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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 4, 2020, 6:18 am
  #2266  
 
Join Date: Feb 2012
Posts: 4,477
Originally Posted by jeffeverde
... She messed up the split tender and keyed in one of the $500 swipes as cash. I knew I'd only done 3 swipes ...
How did you end up fixing the error -- swiped the 4th card or brought $500 cash?
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Old Jul 4, 2020, 6:45 am
  #2267  
 
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Originally Posted by jeffeverde
Had a similar scenario, with a CSR who, at the time, was barely tolerant of our activities. She messed up the split tender and keyed in one of the $500 swipes as cash. I knew I'd only done 3 swipes, and I showed here where the receipt showed $500 cash, but she insisted "that's normal". So I left it as "I'm sure you're right, but here's my phone number just in case your drawer count is wrong tonight". Two hours later I get the call, and I came right it so she could fix it before it got reported.

Now I'm her BFF - she waves me over to a new register when there's a long return line, lets me do multiple purchases, typo's the input when entering my ID, etc. Even better, she told the other MC CSR's about it, so I'm golden with all the regulars.

Honesty is definitely the pest policy -- especially when you're looking to have a long-term relationship
Nice story with a good ending

Hopefully, she will stick around a bit longer than my usual run of the mill CSRs who leave after 6 months.
radonc1 is online now  
Old Jul 6, 2020, 4:22 pm
  #2268  
 
Join Date: Dec 2017
Posts: 15
Banned? Or Just a glitch.

Anybody having problems with WM money orders today? CSR got a message like "unable to process transaction" or something at 3 of 4 WM today -- trying to do 2k. Didn't spit out a receipt it just kicked out the transaction and kind of rebooted, per watching CSRs. Very perplexing. Kind of worried I am banned, but all was ok at one of the WM so i guess not? Have not done more than 2k in a transaction in many months. Very disconcerting
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Old Jul 6, 2020, 5:34 pm
  #2269  
 
Join Date: Mar 2005
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Originally Posted by j_diggs
Anybody having problems with WM money orders today? CSR got a message like "unable to process transaction" or something at 3 of 4 WM today -- trying to do 2k. Didn't spit out a receipt it just kicked out the transaction and kind of rebooted, per watching CSRs. Very perplexing. Kind of worried I am banned, but all was ok at one of the WM so i guess not? Have not done more than 2k in a transaction in many months. Very disconcerting
If you were able to get $2000 in MOs where your ID was entered into the system, then I doubt that you are banned. Did the 4th WM where you were successful request your ID? If not, then you may be banned.....or

Perhaps the other 3 WMs are not MS friendly and the CSRs were just screwing with you.
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Old Jul 6, 2020, 5:47 pm
  #2270  
 
Join Date: Dec 2017
Posts: 15
Originally Posted by radonc1
If you were able to get $2000 in MOs where your ID was entered into the system, then I doubt that you are banned. Did the 4th WM where you were successful request your ID? If not, then you may be banned.....or

Perhaps the other 3 WMs are not MS friendly and the CSRs were just screwing with you.
It was actually my wife so my info is second hand, but she was able to get 2k at the second (of four) WM she went to. I'm sure they checked ID as it's a given over 1k (and it wasn't split txn). These are WMs she frequents regularly, not MS unfriendly whatsoever. It is for sure pretty unnerving as that would be a significant blow to our activity.
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Old Jul 7, 2020, 8:58 am
  #2271  
 
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Originally Posted by j_diggs
It was actually my wife so my info is second hand, but she was able to get 2k at the second (of four) WM she went to. I'm sure they checked ID as it's a given over 1k (and it wasn't split txn). These are WMs she frequents regularly, not MS unfriendly whatsoever. It is for sure pretty unnerving as that would be a significant blow to our activity.
So it appears that currently your wife is not banned. That is excellent.

However, I am still confused as to your status. Were you denied MOs when you presented your ID at WM?
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Old Jul 7, 2020, 2:21 pm
  #2272  
 
Join Date: Dec 2017
Posts: 15
Originally Posted by radonc1
So it appears that currently your wife is not banned. That is excellent.

