries, and a five-year price guarantee with taxes and fees included.