Jan 1, 2018, 10:53 am
Last edit by: wyogold
This is the thread for 2018. The previous discussion can be found here.
The 2019 thread can be found here
New to MO: Read this entire Wiki (Click to open) and all posts for some tips before asking common questions. It is best to know what you are doing before you try.
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Tested Gebit cards:
1. DO NOT WORK - Any Vanilla product affiliated with InComm or ITC Financial Services will not work for swipes over $49.99.
2. Visas issued by MetaBank work great.
3. MC issued by US bank work good, but you need to change payment type to debit before they enter the amount in the register. See below for details.
5. Gdot/sun work but take about an hour to activate.
NEW Limits as of 11/18 - 8K with ID every 24 hours. ID required for MO over 1K.
__________________________________________________ __________________________________________
Some tips for starting out:
All WM registers allow 4 debit swipes per transaction, but YMMV per store and cashier. Refer to cards as Debit cards.
Start slow and buy one MO with one Gebit to see how it works. Refer to cards as Debit, only this community calls them Gebits. Your store or cashier may have rules that other stores do not have, only allowing one swipe per trans or up to 4 swipes per trans. Read all the tips below and all the posts below before trying more advanced transactions. NO variety or design of VISA or MC Gebit's will ever auto-drain at Walmart so always tell them the amount you want to pay per card. Fee: 1K MO or less is usually 88 cents each, but ask or check the wall. Subtract the fee from the total or pay in cash. If a store says "no", thank them and try again another day with a different clerk.
Helpful details and tips for advanced transactions:
1. Cost: 1K MO fee is usually 88 cents each(Some states limit MO total to 750 or 950 and may have a different fee). Subtract fee from your total or pay in cash. Can buy two 1K MO in one transaction with 4 swipes for 88 cents x 2 in most states. NO variety or design of VISA or MC Gebit's will ever auto-drain at Walmart so always tell them the amount you want to pay per card.
2. Split payment transcations: You cannot successfully swipe more than 4 cards in a single transaction. If the cashier screws up and enters $50.00 instead of $500.00 (thus making it impossible for 4 swipes to complete the transaction), the transaction will need to be canceled. The funds should return to your cards right away but may take 24 hours, so note the time and person helping you. When a transaction is canceled during the trans, the money returns to the cards. If canceled after, the cash reg drawer opens and they pay you back in cash.
3. Split payment: The amount of each swipe needs to be entered by the cashier. Ask to "split the payment by $$$". The Gebit must have current balance of that amount or more otherwise slip with Error 51 will print out. Warning: (YMMV) It appears (my experience on 3 occasions during prepaid card load and buying MO in 2 different WMs) that after the debit card was charged no cash could be credited back to the card. Cashier should issue cash back. Keep the slip and contact manager if in doubt. Remember date, time and register if no slip.
4. Bad Printer: IF, by chance, you've swiped your GCs successfully, a receipt prints but the MO doesn't, make sure to ask to see the receipt and check near the bottom IF it says CHANGE/REFUND with a negative sign before the amount of GCs you swiped, that means the cashier must give you cash refund. Cashier may have to call for the cash dept manager to verify the refund. Some stores may outright give your cash refund immediately while there are others that will ask you to come back. Think twice before you buy MOs while on vacation or when you're in unknown to you territories for issues like this.
5. Kiosk: Very few Kate's can sell money orders anymore.>>>>Sometime 2016, a lot of WM supercenters have done away with Kate (kiosks that allows loading of prepaids/sell $500 MOs). As of today, MOST, if not ALL WMs, have replaced this with the regular slim ATM to check balance/withdraw money.
6. MCGC liquidation- The cashier should not enter the amount first. Technically they just can't hit enter after entering the amount. Let the CSR know you need to swipe first and switch the payment type to debit, then swipe and hit "Cancel" or "Change Payment" to select "Debit" on the screen, enter the pin and have them enter the amount.
