Jan 31, 2017, 9:50 pm
Last edit by: shdflyer
11/3/17: The vast majority of popular prepaid debit cards are now blocked via a register hardcode at most locations.
This is the thread for 2017. The previous discussion can be found here.
Newbies: READ for days and learn before trying. It is best to know what you are doing, so start slow. Refer to cards as "Debit" not gc.
"Money orders can be purchased at any Post Office™ location.
Pay for your money order with cash, debit card, or traveler’s checks."
Fees:
$0.01 to $500.00: $1.20
$500.01 to $1,000.00: $1.60
Most post offices allow split payment (multiple debit cards) for one money order up to a max of $1000.
Example of how to split payment:
1. "One MO please for $998.40. Id like to pay with 2 debit cards, $500 on each."
2. Swipe first card and enter pin.
3. Remind teller that its "$500 on that card". They will change the amount on their screen to $500. Transaction goes through and a small receipt prints.
4. Swipe 2nd card, enter pin.
5. Done.
Note: If you encounter a problem with the second card and have to cancel the transaction, it can be very difficult to recover your funds on the first card. Always have a back-up payment method available (bank debit card or cash).
GC Information: The fine print on the back of the package shows the bank issuer. Don't buy GCs with tampered packaging and always use cards ASAP.
Visa OneVanilla and Vanilla GC issued by Bancorp work at PO.
Visa/MC Gift Cards issued by MetaBank have not had any success at MOST USPS anywhere in the country since around September 2016.
These will NOT work if the clerk uses a touchscreen
These MAY work, and often do, at small, rural post offices where clerks do not have touch screens.
Visa Gift Cards from Walmart issued by Green Dot have stopped working for MO purchases for some.
GAME MOSTLY OVER, MOST USPO are HARD CODED to NOT ACCEPT NON BANK DEBIT CARDS
Exception seems to be small, rural post offices where clerks do not use touch screens.
This is the thread for 2017. The previous discussion can be found here.
Newbies: READ for days and learn before trying. It is best to know what you are doing, so start slow. Refer to cards as "Debit" not gc.
"Money orders can be purchased at any Post Office™ location.
Pay for your money order with cash, debit card, or traveler’s checks."
Fees:
$0.01 to $500.00: $1.20
$500.01 to $1,000.00: $1.60
Most post offices allow split payment (multiple debit cards) for one money order up to a max of $1000.
Example of how to split payment:
1. "One MO please for $998.40. Id like to pay with 2 debit cards, $500 on each."
2. Swipe first card and enter pin.
3. Remind teller that its "$500 on that card". They will change the amount on their screen to $500. Transaction goes through and a small receipt prints.
4. Swipe 2nd card, enter pin.
5. Done.
Note: If you encounter a problem with the second card and have to cancel the transaction, it can be very difficult to recover your funds on the first card. Always have a back-up payment method available (bank debit card or cash).
GC Information: The fine print on the back of the package shows the bank issuer. Don't buy GCs with tampered packaging and always use cards ASAP.
Visa OneVanilla and Vanilla GC issued by Bancorp work at PO.
Visa/MC Gift Cards issued by MetaBank have not had any success at MOST USPS anywhere in the country since around September 2016.
These will NOT work if the clerk uses a touchscreen
These MAY work, and often do, at small, rural post offices where clerks do not have touch screens.
Visa Gift Cards from Walmart issued by Green Dot have stopped working for MO purchases for some.
GAME MOSTLY OVER, MOST USPO are HARD CODED to NOT ACCEPT NON BANK DEBIT CARDS
Exception seems to be small, rural post offices where clerks do not use touch screens.
Buy MO's at Post Office(2017-2018)[Gift Cards no Longer Allowed]
Jun 10, 2017, 11:33 am
#766
Join Date: Feb 2016
Location: Chicago
Programs: United 1k, Hyatt Globalist, Marriott Plat
Posts: 231
I got shut down at a post office in downtown chicago today (worked fine there 2 weeks ago). Clerk asked me to see the card I was paying with, showed a B of A debit card. Then swiped my GC, she said "it look like you changed cards". And then refused to do the transaction. She went to get the supervisor, but the supervisor was out. She said I could talk to the postal inspector if I want.
