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.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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)
Sep 11, 2019, 9:14 pm
#1111
Join Date: Sep 2016
Posts: 14
I am the one who initially reported the ID block and based on some other messages, I tried again over the weekend and still got the same message 'unable to process, tell customer politely..."
I never used my SSN as I never bought more than 2 MOs at a time.
Both mine and my spouses DL and Passport (At same address) are blocked.So it is based on name/address etc., not necessarily ID only.
Moneygram has no clue when called.
I can do 1 MO w/o ID in different stores.I can still do bill pay using same phone number/ID/App.
QUESTION: Any one who got this message was able to get back in? Anyone successfully able to contact MG and get a response?
I never used my SSN as I never bought more than 2 MOs at a time.
Both mine and my spouses DL and Passport (At same address) are blocked.So it is based on name/address etc., not necessarily ID only.
Moneygram has no clue when called.
I can do 1 MO w/o ID in different stores.I can still do bill pay using same phone number/ID/App.
QUESTION: Any one who got this message was able to get back in? Anyone successfully able to contact MG and get a response?
Sep 12, 2019, 5:36 am
#1112
Join Date: Mar 2005
Programs: Continental Onepass, Hilton, Marriott, USAir and now UA
Posts: 6,445
I am the one who initially reported the ID block and based on some other messages, I tried again over the weekend and still got the same message 'unable to process, tell customer politely..."
I never used my SSN as I never bought more than 2 MOs at a time.
Both mine and my spouses DL and Passport (At same address) are blocked.So it is based on name/address etc., not necessarily ID only.
Moneygram has no clue when called.
I can do 1 MO w/o ID in different stores.I can still do bill pay using same phone number/ID/App.
QUESTION: Any one who got this message was able to get back in? Anyone successfully able to contact MG and get a response?
I never used my SSN as I never bought more than 2 MOs at a time.
Both mine and my spouses DL and Passport (At same address) are blocked.So it is based on name/address etc., not necessarily ID only.
Moneygram has no clue when called.
I can do 1 MO w/o ID in different stores.I can still do bill pay using same phone number/ID/App.
QUESTION: Any one who got this message was able to get back in? Anyone successfully able to contact MG and get a response?
We all know that WM can block the abusive patron that keeps doing returns of merchandise, especially without specific receipts. There are definitely DPs out there where these people are blocked from returning items back to WM.
I imagine that they are ID'ed by a combination of ID, DL, address and SS#. WM probably does not need all forms of ID to decline these people a return of an item.
I suspect that they now have included certain users of their financial system in the same category as abusers of their return policy. Perhaps you are among this cohort of customers.
I would limit my WM purchases to less than ID level for the near and probably long term future. It doesn't hurt to do a test every quarter, but you might look to seeing if there is data on how long WM banned someone from doing returns of merchandise.
Sep 12, 2019, 7:20 am
#1113
Join Date: Dec 2016
Posts: 4
My questions are 1) did everyone who get banned enter SSN and 2) how many people who got banned used alternate ID besides Driver's License
Edit: probably gonna switch to <1k MOs for awhile until we know what is up
Edit 2: It can't be TOO widespread or we'd be seeing DPs everywhere. But something has to be happening, there's been several DPs today alone and it is concerning.
Edit: probably gonna switch to <1k MOs for awhile until we know what is up
Edit 2: It can't be TOO widespread or we'd be seeing DPs everywhere. But something has to be happening, there's been several DPs today alone and it is concerning.
Sep 12, 2019, 8:36 am
#1114
Join Date: Jan 2017
Posts: 161
I am the one who initially reported the ID block and based on some other messages, I tried again over the weekend and still got the same message 'unable to process, tell customer politely..."
I never used my SSN as I never bought more than 2 MOs at a time.
Both mine and my spouses DL and Passport (At same address) are blocked.So it is based on name/address etc., not necessarily ID only.