Debit codes PDF
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/attac...0&d=1461170080
The 2019 thread can be found here
New to MO: Read this entire Wiki (Click to open) and all posts for some tips before asking common questions. It is best to know what you are doing before you try.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Tested Gebit cards:
1. DO NOT WORK - Any Vanilla product affiliated with InComm or ITC Financial Services will not work for swipes over $49.99.
2. Visas issued by MetaBank work great.
3. MC issued by US bank work good, but you need to change payment type to debit before they enter the amount in the register. See below for details.
5. Gdot/sun work but take about an hour to activate.
NEW Limits as of 11/18 - 8K with ID every 24 hours. ID required for MO over 1K.
__________________________________________________ __________________________________________
Some tips for starting out:
All WM registers allow 4 debit swipes per transaction, but YMMV per store and cashier. Refer to cards as Debit cards.
Start slow and buy one MO with one Gebit to see how it works. Refer to cards as Debit, only this community calls them Gebits. Your store or cashier may have rules that other stores do not have, only allowing one swipe per trans or up to 4 swipes per trans. Read all the tips below and all the posts below before trying more advanced transactions. NO variety or design of VISA or MC Gebit's will ever auto-drain at Walmart so always tell them the amount you want to pay per card. Fee: 1K MO or less is usually 88 cents each, but ask or check the wall. Subtract the fee from the total or pay in cash. If a store says "no", thank them and try again another day with a different clerk.
Helpful details and tips for advanced transactions:
1. Cost: 1K MO fee is usually 88 cents each(Some states limit MO total to 750 or 950 and may have a different fee). Subtract fee from your total or pay in cash. Can buy two 1K MO in one transaction with 4 swipes for 88 cents x 2 in most states. NO variety or design of VISA or MC Gebit's will ever auto-drain at Walmart so always tell them the amount you want to pay per card.
2. Split payment transcations: You cannot successfully swipe more than 4 cards in a single transaction. If the cashier screws up and enters $50.00 instead of $500.00 (thus making it impossible for 4 swipes to complete the transaction), the transaction will need to be canceled. The funds should return to your cards right away but may take 24 hours, so note the time and person helping you. When a transaction is canceled during the trans, the money returns to the cards. If canceled after, the cash reg drawer opens and they pay you back in cash.
3. Split payment: The amount of each swipe needs to be entered by the cashier. Ask to "split the payment by $$$". The Gebit must have current balance of that amount or more otherwise slip with Error 51 will print out. Warning: (YMMV) It appears (my experience on 3 occasions during prepaid card load and buying MO in 2 different WMs) that after the debit card was charged no cash could be credited back to the card. Cashier should issue cash back. Keep the slip and contact manager if in doubt. Remember date, time and register if no slip.
4. Bad Printer: IF, by chance, you've swiped your GCs successfully, a receipt prints but the MO doesn't, make sure to ask to see the receipt and check near the bottom IF it says CHANGE/REFUND with a negative sign before the amount of GCs you swiped, that means the cashier must give you cash refund. Cashier may have to call for the cash dept manager to verify the refund. Some stores may outright give your cash refund immediately while there are others that will ask you to come back. Think twice before you buy MOs while on vacation or when you're in unknown to you territories for issues like this.
5. Kiosk: Very few Kate's can sell money orders anymore.>>>>Sometime 2016, a lot of WM supercenters have done away with Kate (kiosks that allows loading of prepaids/sell $500 MOs). As of today, MOST, if not ALL WMs, have replaced this with the regular slim ATM to check balance/withdraw money.
6. MCGC liquidation- The cashier should not enter the amount first. Technically they just can't hit enter after entering the amount. Let the CSR know you need to swipe first and switch the payment type to debit, then swipe and hit "Cancel" or "Change Payment" to select "Debit" on the screen, enter the pin and have them enter the amount.
Debit codes PDF
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/attac...0&d=1461170080
Buying Money Orders at Walmart (2018)
Apr 29, 2018, 1:13 pm
#781
Join Date: Sep 2015
Posts: 305
I read of a case where the MSer deposited via ATM and several weeks later the bank clawed back the amount saying the envelopes were empty! The MSer didn't keep his/her stubs and had to "eat the loss" since they've thrown away all receipts. Best to save MO receipts/stubs/bank receipts in situations like this.
