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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 Jul 19, 2019, 4:01 pm
  #886  
 
Join Date: Jul 2018
Location: SAN
Posts: 54
Originally Posted by ericdabbs
AFAIK this only occurs if you are trying to purchase more than $1K in MOs in the same transaction (ex: total including fee is $1000.00 = no trigger, total including fee $1000.01 or higher = triggers. It automatically triggers their screen to enter your information. It sucks but that is the rules that WM and MG have come up with.
This is what one worker told me. $1k is ok and wouldn't need ID. A penny over that will trigger ID requirement.
fishfly is offline  
Old Jul 19, 2019, 5:51 pm
  #887  
 
Join Date: Dec 2016
Programs: IHG, Hilton diamond (IHG match) SPG gold
Posts: 105
As mentioned earlier and experienced once (out of a few hundred).
there is 1 in 10 chance of Id prompt by computer (just under 1k total) . Also experienced two clerks maybe out of a hundred asking for Id >5c <1k.
808pineapple is offline  
Old Jul 19, 2019, 6:01 pm
  #888  
 
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Austin, TX
Programs: Once upon a time...
Posts: 863
Originally Posted by fishfly
This is what one worker told me. $1k is ok and wouldn't need ID. A penny over that will trigger ID requirement.
I got one MO w/fee for $1k yesterday and it triggered ID for some reason.
veeRob is offline  
Old Jul 20, 2019, 9:29 am
  #889  
 
Join Date: Mar 2005
Programs: Continental Onepass, Hilton, Marriott, USAir and now UA
Posts: 6,423
Originally Posted by Mamibear
IME and most cases I've observed, it is the register that prompts for SSN input, cashiers have no control on this (although I've had cashiers ask DL for $400 MO which they're allowed to do when they mark the transaction suspicious). If you do the $1K or less transaction b2b, the chances of triggering SSN input is higher so you can try to go back in line that is IF (big IF) you get a friendly, cooperative cashier who will allow you do to a separate transaction. IME, with the friendliest cashiers, they told me I can buy up to $8K BUT it has to be done in ONE transaction; I don't want to put them in trouble by allowing separate transaction to accommodate more GC swipes so if I have to, I just do two $1Ks with DL. MOs are no longer my main liquidation method, the prepaid loading route is much less stressful for me.
I agree that it is the register and not the cashier that has control over ID requests. I have been doing $800 MOs with 4 swipes and only once (at a WM MC) have I been asked for my ID. The cashier was surprised that this had happened, and it has not recurred since then. However, I do not do more than one transaction per WM and currently have not been doing >$800 per transaction.

I would certainly love to know your protocol for getting more than i BB or Serve card. I have only one and cannot get another at this time, so that card is pretty much useless for any MSing activity (no desire to be banned again).
radonc1 is offline  
Old Jul 20, 2019, 10:49 am
  #890  
 
Join Date: Oct 2012
Posts: 299
Originally Posted by the188
In my area you have to declare your MOs at the beginning. For instance I tried to do 1k and then after it printed do another 1k. They denied me any more MOs. I can still do 2k if I tell them at the beginning. DL is asked for at this point. Theoretically you could do 8x 1k MOs one after another and not get asked for anything, but I doubt most / (any) WMs will allow it.
people like the188. dont listen to his crap. No WM will do this anywhere. You are asking for trouble. You make it bad for folks like me who are happy with 999.12 MO at 2 WM 3x per wek. Greed will kills this biz.. Just take it slow folks.
barrytuneup is offline  
Old Jul 20, 2019, 11:55 am
  #891  
 
Join Date: Jan 2017
Posts: 805
Originally Posted by veeRob
I got one MO w/fee for $1k yesterday and it triggered ID for some reason.
I had this happen last week, the cashier was confused as to why it was asking. Then this week, same MO value, and no ID. Seems to be random.
sethMCOflyer is offline  
Old Jul 20, 2019, 2:10 pm
  #892  
 
Join Date: Jun 2015
Posts: 1,727
Originally Posted by radonc1
I agree that it is the register and not the cashier that has control over ID requests. I have been doing $800 MOs with 4 swipes and only once (at a WM MC) have I been asked for my ID. The cashier was surprised that this had happened, and it has not recurred since then. However, I do not do more than one transaction per WM and currently have not been doing >$800 per transaction.