Moneygram has no clue when called.
I can do 1 MO w/o ID in different stores.I can still do bill pay using same phone number/ID/App.
QUESTION: Any one who got this message was able to get back in? Anyone successfully able to contact MG and get a response?
I never used my SSN as I never bought more than 2 MOs at a time.
Both mine and my spouses DL and Passport (At same address) are blocked.So it is based on name/address etc., not necessarily ID only.
Moneygram has no clue when called.
I can do 1 MO w/o ID in different stores.I can still do bill pay using same phone number/ID/App.
QUESTION: Any one who got this message was able to get back in? Anyone successfully able to contact MG and get a response?
Sep 12, 2019, 9:33 am
#1115
Join Date: Apr 2002
Posts: 2,949
According to MG Walmart is the one doing the block and they have no mechanism in place to stop anyone from buying MOs on their side. They offered to find me other MG locations besides Walmart to purchase at, which I politely declined as I've already done that legwork and know they are all small-limit/cash only.
Sep 12, 2019, 10:26 am
#1116
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: atlanta
Posts: 56
hit up WM yesterday on the way back from work, 4k MO, no issues. After seeing these, may just keep at 1K for the interim. Question - what other ID is acceptable other than DL?
Sep 12, 2019, 5:17 pm
#1118
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: SAN
Programs: Delta Gold. Hilton Diamond. Hyatt Explorist.
Posts: 1,675
Sep 12, 2019, 9:38 pm
#1119
Join Date: Sep 2016
Posts: 14
Thanks for the data point.
I probably return 1 item every 1 to 2 years across all stores.So returns is not a reason for sure in my case.So may be zero to two returns in my life time at walmart.
I probably return 1 item every 1 to 2 years across all stores.So returns is not a reason for sure in my case.So may be zero to two returns in my life time at walmart.
I am going to jump in here with a possibility, no data per se to back it up.
We all know that WM can block the abusive patron that keeps doing returns of merchandise, especially without specific receipts. There are definitely DPs out there where these people are blocked from returning items back to WM.
I imagine that they are ID'ed by a combination of ID, DL, address and SS#. WM probably does not need all forms of ID to decline these people a return of an item.
I suspect that they now have included certain users of their financial system in the same category as abusers of their return policy. Perhaps you are among this cohort of customers.
I would limit my WM purchases to less than ID level for the near and probably long term future. It doesn't hurt to do a test every quarter, but you might look to seeing if there is data on how long WM banned someone from doing returns of merchandise.
We all know that WM can block the abusive patron that keeps doing returns of merchandise, especially without specific receipts. There are definitely DPs out there where these people are blocked from returning items back to WM.
I imagine that they are ID'ed by a combination of ID, DL, address and SS#. WM probably does not need all forms of ID to decline these people a return of an item.
I suspect that they now have included certain users of their financial system in the same category as abusers of their return policy. Perhaps you are among this cohort of customers.
I would limit my WM purchases to less than ID level for the near and probably long term future. It doesn't hurt to do a test every quarter, but you might look to seeing if there is data on how long WM banned someone from doing returns of merchandise.
Sep 13, 2019, 4:49 pm
#1120
Join Date: Jan 2010
Programs: Hilton Diamond, Marriott/SPG Platinum
Posts: 496
did you try using your passport? you can tell walmart with another address different from the one on your DL...see it bans your passport for buying MOs
Sep 13, 2019, 5:13 pm
#1121
Join Date: Mar 2005
Programs: Continental Onepass, Hilton, Marriott, USAir and now UA
Posts: 6,445
They do it with people that abuse their return privileges so I suspect that they can do it to people they no longer wish to sell MOs to.
However, I am not saying that they do that (no DPs other than you and someone else).
Sep 13, 2019, 7:00 pm
#1122
Join Date: Sep 2019
Posts: 317
The block is coming from MG, not from WM. It covers both money orders and MG bill payments--CF bill payments aren't affected, showing that WM isn't doing the block, since WM would block those payments too. The block is for transactions that require ID, even if no SSN is required.
