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 29, 2017, 5:50 am
#826
Join Date: Feb 2017
Posts: 41
Buy over 3k at at time and the form is done electronically. Stop going multiple times/week. Just go once and have them fill out the electronic paperwork each time. You're not doing anything wrong and they know who you are and what you're doing already. Stop sneaking around.
Jun 29, 2017, 11:03 am
#827
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: SAN
Programs: DL PM
Posts: 428
I've been experiencing the same since mid-May on my WF debit. I'm wondering if this issue is localized to SAN area POs or if it's more widespread.
Jun 30, 2017, 6:22 am
#833
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Land of the parrots and parrotheads
Programs: Several dozen
Posts: 4,820
Jul 2, 2017, 11:52 pm
#837
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: PWM
Programs: AA Plat
Posts: 1,335
I've noticed this too! Over the last month I've "paid" the fee using real bank debits cards (Chase biz, personal, Cap360). None have hit the accounts, despite the receipt showing the authorization number.
Must be a glitch. Guess I've have to use cash like at Walmart
Hope the baddies don't come after me!
Must be a glitch. Guess I've have to use cash like at Walmart
Hope the baddies don't come after me!Of course, it could be they've finally fixed their computers. No way to test since I'm done with Vanillas until next Q2 :P
Jul 3, 2017, 11:29 am
#839
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: SAN
Programs: DL PM
Posts: 428
So I may have found the solution: pay the fee first. When I paid with cash the clerk wanted to process that first, then the "debit" cards. She said that's technically how they're supposed to do it. So the next day I came in and used the Cap360 debit (that failed earlier) but asked them to do the fee first. Posted the same day.
Of course, it could be they've finally fixed their computers. No way to test since I'm done with Vanillas until next Q2 :P
Of course, it could be they've finally fixed their computers. No way to test since I'm done with Vanillas until next Q2 :P