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Buying Money Orders at Walmart (2019 - 2022)

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)

Old Mar 10, 2019, 6:40 pm
  #331  
 
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: DFW
Posts: 521
I had a very uneasy experience today. I had two $500 Simon Mall gift cards. To make things easier, I usually have my wife get one money order while I get another. We usually get them for $498.00 and just put the remaining balance on my Amazon account. I've found that doing amounts like $499.12 raises some red flags for certain cashiers.

Anyways... I get called up first and ask for a money order for $498.00. The cashier starts to ring it up no problem. Well, about halfway into my transaction, my wife gets called up by the other cashier and then asks for a money order. The cashier was apparently looking at me and listening in on our transaction, then asked my wife "is it for the same amount as him?" and points to me. My wife caught on and said "No, it's for $495". My wife told me all of this after the transaction.

After I got the money order, I walked out of the Money Center and waited for my wife. My wife came over about 1min later and we started talking about this event and what the cashier said. I glanced over at the Money Center and saw the suspicious cashier telling my cashier something, then she pointed at me and my wife.

We just walked out and left. I told her next time to just say that the amount is the same, but we are roommates and pay rent to the landlord.
poisson is offline  
Old Mar 10, 2019, 10:25 pm
  #332  
 
Join Date: Oct 2012
Posts: 970
Yikes. I hope they didn't call the FBI. I'd avoid WM for at least 6 months. They'll have your photos from the security cameras and put out an APB on both of you.
danpeake, richwyo, hi55us and 2 others like this.
farwest101 is offline  
Old Mar 11, 2019, 8:58 am
  #333  
 
Join Date: Mar 2016
Posts: 31
Originally Posted by farwest101
Yikes. I hope they didn't call the FBI. I'd avoid WM for at least 6 months. They'll have your photos from the security cameras and put out an APB on both of you.
Literally chuckled out loud. Thanks for that.
Dardack is offline  
Old Mar 11, 2019, 10:24 am
  #334  
 
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: DFW
Posts: 521
Originally Posted by farwest101
Yikes. I hope they didn't call the FBI. I'd avoid WM for at least 6 months. They'll have your photos from the security cameras and put out an APB on both of you.
LOL

At the time, I was concerned that someone was going to follow me into the parking lot and confront us or record my license plate and try to tell the police I was committing fraud.

I always wonder why certain cashiers are picky about money orders. Why are they making up their own rules? Why did my wife's cashier care if the amount was the same as mine? Would she have declined the sale if the amount was the same? I can think of plenty of legit reasons for why two people would get a money order for the same amount.

poisson is offline  
Old Mar 11, 2019, 11:15 am
  #335  
 
Join Date: Jun 2015
Posts: 1,727
CSRs are given ample discretion and thats why it varies from one to the next. Those stores where the skeptical CSRs are the squeaky wheels are the ones where more discretionary limits get imposed.

BTW.. my wm just told me they will put me on the no fly list if they catch me going to multiple stores in a day
Chelski is offline  
Old Mar 11, 2019, 12:33 pm
  #336  
 
Join Date: Nov 2015
Posts: 11
Angry N​​​​​​​ew Jersey Walmarts not accepting VGCs as Payment

Originally Posted by Ericfw
I know they may just use that as an excuse. That's why I want to confirm if somebody else in New Jersey has the same problem. The store I used in the past were very friendly and know what I was doing and they don't mind. I also tried to do it in other stores and they now give the same excuse: Money Gram no longer takes prepaid (gift) cards since recent system update. They didn't say the management doesn't't allow it.
For the past several weeks, I tried several Walmart stores in NJ - Edison, North Brunswick, West Windsor, East Brunswick, Princeton, Hamilton, Burlington and Freehold. None of them are accepting VGCs (from Simon mall) to swipe. It is completely to do with the management decision and nothing to do with the system. I did have some friendly employees at a couple of the Walmarts who let me do a few bill pays @ 1998.50 to get rid of my existing VGCs but they did say that they will NOT let anyone do BillPay or Money Order using these Visa Gift Cards going forward. They said they will only lets us swipe with a debit card that have a name printed on the card that matches an ID.

We need a thread that list which walmarts work and which don't.
logs90210 is offline  
Old Mar 11, 2019, 1:01 pm
  #337  
 
Join Date: Aug 2018
Posts: 34
No, we absolutely do not need that list. That would be like giving a pedophile a list of children that are left home alone. No way are people going to control themselves and ramp up properly. It would also allow a corporate policy person to send regional managers a list of walmarts that are allowing gebits. Some people are in dead zones in this hobby, but everyone needs to do their own leg work or else we take a huge risk of losing the hobby for everyone.
jjd477, NBG007, danpeake and 11 others like this.
Melanion90 is offline  
Old Mar 11, 2019, 6:42 pm
  #338  
 
