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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 Nov 11, 2019, 5:57 am
  #1471  
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Join Date: Nov 1999
Posts: 24,153
Originally Posted by deker0
New DP: An old hag CSR at an NJ Wal-Mart angrily denied use of 2x$200 Staples VGCs for a M.O. She made it a point to state they were gift cards, did not have my name on them, and insisted the system would reject them. I asked another employee before I left and they basically said the same thing - "it's our policy to not accept those cards."

Well that so called old hag was correct and many Wallys I go to its a young hag that wants to see my card. The answer is simple dont use more then 1 card at a Wallys, which is my policy and I havent had any problems, now its nice as long as simon is helping out but once they leave the fold, it wont be worth running Wally to Wally

And if you think Wally in NJ is a problem theres a supermkt chain thats even worse, in alot of locations if you swipe the card instead of inserting it (after all all bank DCs have chips) they immediately CX the transaction and want to see the card, some wont even type in the info until they have the card in their hand

My point is the grass isnt always greener elsewhere and simply walk out come back after shift change and remember the women so next if shes there just turn around and walk out
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Old Nov 11, 2019, 1:22 pm
  #1472  
 
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Originally Posted by craz
Well that so called old hag was correct and many Wallys I go to its a young hag that wants to see my card. The answer is simple dont use more then 1 card at a Wallys, which is my policy and I havent had any problems, now its nice as long as simon is helping out but once they leave the fold, it wont be worth running Wally to Wally

And if you think Wally in NJ is a problem theres a supermkt chain thats even worse, in alot of locations if you swipe the card instead of inserting it (after all all bank DCs have chips) they immediately CX the transaction and want to see the card, some wont even type in the info until they have the card in their hand

My point is the grass isnt always greener elsewhere and simply walk out come back after shift change and remember the women so next if shes there just turn around and walk out

Yes, I believe that Wally is not a suitable location and they are actively checking and rejecting use of VGCs. So, that unfortunately leaves me in a lurch. Can't liquidate using WM MOs. Will need to think of a new strategy. Feel free to PM me if you're in the NY-NJ area for some ideas. Seems this region is very MS-unfriendly.
deker0 is offline  
Old Nov 11, 2019, 6:07 pm
  #1473  
 
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: DFW
Posts: 454
Originally Posted by ChrisFlyer66
I haven't personally talked to the CSR, but I know that all of the Walmarts in San Diego died off in the last few months. It's too bad, because San Diego used to be very MS friendly.
Word on the street is that people in San Diego don't like MS in San Diego talked about.
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Old Nov 11, 2019, 7:25 pm
  #1474  
 
Join Date: Feb 2013
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Went to Wally-mart to buy 2 x $999 MOs, provided ID (DL) as usual, and as soon as DL scanned, cashier stated "transaction not allowed" and shrugged her shoulders like she never saw that message before.

I presume this means MoneyGram has tracked my activity and it's too much for them?

I checked my MO purchase history, and I bought approx 26K in MOs at WM in the last 30 rolling days, where the total transaction was > $1K, necessitating my ID to be provided. Probably another 6 -8 K in MOs bought, under 1K, and no ID produced.

Am I banned for life from WM / MoneyGram for MO buys over $1K? Or wait 30+ days and try again?
fletchbo is offline  
Old Nov 11, 2019, 7:29 pm
  #1475  
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Originally Posted by fletchbo
Went to Wally-mart to buy 2 x $999 MOs, provided ID (DL) as usual, and as soon as DL scanned, cashier stated "transaction not allowed" and shrugged her shoulders like she never saw that message before.

I presume this means MoneyGram has tracked my activity and it's too much for them?

I checked my MO purchase history, and I bought approx 26K in MOs at WM in the last 30 rolling days, where the total transaction was > $1K, necessitating my ID to be provided. Probably another 6 -8 K in MOs bought, under 1K, and no ID produced.

