I have in the past recommended using USPS money orders for purchases but after a recent incident I will no longer do that. I sent a deposit to a cuemaker some time ago and he received the first one. One month later I sent a second deposit. I did not contact him at the time because we have done many transactions in the past with no problems. Also I did not wish to be a pest calling him needlessly for updates or pictures of the cue in progress. Just the other day he called to let me know the cue was nearing completion and he asked for the final payment, I asked for the total and it was more than expected. When I asked him about the second deposit he stated he never received it! This is where it gets very sticky for me and the cuemaker. When I went to the local post office with my receipt and the section of the money order with the registration number on it. I was in for a shock. The post office told me I would have to start an investigation to discover if the money order has been cashed. They then charged me a fee for this service and went on to explain it could take anywhere from 1 to 4 weeks to find out if it had been cashed!! I told them my bank can check the status of a check in minutes but they said sorry charlie.. When I got home I called the USPS and got even more bad news the person there said it could take up to 2 months!! Needless to say the cuemaker has checked all his accounts and is adamant he did not cash or receive the second check, so it has turned into a mess. My issue is that IMO the postal service should be able to track there money orders with the check number way quicker that 1 to 2 months but apparently they cannot or are unwilling and unable. The cuemaker and I are have agreed to let them work on the problem for a while and see if they can find out anything but I WILL NEVER USE USPS MONEY ORDERS AGAIN!!!
USPS Money Order NIGHTMARE!
- Thread starter Quesports
- Start date
Wow, that's amazing. I knew that the USPS was somewhat inefficient but 2 months to determine if a check was cashed is truly a record. I feel for you and thanks for posting this thread - it's an eye-opener.
I am surprised that people still advocate or use money orders at all. Their quality as a negotiable instrument is questionable. They are notoriously one of the least secure/reliable ways to handle transactions. They are in fact far from the safest way to send or receive money.
Everything with money orders takes longer and because of the Bank Secrecy Act and since the Patriot Act the problem is worsened. On top of that there has been a big problem with forged money orders for a number of years. I used to be an executive in the mortgage and title industry and can tell you that banks, mortgage companies, and insurance companies often will not accept a money order for these reasons. If a bank won't accept a form of negotiable instrument that should be a big clue to anybody that it isn't a great way to do a transaction.
The amount of regulation in the "system" will slow down the pursuit of your investigation. That's where the problem is. You can in fact thank terrorists for that (or politicians depending on your perspective).
Be thankful it wasn't an international transaction or the problem could be even worse. The USPS claims their money orders are "international", but they are not, it is an outright lie. Because the US banking laws are not in step with international banking laws problems with international transactions involving the US can be a royal pain in the behind and involve delays even when things go right. Don't even try to use a USPS money order internationally.
Sorry to hear of your troubles, I hope they get it straightened out.
Everything with money orders takes longer and because of the Bank Secrecy Act and since the Patriot Act the problem is worsened. On top of that there has been a big problem with forged money orders for a number of years. I used to be an executive in the mortgage and title industry and can tell you that banks, mortgage companies, and insurance companies often will not accept a money order for these reasons. If a bank won't accept a form of negotiable instrument that should be a big clue to anybody that it isn't a great way to do a transaction.
The amount of regulation in the "system" will slow down the pursuit of your investigation. That's where the problem is. You can in fact thank terrorists for that (or politicians depending on your perspective).
Be thankful it wasn't an international transaction or the problem could be even worse. The USPS claims their money orders are "international", but they are not, it is an outright lie. Because the US banking laws are not in step with international banking laws problems with international transactions involving the US can be a royal pain in the behind and involve delays even when things go right. Don't even try to use a USPS money order internationally.
Sorry to hear of your troubles, I hope they get it straightened out.
Thanks a lot terrorists. Jerks.
Yup.
I've read posts where people claimed USPS Postal Money is the only and safest way to pay and just shook my head. I can understand why a seller would like them, but as a buyer they are completely worthless (other than they transfer money like every instrument does). A deposit to a cue maker? Personal check, done.
