Almost every Walmart has a MoneyCenter area where you can do many things related to money.
Whether you need to pull money from an ATM, cash a check, or perform more complex exchanges, you can usually do what you need at a MoneyCenter.
One service you may need is to cash a money order or buy one.
Here’s what you need to know about whether Walmart handles money orders or not.
Does Walmart Do Money Orders?
Yes, Walmart does handle money orders.
You can either purchase a money order or cash one at their MoneyCenters.
Because they’re also partnered with Western Union and MoneyGram, it’s possible to send your money order internationally as well.
Keep in mind that Walmart does charge you a $1 fee for cashing and purchasing a money order.
That’s how they generate money for their service.
If you need to cash, purchase, or send a money order, then you can do so at Walmart.
Does Walmart Cash Money Orders?
Yes, Walmart cashes money orders.
If you received a money order and you’re not sure where to cash it, then you can head to your local Walmart.
As long as your Walmart has a MoneyCenter, they can cash your money order for you.
Even if your Walmart doesn’t have a MoneyCenter, you can likely receive help at a customer service desk.
To cash your money order, you’ll need to bring a government ID.
This proves that you are who you say you are and that the money order is for you.
Once the customer service representative checks your ID, they’ll cash the money order and give you your money.
Keep in mind that you’ll need to pay a $1 fee to cash your money order.
Walmart makes it simple and easy to cash a money order.
Do You Need An ID To Cash And Purchase Money Orders At Walmart?
If you intend to purchase a money order for $1,000 or more, you’ll need an ID.
That’s because the US Postal Service only allows money orders of $1,000.
If you want to send any more, you can still do so, but you will need to show your ID first.
Showing your ID proves your identity and that you have the right to spend your funds.
It’s essentially a way to stop fraud.
You’ll also need an ID to cash a money order.
Some Walmart stores might not ask for an ID when cashing small amounts.
If you have a large order, on the other hand, then you can expect them to ask for your ID.
A driver’s license is a suitable form of identification.
How Do You Get A Money Order At Walmart?
If you’ve never taken out a money order before, then you may wonder how to do it at Walmart.
Here are the steps you should follow to purchase a money order at Walmart.
1. Find The MoneyCenter Or Customer Service Desk
To start your purchase, you’ll need to go to the right area of Walmart first.
In most stores, you should have a MoneyCenter.
This is where you can buy money orders.
If your Walmart doesn’t have a MoneyCenter, then you should go to the customer service desk.
In most cases, they should still be able to help you purchase a money order.
Once you’re inside the MoneyCenter, you’ll find either a machine that lets you purchase a money order or an associate.
2. Purchase The Amount That You Need
At this point, you’ll need to tell the representative or machine the amount that you need.
If you need to pay rent, then it’s the rental amount.
You can think of taking out a money order like purchasing an item.
You’re buying the money order in the amount that you need it for.
If your rent is $800, then you need to purchase a money order for $800.
If you want to send someone $500, then you need to purchase a money order for $500.
Once you know the amount that you need, either type it into the machine or tell the representative.
3. Complete Fields
You have to fill in a few fields to complete the money order.
Besides the payment amount, it needs the recipient’s name and your name.
You’ll also need to put your bank on the form.
Once you’ve filled out all the fields, the machine or representative will process your order.
4. Pay The Service Fee
Before your order is ready, you’ll need to pay $1 for the money order.
You can pay the fee with almost any payment method.
Personal checks and credit cards are not traditionally accepted methods of payment.
However, you can pay in cash, with a debit card, or even with PayPal.
5. Deliver The Money Order
Once you pay the service fee and the order is ready, you can either deliver it in person or send it to the recipient.
If you need to send it, then the MoneyCenter at Walmart can help with that, too.
Western Union can send the money order even to international locations.
However, if you are sending it internationally, it’s important to know if the recipient has access to MoneyGram on their end.
If they don’t, then they’re not going to be able to cash their money order.
That’s because Walmart uses MoneyGram to handle its money orders.
Otherwise, you can hand your money order to the recipient the next time that you see them.
They’ll cash it to complete the transaction.
Can You Get A Refund For Your Money Order At Walmart?
There may come a time when you purchase a money order only to find out that you don’t need one.
The recipient may decide that they prefer a check or a digital method of payment instead.
They might change the price on you, which means you need to either purchase a higher money order or get your money back.
Whatever the reason, you may find yourself needing a refund.
Walmart allows you to refund your money order as long as you have your receipt.
The receipt needs to be whole and undamaged.
It also needs to clearly state your information and how much you purchased.
For example, you don’t want to accidentally dip your receipt in soda or sauce.
As long as your receipt is clear and undamaged, and they can read it, you can get a refund on your money order.