I would certainly love to know your protocol for getting more than i BB or Serve card. I have only one and cannot get another at this time, so that card is pretty much useless for any MSing activity (no desire to be banned again).
csr and register both have control over ID requests. it's store specific or csr specific in id requests. amazing this is still being discussed 9 months after implementation
Chelski is offline  
Old Jul 20, 2019, 2:27 pm
  #893  
 
Join Date: Jun 2015
Posts: 1,727
Originally Posted by barrytuneup
people like the188. dont listen to his crap. No WM will do this anywhere. You are asking for trouble. You make it bad for folks like me who are happy with 999.12 MO at 2 WM 3x per wek. Greed will kills this biz.. Just take it slow folks.
the188 is correct.. many of us are happy doing 100s per week unlike you
Chelski is offline  
Old Jul 20, 2019, 9:31 pm
  #894  
 
Join Date: Jan 2016
Posts: 20
120K or 240K

those high rollers, just thinking creatively.... do you hire somebody to work at Walmart part time so you can buy the MO from your plant without too much hassle? Lol.
Or the very least, know employees there.
wynn003 is offline  
Old Jul 20, 2019, 10:15 pm
  #895  
 
Join Date: Feb 2018
Posts: 129
Regular visits are often just as suspicious as doing high volume. If you're someone concerned with "greed" or shining a light on the hobby you should consider doing all of your spending in one or two big trips. Don't go 999.12 3x a week for 6kx52, You could go and max out your 8k daily limit in only 39 days and see considerably fewer CSRs. You'll space your visits out and draw less attention to yourself. You'll probably save on gas, too.

(edit: think like you work at Walmart. Who is more suspicious? The guy who comes in once or twice a week and does a large purchase or the guy who shows up everyday for the same 499.12 MO?)
Rachelrobinson likes this.

Last edited by Tectomoc; Jul 20, 2019 at 10:20 pm
Tectomoc is offline  
Old Jul 21, 2019, 9:44 am
  #896  
 
Join Date: Oct 2012
Posts: 299
the high rollers will be shut down at WM soon enough. Why do you think MGram is tracking our MO biz? Big corp take time to make decisions.I have been doing 4K via 2 WM 3x per week for over 2 years. Never 2 days in a row. Never a complaint or peep from any WM employees. I never have the time to do what some others do here. They should get a life. I returned from 2 WM this AM. Done by 9AM and now will spend family time a with sons,dog and pool.its 95 already!! Only instance of huge corp working at warp speed was the USPS..when they stopped selling us MO with OV cards. Seemed to happen overnight.
barrytuneup is offline  
Old Jul 21, 2019, 1:55 pm
  #897  
Suspended
 
Join Date: Sep 2016
Posts: 198
Originally Posted by barrytuneup
the high rollers will be shut down at WM soon enough. Why do you think MGram is tracking our MO biz? Big corp take time to make decisions.I have been doing 4K via 2 WM 3x per week for over 2 years. Never 2 days in a row. Never a complaint or peep from any WM employees. I never have the time to do what some others do here. They should get a life. I returned from 2 WM this AM. Done by 9AM and now will spend family time a with sons,dog and pool.its 95 already!! Only instance of huge corp working at warp speed was the USPS..when they stopped selling us MO with OV cards. Seemed to happen overnight.
can I be like you? You seem to be living the dream.
coolguy100, Chelski and skanchur like this.
beast7276 is offline  
Old Jul 21, 2019, 7:10 pm
  #898  
 
Join Date: Apr 2013
Posts: 77
Re: Question in San Gabriel Valley

Hi All,

I just went to West Covina (Eastland Mall) WMT, and the lady said you aren't getting anymore! Burned. Bad.

Duarte - burned.

Does anyone know any friendly WMTs that will GC to MO? Please reply or private message.

Thanks.
PointsforHolidayBoy is offline  
Old Jul 21, 2019, 9:01 pm
  #899  
 
Join Date: Dec 2013
Posts: 3,501
Originally Posted by PointsforHolidayBoy
Hi All,

I just went to West Covina (Eastland Mall) WMT, and the lady said you aren't getting anymore! Burned. Bad.

Duarte - burned.

Does anyone know any friendly WMTs that will GC to MO? Please reply or private message.

Thanks.
What do you mean by "u aren't getting anymore!"? Did she recognize you or just lumping you with the regulars?

Also Duarte has been a dead zone since they changed their CS Manager several years ago. You can't even get $200 MO without asking to see which card you are using.
ericdabbs is offline  
Old Jul 21, 2019, 10:24 pm
  #900  
 
Join Date: Apr 2013
Posts: 77
Originally Posted by ericdabbs
What do you mean by "u aren't getting anymore!"? Did she recognize you or just lumping you with the regulars?

Also Duarte has been a dead zone since they changed their CS Manager several years ago. You can't even get $200 MO without asking to see which card you are using.
She asked to see my gc. And she kicked me out. =(

But I got one the day before.

What WMTs in this area actually let you do this?

When did the CS Manager change in Duarte? That used to be my go-to spot. So sad.

The SGV seems to be one big dead zone.
PointsforHolidayBoy is offline  


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