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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 May 2, 2019, 4:34 pm
  #556  
 
Join Date: Jan 2010
Programs: Hilton Diamond, Marriott/SPG Platinum
Posts: 496
Originally Posted by wyogold
It is well known that only 4 swipes can be done / transaction
it seems he asked buying VGCs, no MOs.
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Old May 2, 2019, 7:40 pm
  #557  
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Join Date: Sep 2016
Posts: 198
Originally Posted by danhouston
at WM, any folks was able to buy a $5k (i.e. 10 of $500 VGC) in 1 trans? earlier tried to do $5k in 1 trans at WMNM, but the system asked for a special / country code that no one including a MGR knew what to input, so they cancelled the tran
ummmm .... usa
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Old May 3, 2019, 12:58 am
  #558  
 
Join Date: Jun 2015
Posts: 1,727
Originally Posted by danhouston
at WM, any folks was able to buy a $5k (i.e. 10 of $500 VGC) in 1 trans? earlier tried to do $5k in 1 trans at WMNM, but the system asked for a special / country code that no one including a MGR knew what to input, so they cancelled the tran
ven or mex works
Chelski is offline  
Old May 3, 2019, 3:34 pm
  #559  
 
Join Date: Dec 2013
Posts: 6
Originally Posted by coolguy100
you have to talk to a live person on MG to find out if the MO is good. if MO is bad, you have to talk to WM store manager, not the low level guys.
I called walmart corporate 1800 number and was told I should get refund as long as I had both receipt and money order and it is within 180 days. Also I should talk to a salaried management team member. Then I went to local store again and got the refund at the end. Thanks for the all suggestions!
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Old May 4, 2019, 10:42 am
  #560  
 
Join Date: Aug 2015
Posts: 2,061
Originally Posted by beast7276

ummmm .... usa
yep, that's what i mentioned to the clerk & mgr, but they insisted on a 3 numeric code!!! they insisted to see my debit card for pymt.... didin't have 1 at the time to show; then said CC is not acceptable so they cancelled
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Old May 4, 2019, 2:12 pm
  #561  
 
Join Date: May 2011
Posts: 889
Originally Posted by danhouston
yep, that's what i mentioned to the clerk & mgr, but they insisted on a 3 numeric code!!! they insisted to see my debit card for pymt.... didin't have 1 at the time to show; then said CC is not acceptable so they cancelled
001, as is the phone prefix maybe?
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Old May 4, 2019, 2:33 pm
  #562  
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Posts: 198
Originally Posted by wyogold
001, as is the phone prefix maybe?
no - it’s usa - and cc is fine. But csrs/managers gonna csr/manage
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Old May 4, 2019, 3:40 pm
  #563  
 
Join Date: Aug 2015
Posts: 2,061
Originally Posted by wyogold
001, as is the phone prefix maybe?
why 001? for USA, the 3 numeric code s/b the 3 #s whatever on the cashier's key pad, correct? not sure if similar to the phone key pad; if so, s/b 872...

any rate, went to a different WM earlier today & this cashier knew what to do... although i was asked for DL & phone #

Last edited by danhouston; May 4, 2019 at 3:48 pm
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Old May 4, 2019, 6:02 pm
  #564  
 
Join Date: Jan 2010
Programs: Hilton Diamond, Marriott/SPG Platinum
Posts: 496
Originally Posted by danhouston
why 001? for USA, the 3 numeric code s/b the 3 #s whatever on the cashier's key pad, correct? not sure if similar to the phone key pad; if so, s/b 872...

any rate, went to a different WM earlier today & this cashier knew what to do... although i was asked for DL & phone #
were you.buying MOs or VGCs?
coolguy100 is offline  
Old May 6, 2019, 12:52 pm
  #565  
 
Join Date: Sep 2011
Programs: Delta DM, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 1,495
BAU at my local Walmart. I bought 2 MOs for $999.12, and have been doing this 2-3 times a week for a while. I was on vacation last week but the week before one of the cashiers said some of the MO regulars were now banned by Moneygram (I was burning some $200 Staples GCs at the time, so I didn't get to test whether I was affected since no ID required).
Billy Mumphrey is offline  
Old May 6, 2019, 1:45 pm
  #566  
 
Join Date: Jul 2004
Posts: 194
Originally Posted by Billy Mumphrey
BAU at my local Walmart. I bought 2 MOs for $999.12, and have been doing this 2-3 times a week for a while. I was on vacation last week but the week before one of the cashiers said some of the MO regulars were now banned by Moneygram (I was burning some $200 Staples GCs at the time, so I didn't get to test whether I was affected since no ID required).
Just a Data point. I went this weekend to WM 2 buy 2 MO's each for 999.12. After clerk put in my ID it went back to home screen. Others have reported this. Clerk couldn't tell me what it meant. I asked come back later she said she didn't know. I went to another WM later that day. No problem. Not sure if I'm on my way to being banned.
lkohawaii is offline  
Old May 8, 2019, 7:14 am
  #567  
 
Join Date: Jun 2015
Posts: 37
Started receiving the error message mid April. Switched to 999.12. I was successful with and without ID check. The 2nd week of May, 1K ID check fails. Perm ban unless I go 499.12 route which store clerks will know. Oooof, might be time to call moneygram.
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Old May 8, 2019, 8:23 am
  #568  
soy
 
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: DUB-BOS
Programs: various
Posts: 3,690
Originally Posted by BionicBuk
Oooof, might be time to call moneygram.
How on earth will that help ?
It is not in Moneygrams interests to allow you to buy MO with VGC's

If ID check is failing your only option is to ensure you stay below the ID check threshold.
soy is offline  
Old May 8, 2019, 9:11 am
  #569  
 
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: DFW
Posts: 684
Not a huge increase, but most (or probably all) of my local DFW area WM's increased their MO fee to 88 cents today.
knopfler is offline  
Old May 8, 2019, 9:37 am
  #570  
 
Join Date: Mar 2005
Programs: Continental Onepass, Hilton, Marriott, USAir and now UA
Posts: 6,439
Originally Posted by knopfler
Not a huge increase, but most (or probably all) of my local DFW area WM's increased their MO fee to 88 cents today.
They are about a year behind ours
radonc1 is online now  


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