Jan 2, 2019, 9:51 am
Last edit by: danpeake
As of Nov 11, 2020, Meta gebits are getting declined when used for MO/BP purchases at MC/SD. New limit appears to be $99 per swipe with some metas at some stores. READ the posts below and add a data point with details. USB and GD gift cards do not seem to be affected.
This is the thread for 2019. The previous discussion can be found here: https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/manu...rt-2018-a.html
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.
Note: The policy for allowing gift cards as payment for money orders can be more restrictive with certain stores or certain clerks. Just because an employee says there's a new restrictive policy "for all Walmarts" means nothing. There are plenty of cases where the employee is incorrect and the new policy is only regional or store specific.
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Tested Gebit (gift debit) cards:
1. DO NOT WORK - Any Vanilla product affiliated with InComm or ITC Financial Services will not work for swipes over $49.99.
2. See above on Visas issued by MetaBank. New limit appears to be $99 per swipe with some metas at some stores. Follow the posts below for the latest information.
3. MC issued by US bank OR Metabank MC (Giftcards.com) can work, but you need to change payment type to debit before they enter the amount in the register. See below for details.
4. Gdot/sun work but take about an hour to activate.(VGC issued by Sunrise also limited to $99/swipe, same as Metabank issued cards, and Sunrise was available immediately).
5. USB work
__________________________________________________ __________________________________________
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 $1 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 $1 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 transactions: 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.
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.
7. SSN/ID entry - Any MO purchases in one transaction at or over $3K requires you to input your SSN. Any MO at or over $1K requires ID input (and ID requirement can also be forced by cashier at any amount).
Debit codes PDF
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/attac...0&d=1461170080
Buying Money Orders at Walmart (2019 - 2022)
Dec 10, 2019, 12:12 pm
#1711
Join Date: Jul 2008
Posts: 245
I'm in a major SW city for the winter and have been buying Simon's and clearing them at the many Walmarts when I have free time. My old stores in Florida knew my game for many years so my first rejection here annoyed me. I just had my second this morning followed by 5 successes. Just have to shake it off and keep going. Fortunately this isn't my permanent home so the rejections don't hurt as much since I'll be gone in a couple months.
Dec 10, 2019, 1:39 pm
#1712
Join Date: Sep 2019
Posts: 317
How is that? Walmart sells Visa debit gift cards too and says they can be used anywhere Visa debit cards are accepted. The registers at all WM stores are programmed to accept them. Why do you say that those who won't permit that are correct? That's not the official WM policy at all.
Dec 10, 2019, 2:16 pm
#1713
Join Date: May 2011
Posts: 889
How is that? Walmart sells Visa debit gift cards too and says they can be used anywhere Visa debit cards are accepted. The registers at all WM stores are programmed to accept them. Why do you say that those who won't permit that are correct? That's not the official WM policy at all.
Donchaknow all the yellowvests are highly educated and trained experts in IRS laws, rules, regulations and caselaw (especially concerning money laundering and structuring)
Dec 10, 2019, 7:11 pm
#1714
Suspended
Join Date: Nov 1999
Posts: 24,153
How is that? Walmart sells Visa debit gift cards too and says they can be used anywhere Visa debit cards are accepted. The registers at all WM stores are programmed to accept them. Why do you say that those who won't permit that are correct? That's not the official WM policy at all.
MG and WU both say the only DC usable is a Bank DC or ca$h. The csrs are the reps for MG in this case and simply are enforcing MGs T&Cs. , its rather plain and simple. Is it illegal to sell your AA miles, not at all, will AA shut you down if they believe thats what you're doing 100%, again thats also plain and simple
Last edited by craz; Dec 10, 2019 at 11:20 pm
Dec 10, 2019, 9:32 pm
#1715
Join Date: Oct 2013
Posts: 1,322
No, it's not. Each and every GC is issued by a Bank -- take a look at the back of your card. The csrs and store mgmt are too stupid to understand this.