Join Date: Sep 2015
Posts: 305
Originally Posted by alanisrox69
....asking for split payment is instantly revealing you are MSing.....
True, it might seem suspicious, yet not so uncommon in WMs...just the other day there were two adult ladies in front of me in line, and I couldn't help but overhear their conversation...one said to another something like this "mom, so it'll be enough in your account to help me with rent this month? I'll pay you back in April.." and the older one replied "yes, you can use $300 from it"...the ladies eventually purchased a money order with split payment...to me it would be more suspicious if you do a split payment AND pay the fee in coins...so I try to stick to no cash/coins (except at places where I am very comfortable with clerks who know exactly what I am doing and don't mind at all)...
in4tar is offline  
Old Mar 11, 2019, 7:48 pm
  #339  
 
Join Date: Jun 2015
Posts: 1,727
Originally Posted by in4tar
...to me it would be more suspicious if you do a split payment AND pay the fee in coins...so I try to stick to no cash/coins (except at places where I am very comfortable with clerks who know exactly what I am doing and don't mind at all)...
because coins are most likely obtained in black market transactions like drug deals or stolen from some tip jar smh
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Chelski is offline  
Old Mar 12, 2019, 5:33 am
  #340  
 
Join Date: Mar 2015
Posts: 269
Originally Posted by Chelski


because coins are most likely obtained in black market transactions like drug deals or stolen from some tip jar smh
Can we just agree that it is all situational, there is no one size fits all, and just move on? Some people will think something is suspicious, others will think something else is. At the end of the day MOs are legal however you slice them. If your cashiers don't like something use a method they do like.

I personally haven't used cash in over a year in the States, no bonus on it and my wallet doesn't need more metal, already have enough in my cards.
the188 is offline  
Old Mar 12, 2019, 8:33 am
  #341  
Suspended
 
Join Date: Nov 1999
Posts: 24,153
Originally Posted by logs90210
For the past several weeks, I tried several Walmart stores in NJ - Edison, North Brunswick, West Windsor, East Brunswick, Princeton, Hamilton, Burlington and Freehold. None of them are accepting VGCs (from Simon mall) to swipe. It is completely to do with the management decision and nothing to do with the system. I did have some friendly employees at a couple of the Walmarts who let me do a few bill pays @ 1998.50 to get rid of my existing VGCs but they did say that they will NOT let anyone do BillPay or Money Order using these Visa Gift Cards going forward. They said they will only lets us swipe with a debit card that have a name printed on the card that matches an ID.

We need a thread that list which walmarts work and which don't.
If it helps any only 'Hamilton' is a new one for me with the others having shut down a long time ago (with the exception of NB, where they didnt care if you just brought the card and opened it up smack in front of them, MG took care of that. Dont waste your time heading North of Edison either as its been dead up that way with an exception every blue moon

If you want to unload ASAP and not put much time into doing so then NJ/NY arent the places to be at. If youre looking to do large amounts as well. Slow and steady is still alive if you use your head as long as the #s arent thru the roof. So if a person needs to Spend xx,xxx to achieve a status with a program and have a year to do so no problem, just dont expect to do it in 1 day
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craz is offline  
Old Mar 12, 2019, 8:57 pm
  #342  
 
Join Date: Jul 2017
Posts: 65
Just an update - the reporting with the request for ID is kind of at the discretion of the CSR. I got 2 MOs for 999.10 at different WMs today and no request for ID at either one, whereas it was required yesterday at one of the same WMs for the same amount. I think whenever I mentioned splitting the payment on 2 cards, is when the CSR decided to enter in my ID info.
pancakeman27 is offline  
Old Mar 13, 2019, 7:02 am
  #343  
 
Join Date: Jun 2015
Posts: 1,727
Originally Posted by pancakeman27
Just an update - the reporting with the request for ID is kind of at the discretion of the CSR. I got 2 MOs for 999.10 at different WMs today and no request for ID at either one, whereas it was required yesterday at one of the same WMs for the same amount. I think whenever I mentioned splitting the payment on 2 cards, is when the CSR decided to enter in my ID info.
10.xx% of all MO transactions will require ID per KYC changes (Oct 2018).

CSRs also have ability to enter ID for anyone they choose under $1k total (MO + fees).

some do it with one card.
Chelski is offline  
Old Mar 13, 2019, 11:15 am
  #344  
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: New York, NY, USA
Programs: UA 1K - 2.1MM, HH LT Diamond, IHG Diamond, Bonvoy LT Titanium, Hyatt Glob
Posts: 766
Originally Posted by Chelski


10.xx% of all MO transactions will require ID per KYC changes (Oct 2018).

CSRs also have ability to enter ID for anyone they choose under $1k total (MO + fees).

some do it with one card.
Ive never been asked when doing them for $800 ($200 x 4)
Magic Pickles is offline  
Old Mar 13, 2019, 5:18 pm
  #345  
 
Join Date: Oct 2012
Posts: 299
Originally Posted by Melanion90
No, we absolutely do not need that list. That would be like giving a pedophile a list of children that are left home alone. No way are people going to control themselves and ramp up properly. It would also allow a corporate policy person to send regional managers a list of walmarts that are allowing gebits. Some people are in dead zones in this hobby, but everyone needs to do their own leg work or else we take a huge risk of losing the hobby for everyone.
concur
barrytuneup is offline  

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