Am I banned for life from WM / MoneyGram for MO buys over $1K? Or wait 30+ days and try again?
You’re dead, dude
beast7276 is offline  
Old Nov 11, 2019, 8:04 pm
  #1476  
 
Join Date: Dec 2010
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Originally Posted by beast7276
You’re dead, dude
go to a local grocery store, better than WM, Kroger’s Meijer
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Old Nov 11, 2019, 8:25 pm
  #1477  
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Originally Posted by beast7276
You’re dead, dude

not so, they can always do < 1K and for just 1, but multiple or 1k or more I agree taps have been sounded
craz is offline  
Old Nov 11, 2019, 8:27 pm
  #1478  
 
Join Date: Feb 2018
Posts: 165
Just go to service counter and ask how the big guys launder money like the rest of us. They'll help you.
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SideShowBob is offline  
Old Nov 11, 2019, 8:27 pm
  #1479  
 
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: DFW
Posts: 454
Moneygram banned... welcome to the club. I'll be there soon.
horseymen is offline  
Old Nov 12, 2019, 4:27 am
  #1480  
 
Join Date: Dec 2015
Posts: 40
Originally Posted by fletchbo
Went to Wally-mart to buy 2 x $999 MOs, provided ID (DL) as usual, and as soon as DL scanned, cashier stated "transaction not allowed" and shrugged her shoulders like she never saw that message before.

I presume this means MoneyGram has tracked my activity and it's too much for them?

I checked my MO purchase history, and I bought approx 26K in MOs at WM in the last 30 rolling days, where the total transaction was > $1K, necessitating my ID to be provided. Probably another 6 -8 K in MOs bought, under 1K, and no ID produced.

Am I banned for life from WM / MoneyGram for MO buys over $1K? Or wait 30+ days and try again?
cfpb them
DataPointCharlie is offline  
Old Nov 12, 2019, 5:17 am
  #1481  
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Join Date: Sep 1999
Location: New York, NY, USA
Posts: 12,475
Originally Posted by fletchbo
..........I checked my MO purchase history, and I bought approx 26K in MOs at WM in the last 30 rolling days, where the total transaction was > $1K, necessitating my ID to be provided. Probably another 6 -8 K in MOs bought, under 1K, and no ID produced...........
I am impressed that you have gotten this far.
TerryK is offline  
Old Nov 12, 2019, 7:15 am
  #1482  
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Join Date: Sep 2016
Posts: 198
Originally Posted by horseymen
Moneygram banned... welcome to the club. I'll be there soon.
you have to buy MOs in order to get banned, horsey
beast7276 is offline  
Old Nov 12, 2019, 9:49 am
  #1483  
 
Join Date: Mar 2005
Programs: Continental Onepass, Hilton, Marriott, USAir and now UA
Posts: 6,419
Originally Posted by fletchbo
Went to Wally-mart to buy 2 x $999 MOs, provided ID (DL) as usual, and as soon as DL scanned, cashier stated "transaction not allowed" and shrugged her shoulders like she never saw that message before.

I presume this means MoneyGram has tracked my activity and it's too much for them?

I checked my MO purchase history, and I bought approx 26K in MOs at WM in the last 30 rolling days, where the total transaction was > $1K, necessitating my ID to be provided. Probably another 6 -8 K in MOs bought, under 1K, and no ID produced.

Am I banned for life from WM / MoneyGram for MO buys over $1K? Or wait 30+ days and try again?
We have a separate thread on this subject
Am I banned at Walmart
I recommend reading it. It does have suggestions as to whether you are or aren't banned and how to test for it.

Good luck!
radonc1 is offline  
Old Nov 12, 2019, 9:50 am
  #1484  
ogg
 
Join Date: Sep 2019
Posts: 317
Originally Posted by beast7276
you have to buy MOs in order to get banned, horsey
How do you know that? I did relatively few MOs but a lot of MG bps and got banned.
ogg is offline  
Old Nov 12, 2019, 12:58 pm
  #1485  
 
Join Date: Sep 2015
Posts: 47
stopped by to chat with the csr's at the MC to get a little more information about the sudden shutdown of MO's and loads with prepaid vgc. They basically told me (with almost certainty) that someone (one of the yellow vest supervisor) got fed up with customers arguing for their money back right away when a MO machine would throw a mood and freeze up the transaction.. If you're experienced enough you would know that the money eventually goes back to your card in a couple days but there were (noobs) people who insisted on getting their money back on the spot. The blame wasn't anyone who was considered a casual but it was def people who looked new to doing it and basically the supervisor got fed up of being called to the counter too many times. So yeah, that's the gist of it and i basically hate who ruined it for everyone
pao2dapao is offline  


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