I prefer depositing via app, scan using desktop or deposit with teller while also keeping stubs of MOs I deposit and staple them with receipts that I can easily retrieve in case of bank discrepancies weeks/months later.
I prefer depositing via app, scan using desktop or deposit with teller while also keeping stubs of MOs I deposit and staple them with receipts that I can easily retrieve in case of bank discrepancies weeks/months later.
Apr 29, 2018, 2:12 pm
#782
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: LAX, LGB, SNA
Programs: AA EXP OWE, DL DM ST+, AS MVPG, UA, BA, WN CP, Hyatt E, Ritz Plat, HH GM
Posts: 3,185
I read of a case where the MSer deposited via ATM and several weeks later the bank clawed back the amount saying the envelopes were empty! The MSer didn't keep his/her stubs and had to "eat the loss" since they've thrown away all receipts. Best to save MO receipts/stubs/bank receipts in situations like this.
I prefer depositing via app, scan using desktop or deposit with teller while also keeping stubs of MOs I deposit and staple them with receipts that I can easily retrieve in case of bank discrepancies weeks/months later.
I prefer depositing via app, scan using desktop or deposit with teller while also keeping stubs of MOs I deposit and staple them with receipts that I can easily retrieve in case of bank discrepancies weeks/months later.
Apr 29, 2018, 2:36 pm
#783
Join Date: Feb 2012
Posts: 4,477
I'm not aware of any. Most ATMs now record pictures of deposits, which are kept accessible online for at least a year.
Btw, I also throw away ATM receipts after a month or two, but keep MO stubs stapled to their purchase receipts for much longer.
Btw, I also throw away ATM receipts after a month or two, but keep MO stubs stapled to their purchase receipts for much longer.
Apr 29, 2018, 3:46 pm
#784
Suspended
Join Date: Nov 1999
Posts: 24,153
Oh, in my case - I did keep the stubs; moreover, I made a copy of both money orders with the stubs still attached alongside the payment coupon. I provided all the copies to the credit card company. They still can't find it. Now I have to deal with Moneygram. Oh, well, teaches me (and hopefully others) a lesson to always deposit instead of mail.
I dont blame the bank, since its like ca$h, I can claim I put 3 $100s into the envelope when I only put 2 and even took pics of the bills with their #s . Theres just no proof what I actually put into it unless I did it in front of a bank employee
Im always thinking of ways to use the MOs w/o actually depositing them and always end up with depositing them with a teller or ATM(if you find one that will accept them) was the best to make sure nothing will go wrong
Apr 29, 2018, 5:56 pm
#785
Join Date: Feb 2015
Posts: 595
I've deposited MOs with tellers and ATMs, occasionally with bank app, paid CC bills with them in branch and via mail, along with car and house payments, plus used them to pay for home improvements where I might otherwise have had to write a check.
But I also don't quite have the volume as some others here (just under 250k last year - a mere pauper compared to many others here). I also cycle them through as many as 5 different banks/CUs and several different accounts. So far, the only hiccup has been the lost/misapplied ones and one time where a CU teller gave me a hard time because the ink contrast was bad and their scanner didn't pick it up. They tried to tell me that they couldn't accept it since it wouldn't process electronically. Horse hockey. I made them take it anyway, it's a valid negotiable instrument and I have accounts there.
But I also don't quite have the volume as some others here (just under 250k last year - a mere pauper compared to many others here). I also cycle them through as many as 5 different banks/CUs and several different accounts. So far, the only hiccup has been the lost/misapplied ones and one time where a CU teller gave me a hard time because the ink contrast was bad and their scanner didn't pick it up. They tried to tell me that they couldn't accept it since it wouldn't process electronically. Horse hockey. I made them take it anyway, it's a valid negotiable instrument and I have accounts there.
