Correspondents of “Chronicles of Turkmenistan” reported on 23 February that the amount of cash which can be transferred via Western Union at a time has been reduced from $200 to $50.
For example, only four bank offices in Dashoguz use this system to transfer money. In one bank office residents are allowed to make a money transfer not exceeding $50 only once a month.
In order to secure a place in the waiting list, customers need to get a customer identification number.
Due to a large number of those wishing to make a transfer, it has become really challenging to obtain a customer identification number and occasionally people in queues get into fights.
Owing to a big demand, “entrepreneurs” who stand in line and then sell customer identification number at 50-100 manats ($4,2-$8,3 at the “black market” list) are now offering their services.
If a Dashoguz resident manages to get a customer identification number and stand in line, he can transfer no more than $200 a month from four bank offices which transfer money via WU.