A question about postal money orders

[Ale-8(1)]

Perhaps some of our USPS employee members can shed some light on this.

Are USPS money orders permanently recorded by sender/recipient? Our personal checking accounts and credit card transactions are readily examined essentially forever by anyone with "proper authority" and I was wondering about the money orders. I see no personal identification recording activity at the point of purchase, and I am embarrassed to admit I have not paid attention when cashing one to see what is done at that point. Are they entered into a data base or physically filed or just thrown away after "cancellation"?

Anybody?

:mrgreen:

 

[speedsixman]

Not sure, but I think you could send one without any name at all entered in the "To" of "From" area and it would go through OK.
The only tracking is pretty much by the number, which they can check to see if it was cashed or not. That probably shows the locations it was cashed and where it was sent, but I don't know if they have that much info.

Myron

 

[RonEgg]

I cashed one the other day and had to record my drivers license number.

 

[stefko]

I worked for USPS for well over 30 years. In that time I sold and cashed many money orders.
No identifying information is required for the purchase of a money order.
Recording a driver's license number or other form of identification protects the postal employee from liability. It simply confirms that the employee verified that the intended payee is the one that received the funds. Known customers are not necessarily required to present ID and have that information recorded.
As to the ultimate disposition of cashed money order forms, I couldn't say. In this age of omni-present big brother government, I would put nothing past them.
Caveat emptor.

Steve

 

[blume357]

Sounds like they are just a form of cash.... and simple I.D. is all that is required to cash....

on a side note.... I discovered the absolute worse way to transfer money is by certified bank check if the check is lost.... takes at least 30 days and a notarized form from the person you had the check written to to get the money back.

 

[Salmoneye]

I have never 'cashed' a mail order...

I have always deposited them in the bank, in which case they are treated just like checks being deposited...

 

[Ale-8(1)]

I have never 'cashed' a mail order...

I have always deposited them in the bank, in which case they are treated just like checks being deposited...

My bank won't cash them. Don't know if this is a local bank procedure or what. They refer me to the Post Office a half-block down the street. Also don't know if they'd grudgingly deal with one if I insisted. I understand the difference between "cashing" and "depositing" and I never considered that with money orders.

I'd assume that if deposited in a bank a photo-copy would appear in your statement just like other deposit slips, thus becoming a part of your "permanent record".

 

[Mike Armstrong]

My bank cashes them with "only" my debit card being swiped. Of course that debit card contains a passel of info about me.... Other places have required a picture ID (DL or state senior ID card). I've used PMOs all my "adult" life and never had a single problem with them. That's almost 60 years and a LOT of PMOs.

 

[Rick Courtright]

My bank won't cash them. Don't know if this is a local bank procedure or what. They refer me to the Post Office a half-block down the street. Also don't know if they'd grudgingly deal with one if I insisted. I understand the difference between "cashing" and "depositing" and I never considered that with money orders.

Hi,

I deposited them for years at the bank with no problems. Then I opened a credit union account, and tried to deposit one that was a couple of years old. (I'd put it away "for later" when it came in, and it got a bit dusty!) Postal money orders have no expiration date, but the teller tried to tell me it was stale dated (over six months old) and wouldn't take it.

I went home, called the credit union's main office and had a short, but nice enough, discussion with the lady on the line about this, and she told me to take it back and deposit it. Apparently between the time I called and the time I got back to the CU, they'd gotten the message, because I haven't had any problems since with other "older" MOs.

Cashing them outright could be a different thing, though, regardless of where you try. USPS keeps a list of serial numbers to check for theft, forgeries and such, and while I understand the banks can access it, in typical governmental fashion it's a difficult process, so many don't like to simply cash them. A problem with cashing them at the PO is getting there at a time they've got enough cash to cover them. It's been a long time, and perhaps the procedure's changed, but when I was with the PO, we started the day with only $20 paper currency in our drawer--and no backup in the safe. So if someone came in to cash a money order early in the day, and we hadn't been too busy, sometimes we'd have to ask them to come back later. That seldom went over well! Since so much of their business is on credit/debit cards today, I don't know how they handle the amounts of cash on hand now.

Rick C

 

[Salmoneye]

I have never 'cashed' a mail order...

I have always deposited them in the bank, in which case they are treated just like checks being deposited...

My bank won't cash them. Don't know if this is a local bank procedure or what. They refer me to the Post Office a half-block down the street. Also don't know if they'd grudgingly deal with one if I insisted. I understand the difference between "cashing" and "depositing" and I never considered that with money orders.

I'd assume that if deposited in a bank a photo-copy would appear in your statement just like other deposit slips, thus becoming a part of your "permanent record".

Exact opposite here...

PO will not 'cash' a MO over $100, as they do not carry huge amounts of cash on hand...

 

[Bear Paw Jack]

Quote {It's been a long time, and perhaps the procedure's changed, but when I was with the PO, we started the day with only $20 paper currency in our drawer--and no backup in the safe. So if someone came in to cash a money order early in the day, and we hadn't been too busy, sometimes we'd have to ask them to come back later. That seldom went over well!}

I don't know how much they start with and maybe I go to a busier post office but I seldom have problems cashing a PMO regardless of size although it does happen on occasion.
I've cashed some sizeable money orders at the post office, but I usually wait till late afternoon. I seldom take a PMO to the bank. I prefer doing business with cash.

 

[Ale-8(1)]

It occurs to me that perhaps banks wouldn't like to deal with USPS money orders because then the bank itself would have to go deal with the post office to "cash" them. Extra effort, extra hassle. I could even see a bank charging a "processing fee" for dealing with them.

Maybe?

 

[Blackmore]

My locally owned bank I've done business with for nearly 4 decades cashes them for me without a blink. If it's over $40.00 I don't even try to get our little post office to cash one.

 

[JohnBoy]

Ale(8)-1 - A purchaser or endorsee may make inquiry on any domestically issued USPS Money Order regarding payment at any time. I do not believe either the purchaser or payee are recorded. IIRC, a completed Form 6401 - and a fee - are necessary for inquiry.

Depending on the amount of the money order purchased - or presented for payment - identification may be required. The USPS has specific policies in regard to the dollar amount purchased/presented. In a nutshell, increasing proof of identity, documentation and/or procedures are required at the following thresholds: $1,000, $3,000, and $10,000.

The most accurate answer to your question would depend on the amount of the money order.

 

[welder]

My little post office cashes the smaller ones for me and my bank let's me deposit them with nary a word. I've not tried to cash one at the bank. My PO clerk told me that if I had a large MO and needed to cash it though, that I could do it on a Thursday or Friday afternoon. Seems that's the local poultry plant pay day and the workers send a bunch of money down South somewhere.

 

[Ale-8(1)]

" . . . down south somewhere."

Gee . . . let me guess where . . .

 

[welder]

Bet you only need one guess and you'd be correct.

 

[rvblk82]

Not sure, but I think you could send one without any name at all entered in the "To" of "From" area and it would go through OK.
The only tracking is pretty much by the number, which they can check to see if it was cashed or not. That probably shows the locations it was cashed and where it was sent, but I don't know if they have that much info.

Myron

this FIRST name is familiar, did you used to play fast pitch? If so, I might have worked for you. I subbed for Rex.