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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 Apr 23, 2019, 10:04 am
  #481  
 
Join Date: Mar 2005
Programs: Continental Onepass, Hilton, Marriott, USAir and now UA
Posts: 6,440
Originally Posted by Shawnee
I can still get one MO for $999.32 in the same regular Walmart’s without any problem as there is no ID requirement.
i tried for $1500 MO (just not to make obvious) in two completely different stores that I never visited and as soon as they enter my ID info, they get the message. The CSRs even showed me the screen even if they were not supposed to show.
At that point the CSRs do not even know that I am an MSer and will use split payments since we never come to payment part.
as far as returning stuff, I hate returns and would rather throw away than stand in line. I probably returned 10 items in 40 years in any store and probably no returns in last 2 years. So that’s not an issue for sure.
The "returns" was just an example of how WM can track and limit customer behavior. It was not meant as a reason why your MS activity was intercepted.

But... you have been ID'ed by your DL as a "problem customer" :
It appears that your money laundering......opps I mean MSing days are going to be limited to amounts less than $1000 per visit and probably less visits as well (unless you have a desire to be banned from WM's altogether. )

It appears that WM is now taking an aggressive stance against MSers who over utilize MG for GC conversions and that DL's are indeed being data mined and tracked for such behavior.(at least in some instances).
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Old Apr 23, 2019, 12:20 pm
  #482  
 
Join Date: Jan 2010
Programs: Hilton Diamond, Marriott/SPG Platinum
Posts: 496
I guess there is nothing we can do about being banned by WM due to using DL. I have been doing 2 transactions/4 MOs daily for a while. I'll keep using ID until I get banned. then have to switch to one Money order only per transaction.
coolguy100 is offline  
Old Apr 23, 2019, 6:51 pm
  #483  
 
Join Date: Jun 2016
Posts: 2
Originally Posted by downluda
i got the same message today. i was only doing 2k a day, 3x a week for the past 1-2 months tops. no clue what triggered it, especially since my volume was relatively light. i never did more than 2k in a day.

I also got banned by WM today. $2k, consistently 1-2x week. Bummer.
airmann700 is offline  
Old Apr 23, 2019, 8:22 pm
  #484  
 
Join Date: May 2011
Posts: 889
If this banning is real, it is quite a worrying development. Perhaps a separate thread with more details is warranted? Eg location, amount in MOs per week, total MS duration?

Now we have more data points it does look like something may be changing. For most of us, this would mean the sky is falling IF true.
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Old Apr 23, 2019, 9:19 pm
  #485  
 
Join Date: Jan 2010
Programs: Hilton Diamond, Marriott/SPG Platinum
Posts: 496
I talked to a guy in WM 2 days ago. he said he had been using DL for 8k MOs and passport for 8k daily for a while. that day, WM/MG link his DL and passport (he used a different address), so his passport got declined that day after he used DL for 8k. WM/MG apparently is cracking down on MSers the past several days.
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Old Apr 23, 2019, 10:30 pm
  #486  
 
Join Date: Apr 2012
Posts: 213
IMHO, anyone doing multiple swipes, multiple MOs, or ".12" cent amounts is just asking for trouble. Go in, get a $499 MO with one swipe, no ID, and move onto another store, or go to same store another day. Done. Fly under the radar. Use the remaining 12 cent balance at the grocery store where it auto drains.
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Old Apr 23, 2019, 10:44 pm
  #487  
 
Join Date: May 2011
Posts: 889
Originally Posted by alanisrox69
IMHO, anyone doing multiple swipes, multiple MOs, or ".12" cent amounts is just asking for trouble. Go in, get a $499 MO with one swipe, no ID, and move onto another store, or go to same store another day. Done. Fly under the radar. Use the remaining 12 cent balance at the grocery store where it auto drains.
499 a time is small potatoes ... I'm going to lay low for a while until this blows over. If it won't, I'll burn my ID's one at a time and then drop to 1K / day in 2 x 500
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Old Apr 24, 2019, 7:25 am
  #488  
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Join Date: Sep 2016
Posts: 198
Originally Posted by alanisrox69
IMHO, anyone doing multiple swipes, multiple MOs, or ".12" cent amounts is just asking for trouble. Go in, get a $499 MO with one swipe, no ID, and move onto another store, or go to same store another day. Done. Fly under the radar. Use the remaining 12 cent balance at the grocery store where it auto drains.
lolololol
thx, that was golden.
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beast7276 is offline  
Old Apr 24, 2019, 10:05 am
  #489  
 
Join Date: Jan 2010
Programs: Hilton Diamond, Marriott/SPG Platinum
Posts: 496
I visited two WMs this morning.....each 4 swipes with ID...both BAU. I am just waiting for the last straw...then have to throttle MS volume drastically.
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Old Apr 24, 2019, 10:16 am
  #490  
 
