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 19, 2020, 6:18 pm
#3061
Suspended
Join Date: Jan 2017
Location: EWR/PHL/BWI
Posts: 4,412
I think it's safe to say just like every prediction that came before, the memo was a dud. If you weren't having a hard time at Walmart before, you're not going to now. And if you've stopped visiting the money center altogether because of swipe problems with Metas, you won't even notice the difference.
All three WMs that close to me had more managers watching the check-out lines. They can see the customers who do not have anything to buy. They ask to see the cards. They also enforce a $500 one card loading limit even if you get a real debit card.
I'm sure it is still YMMV situation, but do not make a broad statement like what was just stated. It is just inaccurate to say the least. The MCs are dead a while ago. Very few people in my area go to Staples to buy those $200 GCs any longer.
Dec 19, 2020, 7:11 pm
#3062
Join Date: Apr 2020
Posts: 235
This is some kind of joke.
All three WMs that close to me had more managers watching the check-out lines. They can see the customers who do not have anything to buy. They ask to see the cards. They also enforce a $500 one card loading limit even if you get a real debit card.
I'm sure it is still YMMV situation, but do not make a broad statement like what was just stated. It is just inaccurate to say the least. The MCs are dead a while ago. Very few people in my area go to Staples to buy those $200 GCs any longer.
All three WMs that close to me had more managers watching the check-out lines. They can see the customers who do not have anything to buy. They ask to see the cards. They also enforce a $500 one card loading limit even if you get a real debit card.
I'm sure it is still YMMV situation, but do not make a broad statement like what was just stated. It is just inaccurate to say the least. The MCs are dead a while ago. Very few people in my area go to Staples to buy those $200 GCs any longer.
I think people aren't taking this seriously since any large volume was killed by meta $99 anyways
Dec 19, 2020, 7:13 pm
#3063
Join Date: Apr 2020
Posts: 235
Imo, wait a few weeks or months. Back in june/July a friendly wm started doing the "no more of those cards allowed". It seems like they forgot since the same guy was perfectly fine with multi swipes in October
Had no issue at the second Walmart. I guess it’s YMMV for now depending on the location or the cashier.
Dec 19, 2020, 8:00 pm
#3064
Join Date: Nov 2020
Posts: 28
Had a handful of US Bank $500 gebits from the ongoing Chase grocery spend bonuses and one Metabank $200 gebit from a recent Staples or OD special. Drove to the Santa Clarita Valley in the late morning and started working my way back to LA hitting every WM (and Albertsons) along the 5, except Burbank which is always a zoo and was prone to reject gebits pre-memo — four SCs and one NM to be exact. Only one swipe per store (my usual policy since I’ve found it tough to do multiples for awhile here). Wasn’t asked to see my card once. No mention of a new policy on the way. No signage to be seen. Fingers crossed this remains the case.
Dec 19, 2020, 8:05 pm
#3065
Suspended
Join Date: Jan 2017
Location: EWR/PHL/BWI
Posts: 4,412
It is not seriously or not. I'm sure some people still may be able to do it in certain location and certain geographic regions. But just do not make a bold and blanket statement. So if you not inflected by the Covid, or safe and do not show symptoms, it does not mean that you can tell everyone the disease is not deadly.
Dec 19, 2020, 8:08 pm
#3066
Suspended
Join Date: Jan 2017
Location: EWR/PHL/BWI
Posts: 4,412
If the guard is down, there could be another memo and another round of staff education. The war continues.
Dec 19, 2020, 9:29 pm
#3067
Join Date: Nov 2020
Posts: 28
USB Gebit
Is the consensus that USB aren’t affected by new WM software update? If so isn’t USB problematic in regards to being accessed fraudulently before getting MO?
Dec 19, 2020, 11:53 pm
#3068
Join Date: Feb 2007
Posts: 96
It is not seriously or not. I'm sure some people still may be able to do it in certain location and certain geographic regions. But just do not make a bold and blanket statement. So if you not inflected by the Covid, or safe and do not show symptoms, it does not mean that you can tell everyone the disease is not deadly.