Dec 10, 2019, 10:46 pm
#1716
Join Date: Sep 2019
Posts: 317
Can you go into a Post Office and pay to send a pkg or buy stamps using a debit card, 100% can you use a GC, Nope
MG and WU both say the only DC usable is a Bank DC or ca$h
Dec 10, 2019, 11:12 pm
#1717
Suspended
Join Date: Nov 1999
Posts: 24,153
Wrong. Of course you can use a Visa/MC GC to pay for postage and send a package.
Where do they say that? Both allow credit card/.debit card transactions online for various services, with fees usually charged for credit card use. Policies vary at different agent locations, and Wal-Mart allows stores to have different policies set by managers.
Where do they say that? Both allow credit card/.debit card transactions online for various services, with fees usually charged for credit card use. Policies vary at different agent locations, and Wal-Mart allows stores to have different policies set by managers.
Ive seen the WU letter posted in many a supermkt and I saw the same with MG when a supermkt chain used to use them but switched to WU recently, where there was a letter posted saying any transaction had to be in ca$h or Bank Card. Wally hasnt posted a letter but if that was the case with that supermkt chain then Im sure it also applys to Wally. If not then why did MG drop by numerous Wallys that had an extremely high MO rate and warn them Not to accept anything but ca$h or Bank card?
But none of that matters what matters is what is Wallys policy even if MG didnt care, and Wallys policy is Bank Cards only. No different then yrs ago when we were able to upload the preload cards, walk into Wally and drain them. Once the issuers saw what was up they simply closed the accts (including Blue Bird/Serve) that werent using them as they were intended, to make tons of $$ off their fees
Dec 10, 2019, 11:20 pm
#1718
Suspended
Join Date: Nov 1999
Posts: 24,153
Wrong a Bank DC has a chip to it these cards dont. Just cause they're issued by a Bank doesnt make them a Bank DC. A Bank DC is attached to an acct you have with that bank and really is a preloaded card, I doubt if you have $120 in your checking and no override on the acct that you will beable to walk into a store and make a purchase for $231 or even $121. As youre limilted by the bal in the acct its attached to.
Now there are some Preloaded cards eg Blue Bird that are attached to an acct, but the common GCs are attached to nothing and cant be reloaded, you can stand on your head and spit out wooden nickels all day long it wont change that GCs arent suppose to be used as we are using them.
I know someone who was arrested Overseas and he kept yelling they cant hold him since hes an American and hes Innocent until proven Guilty, problem is, that isnt the way it is where he was and your Guilty till you prove yourself innocent there. So you can say and think all you want , if a card doesnt have a chip and isnt attached to a bank acct its not a Bank Card, but 100% its a card issued by a Bank. 2 different things and 1 is OK for MOs and the other isnt
Last edited by craz; Dec 10, 2019 at 11:25 pm
Dec 11, 2019, 12:53 am
#1719
Join Date: Jan 2010
Programs: Hilton Diamond, Marriott/SPG Platinum
Posts: 496
I once saw WM MO policy printed out which a WM CSM showed me several months ago. it only says either Cash or debit card with a Pin are allowed to buy MOs. nowhere says it has to be a debit card with name/chip associated with a bank account.
Dec 11, 2019, 4:33 am
#1720
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: LAX/SFO
Programs: AS 100k, BA GGL, UA 1k, DL DM, AC SE, B6 Mosaic4, Hyatt/Hilton/Wyndham/IHG Diamond, Marriot Ti
Posts: 1,249
He's just making stuff up. I still have debit cards from local CUs that work at WM and don't have chips on them. They are attached to a checking account in my name. Chip has nothing to do with whether a debit card is a "bank card" or not. In fact he's using the term "bank card" incorrectly so I will refrain from continuing the misuse of this word. If you want to try and make a distinction, it would be by whether the debit is non-reloadable or prepaid.
Dec 11, 2019, 5:38 am
#1721
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: DUB-BOS
Programs: various
Posts: 3,692
People, you got to stop the pig wrestling.
WM are right and you are wrong, there is no point arguing with them. Smile and move on is the only rational strategy when it comes to these things.
WM are right and you are wrong, there is no point arguing with them. Smile and move on is the only rational strategy when it comes to these things.
