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Buying Money Orders at Walmart (2019 - 2022)

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Old Jan 2, 2019, 9:51 am
FlyerTalk Forums Expert How-Tos and Guides
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.

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. Kates are a distant and pleasant memory now.

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

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Buying Money Orders at Walmart (2019 - 2022)

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Old Feb 5, 2020, 8:54 pm
  #1951  
 
Join Date: Feb 2020
Posts: 3
I just received my Chase Saphire Prefered card and was looking at ways to gain points as I pay down my student loan debt. All of my loan companies want me to pay directly from my bank account so I have to get creative to find a way to incorporate my cc. I was thinking I could buy prepaid visa gift cards and use them to purchase money orders that I will deposit back into my bank account to make ACH loan payments. However, I have read online that by purchasing prepaid gift cards at grocery stores and such will show on my statement as a cash advance. Is this accurate or have you personally encountered this? I don't want to wind up purchasing a prepaid card that I cant get money off to pay loans with.still wind up with a cash advance fee. Would I even be able to pay for a money order with a prepaid visa card?

Thanks - KLyle
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Old Feb 5, 2020, 9:16 pm
  #1952  
 
Join Date: Jun 2019
Location: USA
Programs: UR and MR
Posts: 88
Originally Posted by KLyle
I just received my Chase Saphire Prefered card and was looking at ways to gain points as I pay down my student loan debt. All of my loan companies want me to pay directly from my bank account so I have to get creative to find a way to incorporate my cc. I was thinking I could buy prepaid visa gift cards and use them to purchase money orders that I will deposit back into my bank account to make ACH loan payments. However, I have read online that by purchasing prepaid gift cards at grocery stores and such will show on my statement as a cash advance. Is this accurate or have you personally encountered this? I don't want to wind up purchasing a prepaid card that I cant get money off to pay loans with.still wind up with a cash advance fee. Would I even be able to pay for a money order with a prepaid visa card?

Thanks - KLyle
Some grocery stores have giftofcollege giftcards that you can buy to pay off student loans. And I have never had a transaction code as cash advance when purchasing any type of gift cards.
ToastedSi is offline  
Old Feb 5, 2020, 11:22 pm
  #1953  
 
Join Date: Feb 2020
Posts: 3
Originally Posted by ToastedSi
Some grocery stores have giftofcollege giftcards that you can buy to pay off student loans. And I have never had a transaction code as cash advance when purchasing any type of gift cards.
So would I be able to purchase money orders
from a prepaid debit visit at Walmart? Thanks for helping me out on this.
KLyle is offline  
Old Feb 6, 2020, 12:29 am
  #1954  
 
Join Date: Feb 2012
Posts: 4,470
It appears that GoC cards are payment vehicles strictly for 529 Plans.
https://www.giftofcollege.com/gift-card-terms/
They don't have a debit feature, so can't be used to buy MO's.
MaxVO is offline  
Old Feb 6, 2020, 5:18 am
  #1955  
 
Join Date: Feb 2020
Posts: 3
Originally Posted by MaxVO
It appears that GoC cards are payment vehicles strictly for
They don't have a debit feature, so can't be used to buy MO's.

I don’t mean specifically a card designed to pay of college plans, but rather a debit/pin enabled Visa
KLyle is offline  
Old Feb 6, 2020, 6:01 am
  #1956  
 
Join Date: Mar 2015
Posts: 269
Originally Posted by KLyle
I don’t mean specifically a card designed to pay of college plans, but rather a debit/pin enabled Visa
You can buy VGCs at many many locations not just Walmart. The rest of your questions can be answered directly in the Wiki at the top.
the188 is offline  
Old Feb 6, 2020, 6:09 am
  #1957  
 
Join Date: Feb 2015
Posts: 595
Originally Posted by KLyle
So would I be able to purchase money orders
from a prepaid debit visit at Walmart? Thanks for helping me out on this.

This is such a basic question for this forum, it sounds like you need to do a lot more reading. Start here: https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/manu...re-2019-a.html

The short answer to your questions is maybe or it depends. There are variables. Read, read, read, and when you think you're done, read some more. I read this forum (and others) for weeks before I bought my first GC. And I was only looking for a way to pay my mortgage with a credit card to get points but wound up falling down this rabbit hole instead. LOL
shadow520 is offline  
Old Feb 6, 2020, 7:21 am
  #1958  
 
Join Date: Nov 2019
Posts: 5
are WU MO's cash only or YMMV?
very_metal is offline  
Old Feb 6, 2020, 8:20 am
  #1959  
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Join Date: Nov 1999
Posts: 24,153
Originally Posted by very_metal
are WU MO's cash only or YMMV?
YMMV depending on the chain and location ( why ask in the Wally thread , Wally isnt WU
craz is offline  
Old Feb 7, 2020, 2:00 pm
  #1960  
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Join Date: Sep 2016
Posts: 198
Originally Posted by KLyle
So would I be able to purchase money orders
from a prepaid debit visit at Walmart? Thanks for helping me out on this.
Nope. Not sure why you'd ever think that was possible. Noobs ......
beast7276 is offline  
Old Feb 7, 2020, 4:25 pm
  #1961  
 
Join Date: Jun 2015
Posts: 1,727
Originally Posted by very_metal
are WU MO's cash only or YMMV?
no
Chelski is offline  
Old Feb 7, 2020, 4:29 pm
  #1962  
 
Join Date: Jun 2015
Posts: 1,727
Originally Posted by KLyle
prepaid debit visit
what is a PDV?
Chelski is offline  
Old Feb 7, 2020, 4:34 pm
  #1963  
 
Join Date: Jun 2015
Posts: 1,727
Originally Posted by tuphat
Pro tip: If you never give your ID to them, they can't ban you.
yes they can.
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Old Feb 7, 2020, 5:02 pm
  #1964  
 
Join Date: Dec 2010
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Programs: Hilton-Diamond Lifetime Platinum AA UA, WN-CP, SPG Gold.
Posts: 7,377
Originally Posted by beast7276
Nope. Not sure why you'd ever think that was possible. Noobs ......

WM wil take VISA Gift Cards for payment if a MO, and SMGC,now they decline MC Gift Cards to my understanding
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Old Feb 8, 2020, 9:01 am
  #1965  
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Originally Posted by satman40
WM wil take VISA Gift Cards for payment if a MO, and SMGC,now they decline MC Gift Cards to my understanding
FT .... the gift that keeps on giving
beast7276 is offline  


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