I went to one a few blocks away and had no issues.
I think we have to hope for clerks who have short term memories, new clerks, ones who just don't care, or maybe even just do one transaction for $500 (and be sneakier about changing the card).
What other places can I liquidate OVGCs at?
I went to one a few blocks away and had no issues.
I think we have to hope for clerks who have short term memories, new clerks, ones who just don't care, or maybe even just do one transaction for $500 (and be sneakier about changing the card).
What other places can I liquidate OVGCs at?
Jun 10, 2017, 3:01 pm
#767
Join Date: May 2017
Posts: 59
Jun 12, 2017, 8:45 am
#770
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: NY
Programs: SPG preferred, AA, United
Posts: 290
Jun 12, 2017, 12:48 pm
#771
Join Date: May 2017
Posts: 37
I did 2 OVGC at PO this morning just fine. Two OVGC, 2 different PO. In all I have tried 5 different PO to mix it up and have had zero issues.
Jun 14, 2017, 4:32 pm
#772
Join Date: Nov 2016
Posts: 9
Well my little one man USPS shop had a system update he didn't even know about and his terminal won't allow the splitting of payment anymore. OVGC still worked but now have to buy 2@$498.40.
I still use USPS because it is super convenient to me at work.
I still use USPS because it is super convenient to me at work.
Jun 14, 2017, 5:54 pm
#773
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: Pac NW
Posts: 154
First time, I tried the PIN that came in the package,
Second attempt was after I changed the PIN over phone.
These cards were purchased at Kroger.
Jun 14, 2017, 9:19 pm
#775
Join Date: May 2017
Posts: 59
Interesting, USBANK MCGC with https://www.prepaidgiftbalance.com/ in the back and BIN of 516578 fails for me at USPS with an error like "general transaction error"..
First time, I tried the PIN that came in the package,
Second attempt was after I changed the PIN over phone.
These cards were purchased at Kroger.
First time, I tried the PIN that came in the package,
Second attempt was after I changed the PIN over phone.
These cards were purchased at Kroger.
Jun 15, 2017, 12:57 am
#776
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Land of the parrots and parrotheads
Programs: Several dozen
Posts: 4,820
Jun 15, 2017, 10:22 am
#777
Join Date: May 2015
Programs: All the programs!
Posts: 1,006
Jun 15, 2017, 10:51 am
#778
Join Date: Jan 2013
Posts: 1,435
That's been my motto for quite some time. There's a PO I go to in a pretty bad neighborhood. The clerks barely look up or say hello. I simply ask for a $495 money order and I have my payment ready in hand. No questions asked.
(Quick case in point...there was a crackhead in there the other day with three used postage stamps trying to get a refund for cash back. It took 3 clerks to get rid of him finally. So after dealing with that, the clerk didn't care about verifying what kind of debit card I was using.)
(Quick case in point...there was a crackhead in there the other day with three used postage stamps trying to get a refund for cash back. It took 3 clerks to get rid of him finally. So after dealing with that, the clerk didn't care about verifying what kind of debit card I was using.)
Jun 17, 2017, 4:17 pm
#780
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: Champaign, IL
Programs: Total Rewards Diamond, Wyndham Diamond, Marriott Gold, AA Gold
Posts: 564
That's been my motto for quite some time. There's a PO I go to in a pretty bad neighborhood. The clerks barely look up or say hello. I simply ask for a $495 money order and I have my payment ready in hand. No questions asked.
(Quick case in point...there was a crackhead in there the other day with three used postage stamps trying to get a refund for cash back. It took 3 clerks to get rid of him finally. So after dealing with that, the clerk didn't care about verifying what kind of debit card I was using.)
(Quick case in point...there was a crackhead in there the other day with three used postage stamps trying to get a refund for cash back. It took 3 clerks to get rid of him finally. So after dealing with that, the clerk didn't care about verifying what kind of debit card I was using.)
Got any spare change?