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: The World!!!
Programs: Some of them not all ...
Posts: 1,532
Originally Posted by coolguy100
I visited two WMs this morning.....each 4 swipes with ID...both BAU. I am just waiting for the last straw...then have to throttle MS volume drastically.
I visited 3 Wallys on Sunday after the family Easter Pary, all $990 to $995 MO s (2 on each store separate transactions, with double swipe per MO) getting 6 MO without having to give my DL to anyone. My CSR friends know me (thanks Middle of Nowhere Mid West) as here in South Cali it is impossible to do that, even with a $490 MO. Good thing I have Never given my DL to Wally and hope to keep it that way. Remaining balance (usually leave on Simon VGC instead of Krogy VGC) to then auto drain at Krogy/Ralphs buying my Starbucks GC (yes, I am addicted to Starbucks) at 4X Fuel Points and call it a weekend. My Pink/Rose Amex Card is working like sharm, but to bad I have stoped loving my OBC a little, LOL. Simon is all BBP
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Old Apr 24, 2019, 10:29 am
  #491  
 
Join Date: Jan 2010
Programs: Hilton Diamond, Marriott/SPG Platinum
Posts: 496
Originally Posted by carlitos
I visited 3 Wallys on Sunday after the family Easter Pary, all $990 to $995 MO s (2 on each store separate transactions, with double swipe per MO) getting 6 MO without having to give my DL to anyone. My CSR friends know me (thanks Middle of Nowhere Mid West) as here in South Cali it is impossible to do that, even with a $490 MO. Good thing I have Never given my DL to Wally and hope to keep it that way. Remaining balance (usually leave on Simon VGC instead of Krogy VGC) to then auto drain at Krogy/Ralphs buying my Starbucks GC (yes, I am addicted to Starbucks) at 4X Fuel Points and call it a weekend. My Pink/Rose Amex Card is working like sharm, but to bad I have stoped loving my OBC a little, LOL. Simon is all BBP
lucky you... in my area each WM allows only one transaction....so can only do one MO w/o showing ID.
coolguy100 is offline  
Old Apr 24, 2019, 10:32 am
  #492  
 
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: The World!!!
Programs: Some of them not all ...
Posts: 1,532
Originally Posted by coolguy100
lucky you... in my area each WM allows only one transaction....so can only do one MO w/o showing ID.
No, lucky you, in my South Cali (SNA Airport) area, Wally allows absolutely NOTHING with VGCs as every time they check them (haven't even tried in the last 6 months).

I am lucky I travel so much to the Middle of Nowhere Mid West for work and family visits that I get to use the perks of my 10 year seniority CSRs at the local Wally (even managers know me there), that will not change, as they do love their jobs, or they are very comfortable working there. It is strange, but they just don't change CSRs down there.
carlitos is offline  
Old Apr 24, 2019, 12:00 pm
  #493  
 
Join Date: Feb 2018
Posts: 129
Something strange happened today at my friendly WM. I did 2k in MO and entered ID everything seemed fine until the second of my four $500 swipes with Simon vgc. Instead of asking for a pin the screen said "authorizing" and then processed the payment. The remaining 2 swipes asked for a pin and processed in the expected way.

When the receipts printed there was an extra receipt from MoneyGram that required a customer signature and had language about complying with the "cardholder agreement". I signed it (something I may regret) and the CS kept it. She was confused by it and mentioned it wasn't anything she had seen before.

My regular receipt also marked the second swipe as a "visa tend" and not a "debit tend" as is usual. All the VGC were from the same batch of Simon cards.
Tectomoc is offline  
Old Apr 24, 2019, 12:06 pm
  #494  
 
Join Date: Apr 2002
Posts: 2,948
Originally Posted by Tectomoc
Something strange happened today at my friendly WM. I did 2k in MO and entered ID everything seemed fine until the second of my four $500 swipes with Simon vgc. Instead of asking for a pin the screen said "authorizing" and then processed the payment. The remaining 2 swipes asked for a pin and processed in the expected way.

When the receipts printed there was an extra receipt from MoneyGram that required a customer signature and had language about complying with the "cardholder agreement". I signed it (something I may regret) and the CS kept it. She was confused by it and mentioned it wasn't anything she had seen before.

My regular receipt also marked the second swipe as a "visa tend" and not a "debit tend" as is usual. All the VGC were from the same batch of Simon cards.
I experienced the very same thing within the last week on two separate days. My first three VGC's went through as Debit (with pin), but the last one went through as a Visa charge. Similarly, a slip printed out that I had to sign for the charge. This was reminiscent of days gone by when one had to actually sign a paper slip.
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Old Apr 24, 2019, 5:37 pm
  #495  
 
Join Date: Apr 2012
Posts: 213
Originally Posted by coolguy100
lucky you... in my area each WM allows only one transaction....so can only do one MO w/o showing ID.
Same here, one MO transaction per day (but can buy multiple MO in same transaction - but for my purposes that's useless), no idea the reason and have not asked why. Multiple swipes are also a red flag for checking the card. "12 cents" is also red flag.

$499, one swipe, no issues.
alanisrox69 is offline  


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