They’ll take the money order and you’ll receive your refund through whatever means you prefer.
In most cases, they’ll either give you cash as a refund or load it onto your debit card.
If you paid through PayPal, then your money should return to your PayPal balance.
Walmart makes it easy to receive a refund on your money order as long as you have the receipt.
Should You Keep Your Money Order Receipt From Walmart?
When you purchase a money order, you’ll receive a receipt.
This receipt is vital if you ever find yourself needing a refund.
As such, it’s a good idea to hold onto the receipt.
You can also use the receipt as proof of your expenses when you do your taxes.
If you don’t want to hold onto your receipt forever, however, then you should wait until you receive confirmation that the recipient cashed their money order.
Only once they have their money and the transaction is complete is it safe to get rid of your receipt.
Since the receipt has important information on it, it’s a good idea to shred it and block out information on it before throwing it away.
Otherwise, you should consider keeping and storing your receipts in a safe place for your records.
What Should You Do If You Filled Out A Money Order At Walmart But No Longer Need It?
There are two things you can do if you filled out a money order at Walmart but no longer need the money order, itself.
The first is to get a refund.
If you have your receipt, then you’re good to go.
You can also try to cash it at a teller.
If you have your ID with you, then you can explain the situation to them.
Since you were the one who paid for the money order, they’ll likely cash the order for you, provided you have identification.
If you can’t prove that you’re the one who bought the money order, then they likely can’t help you.
At that stage, a refund is your only option.
Can You Send A Money Order From Walmart Outside Of The United States?
If you need to send a money order out of the United States, then you may be unsure if the store can help you.
Technically, yes, Walmart can send money orders outside of the United States, but there are stipulations.
First, you need to check with the recipient to determine if their financial institution allows deposits from MoneyGram.
If not, then you may need to use another business for your money order.
You can also use Western Union to wire money to the recipient instead.
You should also determine the policies that the financial institution has for its deposits.
For example, how long does it take to cash the deposit?
If it’s too long, then you may run into trouble with the recipient who expected your payment on a certain date.
Finally, your biggest concern is currency exchanges.
For example, if you’re sending money to a country that doesn’t use US dollars, then it’s going to go through some form of conversion to that country’s currency.
If the country’s currency has a higher value than the US dollar, then your amount isn’t going to be what the recipient asked for.
It’s going to be a certain number of dollars short.
On the other hand, if the country has a currency that’s valued lower than the US dollar, you may end up sending them more money than you intended to.
This might be ideal if you’re sending money back to your family, but it’s less ideal if you’re overpaying for a service or product.
While Walmart can handle foreign money orders, you need to check a few things before sending one out of the country.
Can You Check Your Money Order Status At Walmart?
After purchasing and sending out a money order, you may wonder if the recipient cashed it yet or not.
Luckily, there is a way that you can check your status.
Walmart has two options for checking your money order status.
The first is to call the customer service line at 1-800-542-3590.
It’s an automated line, so you’ll need to be ready to give the robot the information it needs.
In particular, you’ll need your money order number and how much the money order was for.
You can find your money order number on your receipt.
Besides that, you can also visit the MoneyGram website.
Like with the call, you’ll need your money order number and the amount you purchased it for to track it.
The status will inform you whether the recipient has cashed it or not.
What Do You Do If Someone Stole Your Money Order From Walmart?
Money orders are one of the safest ways to transfer money to someone.
However, because it’s a piece of paper, someone may be able to steal it.
When this happens, you may have some concern that the person is going to cash the money instead.
This is unlikely since only the recipient can cash the money order.
However, you’re still out of money since you used it to pay for the money order in the first place.
If someone stole your money order that you got from Walmart, then the best thing to do is to report it to MoneyGram.
You can go on their website and fill out a claim.
One of their representatives will help you determine your next steps.
If you have your receipt, then you can also choose to go to a MoneyCenter and get a refund.
Should You Use A Money Order Or A Check?
Thanks to technology, the need for money orders has decreased.
However, they still offer some advantages over paying in other forms like personal checks or even debit cards.
Here are a few reasons you should use a money order.
1. Easier To Carry Than Cash
One of the advantages of a money order is that it replaces cash.
No one likes to carry a lot of cash on them.
A money order replaces a stack of cash with a simple piece of paper.
Not only is it safer to carry around, but it’s also lighter.
If you end up putting it in an envelope, then you don’t have to worry about how flushed it looks.
Cash, on the other hand, can flush out the envelope and make it obvious what’s inside.
2. Safer
Money orders are also generally safer.
Only the recipient can cash it, which means even if the money order gets stolen, the thief has no way to cash it.
As long as you have your receipt, you can always get your money back.
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