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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 Nov 1, 2019, 4:56 pm
  #1411  
 
Join Date: Oct 2012
Posts: 299
sorry . I misunderstood
barrytuneup is offline  
Old Nov 1, 2019, 5:06 pm
  #1412  
 
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: DFW
Posts: 685
Originally Posted by saint
Just for a data point. I'm in Southern California and a VERY MS friendly Walmart I have been going to for the past few months told me today Corporate office called them today and said they couldn't accept prepaid debit cards anymore for Money Orders OR Billpay.

Funny as the guy behind me was from the same local forum as I've met him before and they told both of us at the same time that VGC's can no longer be used.

Bummer.
So are they going to stop accepting all Visa debit cards. Because this is what it says for WM $500 VGC’s on the WM site:
knopfler is offline  
Old Nov 1, 2019, 5:30 pm
  #1413  
 
Join Date: Oct 2014
Programs: All of them
Posts: 1,664
Originally Posted by knopfler
So are they going to stop accepting all Visa debit cards. Because this is what it says for WM $500 VGC’s on the WM site:

HAHAHA. You think you're the first to use that line of reasoning with them? They will weasel out of this in 10 different ways, claiming MG makes them do it, corporate told them, it's federal law or some crap like that. Good luck!
littlewinglet is offline  
Old Nov 1, 2019, 5:44 pm
  #1414  
ogg
 
Join Date: Sep 2019
Posts: 317
Originally Posted by saint
Just for a data point. I'm in Southern California and a VERY MS friendly Walmart I have been going to for the past few months told me today Corporate office called them today and said they couldn't accept prepaid debit cards anymore for Money Orders OR Billpay.

Funny as the guy behind me was from the same local forum as I've met him before and they told both of us at the same time that VGC's can no longer be used.

Bummer.
Yeah. That happened in my main WM three months ago--and loadable cards can't be loaded there with prepaid debit cards either.
ogg is offline  
Old Nov 1, 2019, 7:20 pm
  #1415  
 
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: NRT
Programs: UA gold
Posts: 135
Originally Posted by littlewinglet
HAHAHA. You think you're the first to use that line of reasoning with them? They will weasel out of this in 10 different ways, claiming MG makes them do it, corporate told them, it's federal law or some crap like that. Good luck!
Ture.

If you dare to argue with them, they would turn into a 30-year Treasury veteran AML specialist in a snap.
ezakipocky is offline  
Old Nov 1, 2019, 7:33 pm
  #1416  
soy
 
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: DUB-BOS
Programs: various
Posts: 3,693
Originally Posted by littlewinglet
HAHAHA. You think you're the first to use that line of reasoning with them? They will weasel out of this in 10 different ways, claiming MG makes them do it, corporate told them, it's federal law or some crap like that. Good luck!
Never argue with them unless you want to burn the place. Walk away and chances are they will have forgotten in a couple of months.

Never wrestle with a pig either !
soy is online now  
Old Nov 2, 2019, 7:24 am
  #1417  
 
Join Date: Oct 2019
Programs: No ID/Never Banned
Posts: 9
Business as usual in Socal. Over 10 different WMs yesterday 11/1 under 1k MO. Nothing changed. 0.88 fee, no random checks or ID needed. All MO for whole $ amounts.
Walmart is offline  
Old Nov 2, 2019, 7:43 am
  #1418  
 
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: CHS
Programs: Delta, AA, BA, United, Hyatt Globalist, Hilton Honors Diamond, SPG Marriott Gold, Sixt Platinum
Posts: 1,142
WM printed Payee name on MO

I have 3 good Walmart’s that I rotate. A couple others I avoid.
Yesterday an unfamiliar clerk at my favorite WM, asked who the MO’s were going to. I’m rarely asked, but responded, “to repay a debt”. CSR replied , “no I need a name”.
I named my son , who’s name is similar to mine. She questioned “your paying yourself?”
”No it’s my son, I owe him $2,997.36.”
the MO’s printed out with his name on them. First time in recent history the Ink was clearly readable.

my next two Walmart stops were business as usual. I expect this is CSR specific, not location specific. I’ll return in a few days and try a familiar CSR.
beachmiles is offline  
Old Nov 2, 2019, 9:52 am
  #1419  
 
Join Date: Oct 2019
Programs: No ID/Never Banned
Posts: 9
One Of the WM I go to prints the store # on the purchaser(middle) line....ex. wal-mart 5555

I write over it. I go to a lot of WM and it is the only one Ive ever seen do this and they have been doing it for years, so it does seem like they have the capabilities to print all 3 lines if wanted.
Walmart is offline  
Old Nov 2, 2019, 1:48 pm
  #1420  
 
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: PHL
Programs: Hyatt Globalist, AA, Southwest
Posts: 125
8K per month

Does anyone know if the 8k per month went into effect on Novenber 1st?
slicktraveler is offline  
Old Nov 2, 2019, 2:15 pm
  #1421  
 
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: DFW
Posts: 454
Originally Posted by slicktraveler
Does anyone know if the 8k per month went into effect on Novenber 1st?
So far, business as usual. Random disparate datapoints that could be results of bans and EMSARs. Next batch of rumors peg it at tomorrow, but I haven't seen the original source of those rumors.
horseymen is offline  
Old Nov 2, 2019, 2:31 pm
  #1422  
 
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: DEN
Programs: Hilton Diamond Hyatt Globalist Marriott Gold AA EXP
Posts: 1,019
1 MO for $495 today no problem, no ID, no checking my Debit card. I'm not going to risk suspicion by trying dual/quad swipes or 8x $1000 MOs per day at one WM. If I can liquidate 1 $500 or $1000 via MO per WMT per day, that's plenty for my needs.

If I can't, then I'm limited to BB while that lasts or maybe opening a greendot account
bbriscoe34 is offline  
Old Nov 2, 2019, 3:11 pm
  #1423  
 
Join Date: Mar 2019
Posts: 18
BAU, multiple swipes, 999.12/per, ID given. Unfortunately I don't have enough to test 8k/mo limit and don't really have as much time anymore to try it.
yaji is offline  
Old Nov 2, 2019, 3:37 pm
  #1424  
 
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: 4,551
BAU here too. 88 cents. The CSR's all know I've been banned, but I don't get asked for ID for MO's up to $999.12, so they usually let me do 2 or 3.

Of course, tomorrow is another day! (Fiddle-dee-dee.)
redtop43 is offline  
Old Nov 2, 2019, 5:19 pm
  #1425  
 
Join Date: Jan 2010
Programs: Hilton Diamond, Marriott/SPG Platinum
Posts: 496
Originally Posted by slicktraveler
Does anyone know if the 8k per month went into effect on Novenber 1st?
not yet. several guys have done 8k yesterday and 8k today in my neck of woods.
coolguy100 is offline  


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