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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 Dec 20, 2020, 2:39 pm
  #3091  
 
Join Date: Jan 2016
Posts: 369
Originally Posted by bbriscoe34
On that note, has anyone considered color printing a photocopy of your bank debit card with your name on an Avery label, then sticking it on the flat face of the MB GCs so it could pass the inspection test?
I've previously considered exactly that, but since I switched tactics, it's been a long time since anyone asked to see my card, but back then I used to resort to the old switcheroo to a bank card. If I had to, I doubt it would pass the test if you handed it to them, but I thought I might say - I BELIEVE IT'S A VIOLATION OF THE CARD AGREEMENT TO SHOW THE ACCOUNT NUMBER TO A THIRD PARTY. Then I would offer to cover part of the number with my finger and SHOW them the card, but not give it to them. Point out my name is on the card.
Whittaker is offline  
Old Dec 20, 2020, 2:45 pm
  #3092  
 
Join Date: Nov 2020
Posts: 28
WM MO do with Visa Meta

As usual I went to my nearby friendly WM 2x $200 meta Visa cards. 4 swipes, 99 each for a MO. Easy day.
titanicMS is offline  
Old Dec 20, 2020, 7:25 pm
  #3093  
 
Join Date: Dec 2020
Programs: Delta Diamond (MM) | Hertz President's Circle
Posts: 158
Originally Posted by greatpaul
A quick data point when using USB gift card. My $500 card was declined in WM yesterday and I had to call the phone on the back of the card, and the associate told me it's a new policy that for all purchase at Walmart, I'll have to register the card first (I doubt it's true given the fact so many people still do USB card here, but that's what she literally said).

She helped me registered the gift card, and I was able to purchase MO as usual.
What was the period of time from when you purchased the USB VGC and tried to drain it? If under 24 hours (timestamped from your purchase receipt), that is why it didn't work...

-b.
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Old Dec 20, 2020, 7:33 pm
  #3094  
 
Join Date: Dec 2020
Programs: Delta Diamond (MM) | Hertz President's Circle
Posts: 158
Originally Posted by bbriscoe34
How about real DPs?
(snipped...)

On that note, has anyone considered color printing a photocopy of your bank debit card with your name on an Avery label, then sticking it on the flat face of the MB GCs so it could pass the inspection test?
I used to do overlays for draining at Kroger but it became very tedious. It worked great though and only failed with the very few but super-insistent CSRs that asked to physically see the card. I also had a few want to see the back of the card and as soon as they saw the barcode, the gig was up.

I quit doing it once WM became a trouble-free playground for me (circa 2016). Always more scrutiny at Krogers and like places so WM just became the easy drain location.

-b.
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Old Dec 20, 2020, 8:26 pm
  #3095  
 
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: SoCal
Posts: 175
Originally Posted by Carrisco
USB VGCs have been updated in the last 3 months — they've stopped printing the PIN number as an insert and now use the last four of the card like many other gebits. They also place a sticker over the card number to stop the 'tampering, peeking and placing back on the display rack' type of fraud.
A small point of clarification: there are also USB gebits that don't use the last four digits as the PIN, but rather the PIN is listed on the sticker. I've also noticed differences in the stickers in that some come off quick and easy and others leave a lot of sticky residue, so much so that I didn't notice I had two cards stuck together in my wallet and almost jammed the machine when I swiped . There are so many different cards on offer in SoCal that I haven't kept track of which packaging contains which type.
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strummerjones is offline  
Old Dec 20, 2020, 8:27 pm
  #3096  
 
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: SoCal
Posts: 175
Originally Posted by titanicMS
was this for MO?
Yes
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strummerjones is offline  
Old Dec 20, 2020, 8:40 pm
  #3097  
 
Join Date: Jul 2008
Posts: 411
anyone has any experience with buying a MO in Harris Teether (Kroger affiliate)?
Is the Meta $99 swipe restriction for Walmart or all grocery stores selling MO's, like Kroger, Ralphs,etc.
mrahul is offline  
Old Dec 20, 2020, 9:16 pm
  #3098  
 
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: DFW
Posts: 684
Six friendly WM's within 15 miles of me. Two have strictly enforced the memo including my closest WM, dead. Going to miss some of those CSR's. The other four are still good. Not completely dead yet, but four stores left out of 18 WM stores that were friendly five years ago. The trend continues...
knopfler is offline  
Old Dec 20, 2020, 10:12 pm
  #3099  
 
