When buying with agiro postal, you may want to know if your payment was received and redeemed by the person it was intended for. It is possible to keep track of money orders, but it may require a little effort and a little money.
How Money Order Tracking Works
Unlike personal checks, money orders are not directly linked to your personal bank account; she often buys them with cash (although some places accept a debit card). If you pay with cash, you will not see a money order clearing indication in your bank transaction history. However, you can track money order payments by submitting a request to the money order issuer.
payment order tracking
There are different ways to track different payment orders.
- United States Postal Service (USPS): Deliveronline formand pay a small fee if it's lost or stolen.You can also visit a post office near you.
- MoneyGram: Complete theonline form, call the MoneyGram Customer Service Center at 1-800-926-9400 or visit the nearest MoneyGram office.
- Western Union: Call 1-800-999-9660 or fill one outonline formand pay up to $15 in handling fees.
We will go into more information about each of these options below.
make your order
After about 30 days, the issuer typically sends a copy of the endorsed money order (showing who cashed or deposited it and when) or a notice that the money order has not yet been cashed. If the money order is pending, you may have an opportunity to do socancel and get a refund. The exact process varies from issuer to issuer.
Gather the necessary information
If you purchase a money order, you should receive a receipt with the order details. To track the transaction, you must provide the money order number and the amount of the order. You can probably use the service's website to see the status of the money order. Just enter the serial number and the amount spent. For money orders issued by a US Post Office, you will also need the office number.
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Take a photo or copy the money order so you have the information if you need to track it.
pay service fees
Tracking a money order can be time consuming and expensive if you think the money order has been lost or stolen. USPS charges a processing fee of $6.95 to replace a lost or stolen money order. Other issuers charge up to $15 or more to investigate possible lost or stolen payments and issue refunds (if necessary).You may also have to fill out forms, sometimes in person, and you may not get a response (let alone a refund) for 30 days or more.
Contact the recipient
If possible, contact the person to whom you sent the money order. Sometimes individuals and businesses do not process payment orders immediately and it may take longer for funds to deposit once received. It may be easier to get information directly from your beneficiary than to fill out forms.
consider waiting
It may be worth waiting at least two weeks after sending a payment before sending and canceling a money order. Most of the letters reach their destination in a few days, but for some reason the paymentsto appearto move slower. This process may take even longer on holidays and weekends. Also, your recipient might be busy or away when the payment arrived. That being said, if something seems suspicious, it's wise to seek answers quickly.
USPS Money Orders
If you used a USPS money order, you must go to a post office and fill out a money order request. You can also check the status of themoney order online. To complete both forms, you will need your original purchase receipt, which shows the money order number, amount, and information about the post office where you made the purchase.
USPS charges $6.95 to investigate a money order. It can take anywhere from 30-60 days to process and once the money order has been cashed or deposited, you will receive a copy of the front and back of the document. With this information, you can tell where the money ultimately went.
If you can't wait that long, there may be some unofficial "workarounds" you can use to determine if the money order has been cashed or deposited. For example, try the post office inquiry phone or use thepayment order statusFill out the form and check if the item "does not match".
However, the information you receive may not be reliable as the system is not designed to do what it is trying to do. The only way to know for sure is to use Form 6401 and wait.
MoneyGram Money Orders
Tracking a MoneyGram money order is a bit easier. Call or use the MoneyGram Customer Service Center at 1-800-926-9400MoneyGram Online Form.You must provide your money order number and exact dollar amount; The system should tell you if the item has been redeemed or not.If you do not have the transaction number,you have to fill out a formand visit a MoneyGram branch near you.
If the money order has been honored and you want a copy of the endorsed money order, or if you need to file a claim, you can do so by completing aclaim card, pay $18 and allow 15-30 days for a response by mail.
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If you don't have your money order number, you may have to pay an additional fee and fill out another form to get the information you need. You can also request these services in person to ensure the process goes smoothly.
western union money orders
Western Union's process is similar to MoneyGram's. Beforefill formsand pay the fees, verify that the money order has been accepted by calling 1-800-999-9660.
If you need a copy of the paid money order and do not have a receipt, you can fill it out and mail itPayment instructions request form. You pay a $30 administrative fee for the copy.Do not send your copy request until the recipient has processed your money order, unless you want to cancel the money order. Western Union may take six to eight weeks to respond to you. At this point, depending on the status of your money order, you will either receive a photocopy, a refund, or Western Union will inform you that the money order could not be found.
The online money order customer inquiry form can also help you if you believe your money order has been lost, stolen, unused, unreceived, or destroyed.
Other money order issuers
Many money orders issued at supermarkets, convenience stores, and check cashing stores areWestern Unionor MoneyGram money orders. If your money order was issued by an organization that isn't already covered here (like your bank or credit union), there's still a good chance you can trace it. It might even be easier, especially if you're banking at a small institution. Instead of filling out forms, a simple phone call might be enough.
Track and redeem the payment instructions you've received
If you receive a payment by money order, your bank handles the logistical processing of the payment. You can deposit the payment into your bank account as usualdeposit a check or cash the money order.
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If you are concerned that a money order you have received may be fraudulent, contact the issuer of the money order and discuss your concerns. It is possible to verify the funds of the payment, or at least find out if it is a known fake.
Do not spend the money until you are sure the funds have cleared.The clearing process can take a few weeks, even with your bankFunds Availability Policyallows you to use the money immediately. If you use the money and the money order turns out to be a fake, the bank will ask you to pay the money back.
Ideally, if you accept payment by money order, you know who you're dealing with. But money orders allow for anonymous payments, for better or worse. Law enforcement officials may need to be involved if you need help investigating criminal activity (and they may not be able to help).
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
How do you redeem a money order?
Many of the places that cash checks also initiate money orders, e.g. B. Banks, credit unions and supermarkets. You will need to endorse the money order and show your identification, and you may have to pay a fee.
How much does a money order cost?
Wire transfer fees vary depending on the company and the size of the order, but are typically less than $2 per $1,000 sent. For example, in January 2022, USPS charged $1.45 for money orders up to $500 and $1.95 for orders between $500 and $1,000.
How long is a money order valid?
Money orders generally do not have an expiration date, so they are technically good forever, but fees may apply if a money order is not honored within a certain period of time.