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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 Mar 18, 2019, 1:45 pm
  #361  
 
Join Date: Mar 2019
Programs: AA
Posts: 10
Failed attempt. Please help.

So today I went to my local WM, small town btw. I kept getting a REQUIRED CASH OR DEBIT printout and denial of GC. Is this something on my end or cashier input wrong? Was attempting 1 $500 card to start with
Buck Ivie is offline  
Old Mar 18, 2019, 1:47 pm
  #362  
 
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Originally Posted by Buck Ivie
So today I went to my local WM, small town btw. I kept getting a REQUIRED CASH OR DEBIT printout and denial of GC. Is this something on my end or cashier input wrong? Was attempting 1 $500 card to start with
Same thing yesterday. Probably a system glitch but could be hard coded.
westlaker is offline  
Old Mar 18, 2019, 4:17 pm
  #363  
 
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Originally Posted by Car Jack
$999.12 Saturday at a metrowest Wal Mart. Unusual for me as they asked for my ID. Not Framingham. Not Northborough.
$999.12 still doesn't trigger ID at my store. It's faster to just do 8 x $999.12 than 4 x $1998.24 so my cashiers are willing to do it. Saves us both time and hassle.
TalkingPoint is offline  
Old Mar 18, 2019, 5:32 pm
  #364  
 
Join Date: Jul 2017
Posts: 65
Originally Posted by westlaker
Same thing yesterday. Probably a system glitch but could be hard coded.
Wow - lets hope. Will try tomorrow at my location.
pancakeman27 is offline  
Old Mar 18, 2019, 5:39 pm
  #365  
 
Join Date: Jul 2017
Posts: 65
Originally Posted by Buck Ivie
So today I went to my local WM, small town btw. I kept getting a REQUIRED CASH OR DEBIT printout and denial of GC. Is this something on my end or cashier input wrong? Was attempting 1 $500 card to start with
What type of GC did you use? Since you are new you should double check the wiki at top of page - I'm not sure about the specifics, but I know people have had trouble with MCGCs and Vanilla VGCs at walmart - some of them don't work at all, and some you need to do some sort of a trick when swiping. Not sure since I don't use these due to their troublesome nature.
pancakeman27 is offline  
Old Mar 18, 2019, 6:49 pm
  #366  
 
Join Date: Sep 2009
Posts: 2,832
Originally Posted by Buck Ivie
So today I went to my local WM, small town btw. I kept getting a REQUIRED CASH OR DEBIT printout and denial of GC. Is this something on my end or cashier input wrong? Was attempting 1 $500 card to start with
.....and welcome to flyertalk!
Steve in Olympia is offline  
Old Mar 18, 2019, 7:34 pm
  #367  
 
Join Date: Sep 2014
Posts: 143
Originally Posted by Car Jack
$999.12 Saturday at a metrowest Wal Mart. Unusual for me as they asked for my ID. Not Framingham. Not Northborough.
Northshore WMs have always tripped for an ID at $999.01 so I do $999.00 and leave $0.11 on a card to use elsewhere.
Insder is offline  
Old Mar 19, 2019, 9:33 am
  #368  
 
Join Date: Mar 2019
Programs: AA
Posts: 10
Originally Posted by pancakeman27
What type of GC did you use? Since you are new you should double check the wiki at top of page - I'm not sure about the specifics, but I know people have had trouble with MCGCs and Vanilla VGCs at walmart - some of them don't work at all, and some you need to do some sort of a trick when swiping. Not sure since I don't use these due to their troublesome nature.
I was using the blue VGC sold at WM
Buck Ivie is offline  
Old Mar 19, 2019, 9:51 am
  #369  
 
Join Date: Sep 2014
Posts: 1,837
Originally Posted by Buck Ivie
I was using the blue VGC sold at WM
what bank issued it?
lumangoy is offline  
Old Mar 19, 2019, 9:57 am
  #370  
 
Join Date: Mar 2019
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Posts: 10
Originally Posted by lumangoy
what bank issued it?
didn't even think to look. What should it be?
Buck Ivie is offline  
Old Mar 19, 2019, 11:28 am
  #371  
 
Join Date: May 2011
Posts: 889
Originally Posted by Buck Ivie
didn't even think to look. What should it be?
It's called a wiki ...
wyogold is offline  
Old Mar 19, 2019, 4:52 pm
  #372  
 
Join Date: Oct 2013
Posts: 1,322
Originally Posted by Buck Ivie
didn't even think to look. What should it be?
1 free spoon full: look on back of card, "Issued by ..."
tuphat is offline  
Old Mar 21, 2019, 8:10 am
  #373  
 
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: PHL
Programs: Hyatt Globalist, AA, Southwest
Posts: 125
When I went to Walmart last a strange thing happened. CSR asked what I was using money orders for & when I was finished getting money orders she asked to keep gift cards. Has anyone else experienced anything like this?
slicktraveler is offline  
Old Mar 21, 2019, 8:15 am
  #374  
 
Join Date: Mar 2005
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Originally Posted by slicktraveler
When I went to Walmart last a strange thing happened. CSR asked what I was using money orders for & when I was finished getting money orders she asked to keep gift cards. Has anyone else experienced anything like this?
Only once when there was a massive foul up on WM's end and they could not pull money from the SMGCs.
They handed me $2000 and I gave them 4 GCs which had been used but no MO had printed. Other than that, never happened to me.
radonc1 is offline  
Old Mar 21, 2019, 9:49 am
  #375  
 
Join Date: Sep 2014
Posts: 1,837
Originally Posted by slicktraveler
When I went to Walmart last a strange thing happened. CSR asked what I was using money orders for & when I was finished getting money orders she asked to keep gift cards. Has anyone else experienced anything like this?
you gave it to her?
lumangoy is offline  


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