Pay no attention to whatever MG tells you if you call and ask. CS people at MG are clueless. They don't know anything about the ban. Some will make up stuff and tell you it's a system glitch, or that you should try a different store, or that WM is doing it so you should check with WM. Don't believe anything they say.
AFAIK, the ban is permanent, across all stores. If you've got alternate IDs, give those a try. But both passports and DLs have your date of birth and name, and that may be enough to block you.
Pay no attention to whatever MG tells you if you call and ask. CS people at MG are clueless. They don't know anything about the ban. Some will make up stuff and tell you it's a system glitch, or that you should try a different store, or that WM is doing it so you should check with WM. Don't believe anything they say.
AFAIK, the ban is permanent, across all stores. If you've got alternate IDs, give those a try. But both passports and DLs have your date of birth and name, and that may be enough to block you.
Sep 13, 2019, 9:10 pm
#1123
Join Date: Mar 2018
Programs: UA 1K, AA EXP. Hilton Diamond
Posts: 1,134
The block is coming from MG, not from WM. It covers both money orders and MG bill payments--CF bill payments aren't affected, showing that WM isn't doing the block, since WM would block those payments too. The block is for transactions that require ID, even if no SSN is required.
Pay no attention to whatever MG tells you if you call and ask. CS people at MG are clueless. They don't know anything about the ban. Some will make up stuff and tell you it's a system glitch, or that you should try a different store, or that WM is doing it so you should check with WM. Don't believe anything they say.
AFAIK, the ban is permanent, across all stores. If you've got alternate IDs, give those a try. But both passports and DLs have your date of birth and name, and that may be enough to block you.
Pay no attention to whatever MG tells you if you call and ask. CS people at MG are clueless. They don't know anything about the ban. Some will make up stuff and tell you it's a system glitch, or that you should try a different store, or that WM is doing it so you should check with WM. Don't believe anything they say.
AFAIK, the ban is permanent, across all stores. If you've got alternate IDs, give those a try. But both passports and DLs have your date of birth and name, and that may be enough to block you.
Makes me glad I’ve always been conservative when it comes to this.
Sep 13, 2019, 9:25 pm
#1124
Join Date: Sep 2019
Posts: 317
Exactly right--we don't know what triggers the ban. There are lots of theories, but every theory I've seen is contradicted by the fact that others doing the same are not banned.
There's also the fact that the banning started back in April, with few affected. There seems to have been another round of banning this week, with more affected. There's no reason to think the same criteria was used for both ban rounds.
The reason could be combinations of factors, including some we haven't considered, or a manual review of some computerized scanning with decisions made by different people who use different criteria. We just don't know.
My main point--be skeptical of what you read here, not just on this subject but on many others. People are mostly well-meaning and trying to make sense of what's going on based on their own experience and the reports they read. That doesn't mean they're right or even close to right. And there are a bunch of people who purposely post misleading information to protect their own methods and sources and to discourage others from learning what really works.
There's also the fact that the banning started back in April, with few affected. There seems to have been another round of banning this week, with more affected. There's no reason to think the same criteria was used for both ban rounds.
The reason could be combinations of factors, including some we haven't considered, or a manual review of some computerized scanning with decisions made by different people who use different criteria. We just don't know.
My main point--be skeptical of what you read here, not just on this subject but on many others. People are mostly well-meaning and trying to make sense of what's going on based on their own experience and the reports they read. That doesn't mean they're right or even close to right. And there are a bunch of people who purposely post misleading information to protect their own methods and sources and to discourage others from learning what really works.
Sep 14, 2019, 7:14 am
#1125
Join Date: Apr 2002
Posts: 2,949
I just returned from Walmart, and was told by an associate I know fairly well that several individuals received the shut-down banner this week.