Apr 29, 2018, 9:22 pm
#786
Join Date: Oct 2011
Posts: 4,166
the only ATMs I've seen that don't require envelopes are from the major banks like WF/Chase/CapOne. Any small or midsize bank or CU all require envelopes.
Apr 30, 2018, 7:09 am
#788
Join Date: Mar 2016
Posts: 31
I read of a case where the MSer deposited via ATM and several weeks later the bank clawed back the amount saying the envelopes were empty! The MSer didn't keep his/her stubs and had to "eat the loss" since they've thrown away all receipts. Best to save MO receipts/stubs/bank receipts in situations like this.
I prefer depositing via app, scan using desktop or deposit with teller while also keeping stubs of MOs I deposit and staple them with receipts that I can easily retrieve in case of bank discrepancies weeks/months later.
I prefer depositing via app, scan using desktop or deposit with teller while also keeping stubs of MOs I deposit and staple them with receipts that I can easily retrieve in case of bank discrepancies weeks/months later.
Apr 30, 2018, 10:27 am
#789
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: SoCal (ONT), PVD/BOS, JAX, RSW
Programs: AA/US PlatPro & 1.05MM, DL Plat (challenge), UA dirt
Posts: 3,189
Even my local back back in RI has gone completely envelope-less...however, I still use Mail Banking in which I use a specialty envelope that has tamper-evident seals. The only point of failure for this method seems to be the PO.
Apr 30, 2018, 10:41 am
#790
Join Date: Oct 2011
Posts: 4,166
Wow, really wish my banks would make the investment to envelope-less ATMs..
Apr 30, 2018, 12:46 pm
#791
Join Date: Oct 2013
Posts: 1,322
I dont' know what y'all do, but I use those baseball card boxes, put the VGC along with receipt buying them along with MO receipts and MO stubs. Rather be safe than sorry. I than box up 2-3 boxes a year, duct tape together, put the year on the box, and store in garage. Again, if IRS ever audits me and see's extra 200-300k Money deposited I'd rather be safe than sorry.
Apr 30, 2018, 3:01 pm
#792
Join Date: Mar 2018
Posts: 2
DP: WM in Guilderland, NY
Attempted $100 MO (First time), got declined from VGC. Cash only.
Going to try other WM's in area.
Attempted $100 MO (First time), got declined from VGC. Cash only.
Going to try other WM's in area.
Apr 30, 2018, 9:25 pm
#794
Join Date: May 2008
Location: PHL (kinda, no airport is really close)
Programs: AA Exp, but not sure for how long. Enterprise Platinum woo-hoo!
Posts: 4,550
A few years ago I would often mail MO's to my bank. An envelope of them went missing. I was able to do a little more digging than usual because my father was a messenger for the bank and one of the messenger responsibilities was to pick up the mail and take it to the branches. After a few weeks I gave up, but I had saved the receipts and was able to get them all refunded, costing me the time to fill out 8 rather long forms, and $120. About four months later the envelope was found in a supply closet.
If I had an arm's-length relationship with the bank I'd have pressed them to refund the $120, but I felt it best to not make waves.
Now, I take them to the bank once a week. Actually, it takes a while to deposit them because the scanners won't read them since the ink is too pale, but they take them. I know at least once they took a pen and wrote through the amount so the scanner could read it.
Over the years I've had a variety of losses, including a $1K money order that disappeared under extremely suspicious circumstances, a used GC that was swapped into a deck for a new one (also suspicious), several overdraft expenses, and the like. But I just try to be more careful and treat it as a cost of doing business.
If I had an arm's-length relationship with the bank I'd have pressed them to refund the $120, but I felt it best to not make waves.
Now, I take them to the bank once a week. Actually, it takes a while to deposit them because the scanners won't read them since the ink is too pale, but they take them. I know at least once they took a pen and wrote through the amount so the scanner could read it.
Over the years I've had a variety of losses, including a $1K money order that disappeared under extremely suspicious circumstances, a used GC that was swapped into a deck for a new one (also suspicious), several overdraft expenses, and the like. But I just try to be more careful and treat it as a cost of doing business.