Dec 11, 2019, 7:17 am
#1722
Suspended
Join Date: Nov 1999
Posts: 24,153
He's just making stuff up. I still have debit cards from local CUs that work at WM and don't have chips on them. They are attached to a checking account in my name. Chip has nothing to do with whether a debit card is a "bank card" or not. In fact he's using the term "bank card" incorrectly so I will refrain from continuing the misuse of this word. If you want to try and make a distinction, it would be by whether the debit is non-reloadable or prepaid.
Now your CU card maybe 100% OK for MOs but as long as the csr sees no chip and you have to swipe that could be game over, others you will be able to convince and beable to swipe but who wants to., its alot easier for them to simply KO the transaction. Now if the prepaids came with a chip theyd have big problems since wed be inputting rather then swiping
The other week the chip was malfunctioning on my CC, so I tried to simply swipe it and it was declined, yet if I inputted it 3x and got "Chip Malfunction" I could then swipe it and it worked. (not for getting MOs)Again depending where a person is located everything is YMMV as I know some folks that can still spilt payment and use the good cards with the csr knowing it, I dont have a single location where thats the case any longer, and frankly Im happy I can walk out with what I can and am thankful for that
Dec 11, 2019, 8:20 am
#1723
Join Date: Oct 2013
Posts: 1,322
From Visa Merchant Card Acceptance Guidelines --
The unembossed Visa card (e.g., prepaid card) may look and feel different, but it is a valid card that
can be accepted at any Visa merchant location that has an electronic terminal. Unlike an embossed
Visa card with raised numbers, letters, and symbols, the unembossed card has a smooth, flat surface.
From a merchant perspective, the processing of an unembossed card at the point-of-sale should
be seamless. There’s no need for new software, special hardware, or modified terminal procedures. You
simply swipe, insert, or wave the unembossed card just as you would an embossed card, then wait for
an authorization and obtain the cardholder’s signature.
edit @danpeake -- This guide applies to all Visa-branded cards, including debit. Note also that a "prepaid card" (debit) is used as an example of an unembossed card.
The unembossed Visa card (e.g., prepaid card) may look and feel different, but it is a valid card that
can be accepted at any Visa merchant location that has an electronic terminal. Unlike an embossed
Visa card with raised numbers, letters, and symbols, the unembossed card has a smooth, flat surface.
From a merchant perspective, the processing of an unembossed card at the point-of-sale should
be seamless. There’s no need for new software, special hardware, or modified terminal procedures. You
simply swipe, insert, or wave the unembossed card just as you would an embossed card, then wait for
an authorization and obtain the cardholder’s signature.
edit @danpeake -- This guide applies to all Visa-branded cards, including debit. Note also that a "prepaid card" (debit) is used as an example of an unembossed card.
Last edited by tuphat; Dec 11, 2019 at 8:28 am
Dec 11, 2019, 8:23 am
#1724
Join Date: Mar 2009
Posts: 2,295
From Visa Merchant Card Acceptance Guidelines --
The unembossed Visa card (e.g., prepaid card) may look and feel different, but it is a valid card that
can be accepted at any Visa merchant location that has an electronic terminal. Unlike an embossed
Visa card with raised numbers, letters, and symbols, the unembossed card has a smooth, flat surface.
From a merchant perspective, the processing of an unembossed card at the point-of-sale should
be seamless. There’s no need for new software, special hardware, or modified terminal procedures. You
simply swipe, insert, or wave the unembossed card just as you would an embossed card, then wait for
an authorization and obtain the cardholder’s signature.
The unembossed Visa card (e.g., prepaid card) may look and feel different, but it is a valid card that
can be accepted at any Visa merchant location that has an electronic terminal. Unlike an embossed
Visa card with raised numbers, letters, and symbols, the unembossed card has a smooth, flat surface.
From a merchant perspective, the processing of an unembossed card at the point-of-sale should
be seamless. There’s no need for new software, special hardware, or modified terminal procedures. You
simply swipe, insert, or wave the unembossed card just as you would an embossed card, then wait for
an authorization and obtain the cardholder’s signature.