The Western Union company reported that all its services for the delivery of remittances in Cuba have been restored to full operational capacity after difficulties that occurred last week in Havana.
"Due to the impacts of the global COVID-19 pandemic, last week we experienced temporary service interruptions in some areas of Havana," the company announced in a statement sent this Monday to CyberCuba. "At this moment, all Western Union services in Cuba have been restored to full operational capacity.
The company added that its top priority is to "safely and effectively meet the needs of our customers, agents and employees during these difficult times."
Western Union's statement comes after reports last week multiple customer complaints about lack of cash in Havana branches, office closures and other difficulties in service. CyberCuba received several messages from users who were unable to obtain money from remittances sent by relatives in the United States.
Earlier this month, the company confirmed that it would maintain regular operations in Cuba during the coronavirus crisis, with no immediate changes to the use of the CUC for remittance deliveries to recipients on the island.
The company said that if the Cuban government's provisions allow the operation of its branches in the national territory to continue, it was committed to its clients to "keep remittances flowing safely."
Western Union It provides money transfer services to Cuba through more than 420 branches located in 168 municipalities in the country, and is considered the main operator of remittances that are processed annually to the island's population.
When the coronavirus crisis occurred, almost all of the Miami parcel and travel agencies that offered money delivery services in Cuba paralyzed their activities, due to the recommendation of the municipal governments of South Florida to close non-essential businesses. and the suspension of flights to Havana.
In fact, Western Union remained the only provider of remittances destined for Cuba during the pandemic and the service remained without problems with shipments from markets and other issuing points in the United States, although with the requirement that the procedure had to be completed by act of presence at the place.
However, last week deficiencies began to appear in the reception of money in Cuba, including the FINCIMEX service. Since 1999, Western Union has an agreement with FINCIMEX, private company and subsidiary of the CIMEX corporation, for its operations in Cuba.
Since mid-April, long lines were observed to pick up remittances sent from abroad to Western Union offices in the Havana municipalities of Arroyo Naranjo and Guanabacoa, as well as in the town of Limonar, in Matanzas.
CyberCuba He also received complaints from the municipality of San Miguel del Padrón, in Havana, about the delay in a monetary transfer from Europe to be deposited on a FINCIMEX credit card, due to "technical problems."
Western Union also announced that, due to the difficulties derived from the coronavirus, it has decided to postpone the possibility of delivering remittances in US dollars to users in Cuba, as announced last January. Currently, remittances continue to be delivered in CUC.
Although Western Union does not report data on the value of its transactions, it is estimated that it handles around 70 percent of the $3.5 billion in cash that annually arrives in remittances to Cuba.
It is estimated that the volume of operations to Cuba could decrease as a result of the global economic depression and the decrease in travel to the island. A recent study by the consulting firm The Havana Consulting Group, based in Miami, estimates that cash remittances to the island could fall between 30 and 40% in 2020, which would reduce the amount to about 2.4 billion.
Since the end of last year, Western Union's operations have been subject to modifications to adjust its procedures to the restrictive measures imposed by Donald Trump's administration with respect to Cuba.
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