However, I am still confused as to your status. Were you denied MOs when you presented your ID at WM?
Sorry for the confusion. I was not involved, I'm just the one posting. My wife was denied at 3 of 4 WMs when presenting ID. CSRs all seemed very confused, not anti-MS.
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Old Jul 7, 2020, 4:16 pm
  #2273  
 
Join Date: Jan 2010
Programs: Hilton Diamond, Marriott/SPG Platinum
Posts: 496
There is a WM I frequent. Only one CSM (new title Academy trainer) is really hostile to MSers, either rude or lies that financial service is down. Is there a way to leave rating to this person in WM system?
coolguy100 is offline  
Old Jul 7, 2020, 4:40 pm
  #2274  
 
Join Date: Feb 2012
Posts: 4,477
Originally Posted by coolguy100
...Is there a way to leave rating to this person in WM system?
survey.walmart.com -- there's room in the form to leave a freestyle review. You need to save the receipt generated by that person to access the survey. Most likely they'll find excuses not to serve you in the future at all (b/c no service = no surveys).
MaxVO is offline  
Old Jul 7, 2020, 7:54 pm
  #2275  
 
Join Date: Jan 2010
Programs: Hilton Diamond, Marriott/SPG Platinum
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Originally Posted by MaxVO
survey.walmart.com -- there's room in the form to leave a freestyle review. You need to save the receipt generated by that person to access the survey. Most likely they'll find excuses not to serve you in the future at all (b/c no service = no surveys).
This individual keeps saying things like "Covit 19 can't stop you guys from coming...you guys are doing money laundering, scamming, fraud.... WM corporate headquarter has been alerted"
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Old Jul 7, 2020, 8:05 pm
  #2276  
 
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Originally Posted by coolguy100
This individual keeps saying things like "Covit 19 can't stop you guys froIt coming...you guys are doing money laundering, scamming, fraud.... WM corporate headquarter has been alerted"
It's amazing how stupid even manages to survive the virus
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Old Jul 7, 2020, 11:43 pm
  #2277  
 
Join Date: Feb 2012
Posts: 4,477
Originally Posted by coolguy100
..."Covit 19 can't stop you guys from coming...you guys are doing money laundering, scamming, fraud.... WM corporate headquarter has been alerted"
Yes, that's very offensive. People get fired for much milder mistakes. This probably deserves a writen complaint on paper to the store GM -- those are taken more seriously than even the same complaint in any electronic format.
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Old Jul 8, 2020, 12:51 pm
  #2278  
 
Join Date: Mar 2005
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Posts: 6,438
Originally Posted by MaxVO
Yes, that's very offensive. People get fired for much milder mistakes. This probably deserves a writen complaint on paper to the store GM -- those are taken more seriously than even the same complaint in any electronic format.
I take a much more laid back approach. if I am not going to see this person again, or if I can avoid them I strictly ignore them.

I would much prefer remaining in the background and not pointing lights on my activity, to be honest.
radonc1 is online now  
Old Jul 8, 2020, 2:06 pm
  #2279  
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Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Florida
Posts: 29,760
Originally Posted by MaxVO
How did you end up fixing the error -- swiped the 4th card or brought $500 cash?
The only way to fix the error without getting a manager to involve (much more complicated) is to give the drawer the shorted cash. I know because this happened to me a few years ago at a WMNM. Although when I pointed the error out the cashier immediately realized it. I went to my bank branch across the intersection to get the $500 cash back to the store (so I did not have to pay the ATM fee by using the machine inside WMNM). Yes, honesty always is the best policy. Proven again today at a grocery store.
ChrisFlyer66, MaxVO and cuthroat like this.
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Old Jul 8, 2020, 8:24 pm
  #2280  
 
Join Date: Jan 2010
Programs: Hilton Diamond, Marriott/SPG Platinum
Posts: 496
Originally Posted by radonc1
I take a much more laid back approach. if I am not going to see this person again, or if I can avoid them I strictly ignore them.

I would much prefer remaining in the background and not pointing lights on my activity, to be honest.
I will take the same approach...walk away if this person only is there, he doesn't have any issue if another WM associate is providing the service to MSers, he just doesn't want to do it himself. The store manager allows VGC, nothing this guy can do about it, but it is difficult to force him to do something he is not willing to do.
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