USPS money order question?

Bigfattyt

Bigfattyt

Gold Member
Joined
Jun 23, 2007
Messages
19,253
Hi all,

Just a quick question. I am in a bit of a panic here.

I just bought and sent a money order.

Problem. I did not even think to send it tracking, insured, or signature required?

Also, I did not even really look at the thing. I just took it, and stuffed it into an envelope and sent it on its way.

Was I supposed to write on it who it was to?

I have no idea. I don't really use Money Orders all that much?



Help, I am freaking out. I still have the receipt, but I can't believe I just sent basically $500 in an envelope with out thinking about it.

I sent a Knife right before that, and made sure it was insured etc.

I might have been a bit distracted by the fact that I was late for taking my two kids (4 months and 5 years) to the doctors office.


Any help from those who know. Did I screw up? Is the gentleman even going to be able to cash it when it arrives if I forgot to fill something out?

Is some tool going to be able steal it and cash it without any way for me, or the person I sent it to, to recover the money?

Just a side note, I am not worried at all about the recipient, he is totally rock solid, if it actually makes it to him, then all is good, no problems or worries.

Thanks.

BigT
 
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I know that some people do track/del. conf when they send MO, but I never botehred, just used regular mail. Never had a problem.

I do think you were supposed to put the recipients name on it, don't know if he will have any problems without that.
 
resinguy said:
I know that some people do track/del. conf when they send MO, but I never botehred, just used regular mail. Never had a problem.

I do think you were supposed to put the recipients name on it, don't know if he will have any problems without that.
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I for sure did not fill anything out on it. Nor did I tear off any portion to keep.

I sent the recipient a couple of emails. Hopefully he will know more. I may have to try and cancel the old one and re send a new one? I only have the purchase receipt.

Thanks for the response?

I know one of the old hogs on here worked at the post office for a long time.

Any other advice?
 
Not to beat you up, but the problem with not filling it out is that it is free money for anyone who might open the envelope (postal employee, neighbor who happens to get the letter). Most likely you will be fine. I also learned that the post office takes NO RESPONSIBILITY for the PMO unless you also buy insurance on it. SO technically you are supposed to buy 500 dollar insurance on the money order also. I don't personally have much confidence that their insurance is worth anything either, but that is just me.

Again, you should be fine. There will be no problem on the other end cashing it.

Doc
 
I never track confirm M.O.'s only when sending only items.
You really want to fill out the M.O. to the sender and your info, The tab up top is for your records, I always write in somewhere what I bought just as a reminder to myself. Seeing that it is blank anyone could write in their address and cash it in. I always cover up the contents of the money order with some Post office swag like the change of address labels one in front and one in back, might be excessive but you can never be cautious enough when it comes to money.
Hopefully the person you sent it to will take care of it for you and all will be ok.
Best of luck
 
money orders are similar to cash, they do not need a name on it to be redeemed. When the person you sent it to receives it, they can write their own name on it and cash it. If it were opened in the mail process, it would act as cash and could be stolen.

As long as you're sending it to someone who is reputable they will send you your purchased goods and all will be will.

If they do not - you could use the ticket stub attached to the money order to retrieve the money via a mail fraud filing with the u.s. post office.

If you did not keep the stub from the money order, then you've basically just sent cash. If it was to a specific person, I would suggest sending them a message saying whats happened so they know what the money order is for when it's received. if it's to a large company I would suggest asking them whether they can still accept it when they receive it, (if not, can they forward it back to you), and if all else fails just take the stub to the post office and see what they can do about it.
 
=MAX= said:
I never track confirm M.O.'s only when sending only items.
You really want to fill out the M.O. to the sender and your info, The tab up top is for your records, I always write in somewhere what I bought just as a reminder to myself. Seeing that it is blank anyone could write in their address and cash it in. I always cover up the contents of the money order with some Post office swag like the change of address labels one in front and one in back, might be excessive but you can never be cautious enough when it comes to money.
Hopefully the person you sent it to will take care of it for you and all will be ok.
Best of luck
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Last Visible Canary said:
money orders are similar to cash, they do not need a name on it to be redeemed. When the person you sent it to receives it, they can write their own name on it and cash it. If it were opened in the mail process, it would act as cash and could be stolen.

As long as you're sending it to someone who is reputable they will send you your purchased goods and all will be will.

If they do not - you could use the ticket stub attached to the money order to retrieve the money via a mail fraud filing with the u.s. post office.

If you did not keep the stub from the money order, then you've basically just sent cash. If it was to a specific person, I would suggest sending them a message saying whats happened so they know what the money order is for when it's received. if it's to a large company I would suggest asking them whether they can still accept it when they receive it, (if not, can they forward it back to you), and if all else fails just take the stub to the post office and see what they can do about it.
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I did not fill it out, and more importantly I did not keep the stub!!!!! Man, what a Rube I am.

The member I sent it to is beyond question when it comes to stuff like this. I could send him straight cash on anything without him sending the item first and never think about it. It is just if some one else gets it now, I have no way to fix it. Then I will be out the money, and have to re send more.