Join Date: Jan 2012
Programs: DL, WoH
Posts: 1,253
Originally Posted by mrahul
anyone has any experience with buying a MO in Harris Teether (Kroger affiliate)?
Is the Meta $99 swipe restriction for Walmart or all grocery stores selling MO's, like Kroger, Ralphs,etc.
I live in harris teeter land. Metas work fine. Cost of MO is 99 cents up ti $500 western union. Kinda expensive, but good backup option
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Old Dec 21, 2020, 12:22 am
  #3100  
 
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: DEN
Programs: Hilton Diamond Hyatt Globalist Marriott Gold AA EXP
Posts: 1,014
Originally Posted by ricohitman
I live in harris teeter land. Metas work fine. Cost of MO is 99 cents up ti $500 western union. Kinda expensive, but good backup option
That's only 0.2% on $500. If you are working a SUB you should be getting 10-15% for $, and if regular MS like ODOM you are getting 5% on Ink Cash, though if single swipe that's only $200 per MO. Still 0.5% vs 5% return or 7% with DOSH cashback, I can live with. The value of My time per store visit is a bigger consideration than the 99 cents.
bbriscoe34 is offline  
Old Dec 21, 2020, 1:05 am
  #3101  
 
Join Date: Jul 2008
Posts: 411
Originally Posted by ricohitman
I live in harris teeter land. Metas work fine. Cost of MO is 99 cents up ti $500 western union. Kinda expensive, but good backup option
Thank you for your reply.
Is it a limit of 1 swipe per MO?
Are Meta visa GC limited to $99 swipe or they work for $200 / $500?
mrahul is offline  
Old Dec 21, 2020, 3:33 am
  #3102  
 
Join Date: Dec 2020
Programs: Delta Diamond (MM) | Hertz President's Circle
Posts: 158
Originally Posted by strummerjones
A small point of clarification: there are also USB gebits that don't use the last four digits as the PIN, but rather the PIN is listed on the sticker. I've also noticed differences in the stickers in that some come off quick and easy and others leave a lot of sticky residue, so much so that I didn't notice I had two cards stuck together in my wallet and almost jammed the machine when I swiped . There are so many different cards on offer in SoCal that I haven't kept track of which packaging contains which type.
You sure those aren't old stock still on the rack? My understanding is they moved ALL their cards to the sticker over the numbers and the pin being the last 4 of the card number...
Carrisco is offline  
Old Dec 21, 2020, 5:25 am
  #3103  
 
Join Date: Jan 2012
Programs: DL, WoH
Posts: 1,253
Originally Posted by mrahul
Thank you for your reply.
Is it a limit of 1 swipe per MO?
Are Meta visa GC limited to $99 swipe or they work for $200 / $500?
Ive swiped 7 staples rebate cards before on one MO. So yes i do 2xOD visas all the time. Cost is very low. Time factor suckd though, hitting a bunch of them. I have over a dozen in a 15 mile radius. They also sell USB visas up to $500
ricohitman is offline  
Old Dec 21, 2020, 8:21 am
  #3104  
 
Join Date: Aug 2018
Posts: 206
Originally Posted by Carrisco
USB VGCs have been updated in the last 3 months — they've stopped printing the PIN number as an insert and now use the last four of the card like many other gebits. They also place a sticker over the card number to stop the 'tampering, peeking and placing back on the display rack' type of fraud.

You still can't use them for 'full card value', PIN-based debit transactions within 24 hours of buying them or within 24 hours of changing your PIN online, however (basically all MS activity...) A simple method of buying and tagging them with time/date stamps keeps you from hassles with this.

Before hitting my 2020 goal, I was 90% USB VGC for my MS and it was smooth as butter if following the system above.

-b.
Ok, so USB visas work the same as metas now? Buy the gebit at Kroger, go to WM a few mins away, swipe card for amount and enter last 4 numbers?
geoff325 is offline  
Old Dec 21, 2020, 8:47 am
  #3105  
 
Join Date: Sep 2014
Posts: 1,837
Originally Posted by geoff325
Ok, so USB visas work the same as metas now? Buy the gebit at Kroger, go to WM a few mins away, swipe card for amount and enter last 4 numbers?
ymmv, mine still has the card with pin
lumangoy is offline  


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