Dec 20, 2020, 12:47 am
#3069
Join Date: Dec 2020
Programs: Delta Diamond (MM) | Hertz President's Circle
Posts: 158
You still can't use them for 'full card value', PIN-based debit transactions within 24 hours of buying them or within 24 hours of changing your PIN online, however (basically all MS activity...) A simple method of buying and tagging them with time/date stamps keeps you from hassles with this.
Before hitting my 2020 goal, I was 90% USB VGC for my MS and it was smooth as butter if following the system above.
-b.
Dec 20, 2020, 6:23 am
#3070
Join Date: Mar 2005
Programs: Continental Onepass, Hilton, Marriott, USAir and now UA
Posts: 6,408
Covid is not a verb. You don't "covid" anything. To make your analogy more accurate, not all Covid infections kill, neither do all submersions in water kill.
And one can drown in many things, such as work, relationships, and even trying to figure out how WM is going to stick us in the future.
Dec 20, 2020, 7:10 am
#3071
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Florida
Posts: 29,740
I think it's safe to say just like every prediction that came before, the memo was a dud. If you weren't having a hard time at Walmart before, you're not going to now. And if you've stopped visiting the money center altogether because of swipe problems with Metas, you won't even notice the difference.
The memo is enforced in my super super friendly neighborhood store 2 days BEFORE it was in effect. My cashier told me on the 17th that this would be the last time he would help me, citing the memo that the new policy from the corporate was to stop manufactured spend. He literally had to think a couple second to remember the MS term. I asked him if only one card to swipe, would it be possible? He said Nope. No more manufactured spend allowed.
The store manager is a very cool guy who has no issue doing the MO himself, as long as it is only one MO a day. Been like that for years. He happened to walk back from the floor, and the cashier immediately told him, that he informed the customer of the new policy, pointing to the screen of his POS... I do not see any paper taped on the POS, so I assumed there actually was a reminder showing on the top of the screen when initiating money order transaction. I have no proof of that though.
I even jokingly asked the store manager could I do one last MO tomorrow the 18th? He mumbled some words but basically ignored my question.
Like everything else, it is always YMMV. However it is pretty clear for the most parts of the nation, the WalMart avenue is dead, for now.
Dec 20, 2020, 7:13 am
#3072
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Florida
Posts: 29,740
WMs will certainly replace certain managers and the check-out clerks change all the time. Things can certainly change in 6 months. But if the terminals are programmed to block or reflect certain gift cards, then that won't change. It is hard to tell.
If the guard is down, there could be another memo and another round of staff education. The war continues.
If the guard is down, there could be another memo and another round of staff education. The war continues.
Dec 20, 2020, 7:45 am
#3073
Suspended
Join Date: Jan 2017
Location: EWR/PHL/BWI
Posts: 4,412
One, two or several WMs in Hawaii, or Arizona desert do not make the WM memo fake... Such a small %.
Last edited by RedSun; Dec 20, 2020 at 7:56 am
Dec 20, 2020, 7:49 am
#3074
Suspended
Join Date: Jan 2017
Location: EWR/PHL/BWI
Posts: 4,412
Sure this can be a good thing since those new people do not know the real "rules". So some MS can have success. But this does not make the WM memo a dud. Also, if the terminal software is re-programmed, then everything is lost.
Dec 20, 2020, 7:50 am
#3075
Join Date: May 2019
Programs: AAdvantage
Posts: 25
A quick data point when using USB gift card. My $500 card was declined in WM yesterday and I had to call the phone on the back of the card, and the associate told me it's a new policy that for all purchase at Walmart, I'll have to register the card first (I doubt it's true given the fact so many people still do USB card here, but that's what she literally said).
She helped me registered the gift card, and I was able to purchase MO as usual.
She helped me registered the gift card, and I was able to purchase MO as usual.