That is what I am worried about (that anyone else will open it). That some schmuck will grab it and free. I can't believe I sent it without filling it out or even looking at it.



Does anyone know if they will cancel one with just the purchase receipt. I think it looks like the receipt has the number below what it is for.

If I could just cancel it, and re send a new one actually filled out, I would be happy.
 
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Contact the PO you bought it from and see if they have a cancellation protocol for the MO .... you might get lucky if they do .... however if not then you have to trust to statistics that most mail will reach it's destination .... good luck that it turns out OK ....
 
I think you are ok. Very unlikely that anyone other than the person you sent it too will get and open it. They could lose it and then someone else would cash it after filling in their name and address. But even that is unlikely.

Oh, that reminds me, I didn't get your $500 MO, would you please send another one and I'll send off your knife right away. I mean right away.

Don't worry, you're probably fine. I think they CAN track the MO once it is cashed and trace out any funny business back down the line.
 
Hammer27 said:
If I get a MO sent to one address can I cash it at another location?
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if it's a postal money order it can be cashed at any bank (though they bank may require that you have an account with them to cash checks).

I don't think you can cancel a money order via the receipt, but it's possible if the receipt has the money order number on it. Money orders act like checks written by the u.s. post office to whomever your sending it too, and as such it comes with an account code. If you know the account code and can prove you purchased it, they may have a separate form available for canceling the m.o.
 
Did the P.O. give you a receipt for the transaction? The M.O. number should be on there. Be in touch with the guy on the other end, and tell him to contact you as soon as it is received. You always should fill in the name of the party it was sent to, and your info as the sender. Keep the top part of the M.O. as your receipt. TC
 
You'll probably be ok but you did just send cash thru the mail. Cash and MO's are notorious for going missing. I don't know how, but they are picked off pretty easily. (This from personal experience after sending them weekly to a family member for months)

This is a good thread to remind everyone to completely fill out both your name and address and the recipients name and address. The recipients name (you filled in) must match the ID of the person cashing it.
Also be sure to fill out the recipients name and address on the top portion of the MO that you tear off and keep. Staple that and the reciept together until the deal is sealed on both ends. The receipt does have the MO # on it and the amount it was for.
You cannot purchase insurance for a MO per the USPS.

It doesn't hurt to send a MO with a high $ amount in a priority mail mailer with Signature Confirmation.
 
WOW, Dude. Yes, you are supposed to fill out who it is to, and then tear off your part which you need in order to file a claim in case it is lost.

What you've done is give the person it was sent to a free 500.00 dollar envelope with no recourse in case he decides to claim he never got it.

My best wishes in hopes the person it is going to decides to do the honorable thing....

Best, Les.
 
lsheldon said:
WOW, Dude. Yes, you are supposed to fill out who it is to, and then tear off your part which you need in order to file a claim in case it is lost.


What you've done is give the person it was sent to a free 500.00 dollar envelope with no recourse in case he decides to claim he never got it.

My best wishes in hopes the person it is going to decides to do the honorable thing....

Best, Les.
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No, that is not what I am worried about at all. It is going to a completely upstanding guy. I would send him cash with no receipts or concern any day of the week.

The only, only, thing I am worried about is if some one steals it from his mail, or it gets lost in the mail, etc. There will be no way to fix it.


It hit me once I got home (after the kiddies DR appointment) that I never filled anything out, or tore off any part.
 
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Soulrack223 said:
You'll probably be fine. What were you so excited to get, if you don't mind telling?
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I was in a hurry to get out of the PO and take my two kids to a Doctors appointment. We were cutting it very close, and my wife had called to see where we were at.
 
It sounds like you will be fine then, hopefully. Assuming that no one can see that it is a money order in the envelope, then it should get there safely. It would be much better if it was sent with delivery or signature confirmation or registered but it is what it is.

The amount of mail that is lost or stolen is pretty small comparatively. Knowing that the person you mailed it to isn't going to be tempted to steal your money is a relief.

Let us know how things go...

Best, Les.



Bigfattyt said:
No, that is not what I am worried about at all. It is going to a completely upstanding guy. I would send him cash with no receipts or concern any day of the week.

The only, only, thing I am worried about is if some one steals it from his mail, or it gets lost in the mail, etc. There will be no way to fix it.


It hit me once I got home (after the kiddies DR appointment) that I never filled anything out, or tore off any part.
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I think that you'll be OK, but hold on to that receipt... It's better than nothing at all as far as proof goes.

I'm pretty chaotic when it comes to paperwork & filing, so years ago I made myself get into the habit of always stapling the USPS receipt to the MO stub or the insurance and tracking stubs ASAP to keep them together just in case I need to file a claim or show proof of mailing. It's a good habit to get into. :thumbup: ...Now, if I could just actually get into the practice of organized filing! :rolleyes::D

May your MO get to its intended recipient quickly. :)
 
I for sure did not fill anything out on it. Nor did I tear off any portion to keep.
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Yeah, don't do that. Always take the top half. You can get your $ back from a lost MO with that. And you can get your $ back with that PLUS a returned MO.

You should be fine, but you learned a valuable lesson. :)
 
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