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]
Apr 20, 2017, 8:52 am
#556
Join Date: Feb 2016
Location: Chicago
Programs: United 1k, Hyatt Globalist, Marriott Plat
Posts: 231
I read the memo, but many of the words are out of the picture frame. Are they banning the use of GCs for MOs purchases? It looks like they are telling the CSMs about asking the customer to sign it before processing the MO purchase, but they are allowing the use of GCs. My go-to PO told me that they are not allowed, but maybe the misinterpreted the memo.
Apr 20, 2017, 9:34 am
#557
Join Date: Dec 2013
Posts: 3,503
ROFL...the grammar got me so confused. Yes it was a variable USB MCGC. I have never had problems before with USB MCGCs but just wanted to know if this is a new development. I have been out of the game for a few months.
Is this just recent or has been going on for awhile?
Is this just recent or has been going on for awhile?
Last edited by ericdabbs; Apr 20, 2017 at 10:35 am
Apr 20, 2017, 12:44 pm
#558
Join Date: Feb 2014
Posts: 908
Yah, first thing she said to me was,"we can't sell it anymore, etc. etc.". She showed me the memo to prove to me. She felt bad about it too. At least it is not hardcoded into their system. So if you can fine a cashier that haven't read the memo, it will still be good.
Apr 20, 2017, 12:46 pm
#559
Join Date: Feb 2014
Posts: 908
Haha. Maybe. Sorry for the bad camera work on my part. The cashier explained to me that they are instructed to look at the card to see that my name and bank name I name is on the card. And that looking at my ID also.
Apr 20, 2017, 2:02 pm
#560
Join Date: May 2016
Posts: 506
This is nothing new. Few months back they said they need to check ID and name on debt card then they forgot about it. One PO makes copy of my ID and doesn't look at debt card, another doesn't check anything. Some let me buy just one, others have no limits. It's been YMMV for long time. As long as it is not hard coded I'm good.
Apr 20, 2017, 2:12 pm
#561
Join Date: Jan 2013
Posts: 1,435
In my case she started to process it, and the machine allowed her. Then toward the end she remembered the memo and told me she had to cancel the transaction. If she hadn't remembered the memo, then it woulda went through.
So I totally agree with you that if a clerk forgets the memo or hasn't ready it, we still have a chance.
Apr 20, 2017, 2:59 pm
#562
Join Date: Jan 2014
Posts: 130
ROFL...the grammar got me so confused. Yes it was a variable USB MCGC. I have never had problems before with USB MCGCs but just wanted to know if this is a new development. I have been out of the game for a few months.
Is this just recent or has been going on for awhile?
Is this just recent or has been going on for awhile?
Have you successfully used usbmc variables since the metas were shut down?
Apr 20, 2017, 5:04 pm
#564
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: NYC
Posts: 498
I'm actually surprised there isn't some sort a reusable sticker sold(like a "fathead" material) that you can customize and place on top of gift cards, that make it look like a bank debit. Who knows, maybe there is?!
Apr 20, 2017, 5:34 pm
#565
Join Date: Dec 2013
Location: California
Posts: 264
USB MC (and an OV) still worked for me today, in California. I don't know if the expiration date of the USB MC matters; mine is 01/25, and it's a $500 variable card, bought at a grocery store.
Last edited by sbft77; Apr 20, 2017 at 7:05 pm
Apr 21, 2017, 8:35 am
#569
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: DUB-BOS
Programs: various
Posts: 3,689
For anyone else reporting that they cannot buy MO at USPS, it would be useful to others to give at least the state where this occurred. Otherwise the datapoints are pretty useless.
Right now this appears to be limited to one part of one state (CA)
Right now this appears to be limited to one part of one state (CA)
Apr 21, 2017, 10:12 am
#570
Join Date: Mar 2017
Posts: 12
yes may be limited to orange county. I gotta try outside of OC.