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]
Nov 3, 2017, 5:26 pm
#1186
Join Date: Apr 2015
Posts: 178
Nov 3, 2017, 5:41 pm
#1187
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: TYS/BNA/ATL
Programs: UR, TYP, MR, C1, AA, UA, WN, BA, AS, AV, AC, Choice, Hyatt, IHG, Hilton, Wyndham, Marriott
Posts: 1,980
Yes, people who MS are buying them, and almost nobody else.
Nov 3, 2017, 6:29 pm
#1188
Join Date: Nov 2013
Posts: 572
2/ Prepay your electric/gas bill
3/ Buy MOs at WM with 4 swipes - each swipe $49.99
4/ Buy VGCs at a grocery store using OVGCs
4/ Use OVs at a gas station
5/ Pay property tax
Etc etc.
Nov 4, 2017, 6:36 am
#1194
Join Date: Feb 2016
Posts: 829
Nov 4, 2017, 6:46 am
#1196
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Land of the parrots and parrotheads
Programs: Several dozen
Posts: 4,820
Nov 4, 2017, 8:43 am
#1197
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Florida
Posts: 29,767
Do you not realize that all cards (that incl both debit and credit and gebit) are easily identified by their BIN and the next 2 groups of the 4 digits that followed?
It is not a difficult programming job to identify the relevant BIN and the related info. Just a matter of when the "authorities" finally take action to get the IT job done (because it still involves time and effort, thus the associated cost).
For speculation sake, I suspect GoBank ATM card and cards in similar vein would work perfectly fine because they are in a sense, true bank issued debit cards.
Here is a teaser, try MyVanilla Permanent Card, not the temp card from the store.
Nov 4, 2017, 10:00 am
#1198
Join Date: Oct 2013
Posts: 1,322
My data points, FWIW -- Paypal Business Debit and a TD Bank debit card were both accepted today for USPS MO purchase. Seems like hard coding is effective in allowing "real" debit cards to be used. However:
A guy in the PO at the same time, who definitely didn't look like a MSer, was having a very loud argument with the PO clerk about -- wait for it -- purchasing a MO with what sounded like some type of social benefit/welfare card. Guy said he "did it every month," but POS system wasn't processing. Clerk seemed dumbfounded, I left before seeing how it was resolved.
Nov 4, 2017, 11:41 am
#1199
Join Date: May 2016
Posts: 506
no, you just have to use vanillas or Amex GC to buy visa gift card at WM, grocery store, staples or Office Depot and then use visas to buy MO for less profit
Nov 4, 2017, 11:50 am
#1200
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: TYS/BNA/ATL
Programs: UR, TYP, MR, C1, AA, UA, WN, BA, AS, AV, AC, Choice, Hyatt, IHG, Hilton, Wyndham, Marriott
Posts: 1,980