Thanks
Kevin
nightmare
i sent a 1 ct diamond registered, insured, from kc mo to palestine tx about 20 years ago. it never got there. i had to wait 30 days before they would start an investigation, about 30 days later i was contacted to inform me that a bag of registered mail was stolen in littlerock, ak. and if i would provide proof of the value of the diamond they would start refund procedings. i said look at the insurance receipt it says insured for 3k, they said no, show us where a 1 ct diamond is selling for 3k. so i sent them a wholesale diamond price list. 4 days short of six months later i got a check.
i sent a 1 ct diamond registered, insured, from kc mo to palestine tx about 20 years ago. it never got there. i had to wait 30 days before they would start an investigation, about 30 days later i was contacted to inform me that a bag of registered mail was stolen in littlerock, ak. and if i would provide proof of the value of the diamond they would start refund procedings. i said look at the insurance receipt it says insured for 3k, they said no, show us where a 1 ct diamond is selling for 3k. so i sent them a wholesale diamond price list. 4 days short of six months later i got a check.
THANKS for the intelligent honest replies. I had an issue with another USPS money order some years ago and they just did a quick search and told me it had not been cashed and we stopped payment, no problem.. I have been caught completely off guard by their lack of ability to even monitor the money orders they issue. My main reason for this thread is to warn the AZ members about this issue so they do not make the same mistake I apparently have. Myself and the cuemaker are both in limbo now and I do understand it's my responsibility to see that he receives payment for his work. What a mess!
Here's 2 rules for mailing or sending payments:
1) You want them to be easily traceable. This includes almost every method OTHER than Money Order. Personal checks are great, credit card payments are great. For people that don't have a credit card terminal, PayPal funded by your credit card is great.
2) Ideally, you want the payment to be able to be cancelled if necessary. Credit Card or PayPal funded by a Credit Card are great for this.
I was actually quite surprised to read that you ever had a situation where you had a quick trace of a money order issued by anyone. Tracing that form is always a morass or paperwork and you can't watch the process online.
This is an electronic age. If you make payments electronically you can always see what's up. If you mail payment, you can generally rest assured (unless its a personal check) that you will have to use the mail to trace it.
Thanks
Kevin
Thanks Kevin! I do business with two banks and I am heading to both of them the first of the week and have a discussion regarding sending payments and what protection they offer. Hope to find out how they protect their own certified checks or whatever they recommend. The cuemaker does not accept credit cards (most don't) so that is not an option. Naturally in hindsight I would have done a couple things differently but in the past I have never had any negative issues with the USPS system.
I don't see why a cuemaker wouldn't want a personal check. Especially for a deposit. After all, I'd have no problem with him not shipping until the check clears.
That said, we have a "seniors" account at our bank that includes free cashier's checks.
I go to car guy forums. Have read paypal horror stories, so won't sign up there.
That said, we have a "seniors" account at our bank that includes free cashier's checks.
I go to car guy forums. Have read paypal horror stories, so won't sign up there.
Yup, that's the deal, you never have a problem until there is a problem. Checks issued by your bank are the same problem, you can't easily trace them and if you send them to someone that is scamming you, you have no recourse after they are cashed.
Thanks
Kevin
Holy molly!
Well here's some crazy news! After making this thread this morning I decided to call the post office again. I was kind of professionally upset... So I get a gal that tells me there is another number I can call to find out the status of my claim. I am thinking yea that will be more run around in voice mail hell for sure, but I call anyway. The automated response tells me to punch in the serial numbers of my money order then announces that it has been refunded as of 5/10/2012.. Hmmm, all sounds way to good to be true so I attempt to get a live person. That's a no go till Monday at 7am CST.. Well OK I will wait till Monday and call, meanwhile back at home the mail gets delivered and lo and behold there is a refund check for the postal money order!!! Honestly I am almost speechless at this point, I went from being told to wait two months, to getting all my funds back in hand in less than one week!! Called the cuemaker and he is just as stunned as I am, now all I have to figure out is the best way to send payment. LOL!!!
Well here's some crazy news! After making this thread this morning I decided to call the post office again. I was kind of professionally upset... So I get a gal that tells me there is another number I can call to find out the status of my claim. I am thinking yea that will be more run around in voice mail hell for sure, but I call anyway. The automated response tells me to punch in the serial numbers of my money order then announces that it has been refunded as of 5/10/2012.. Hmmm, all sounds way to good to be true so I attempt to get a live person. That's a no go till Monday at 7am CST.. Well OK I will wait till Monday and call, meanwhile back at home the mail gets delivered and lo and behold there is a refund check for the postal money order!!! Honestly I am almost speechless at this point, I went from being told to wait two months, to getting all my funds back in hand in less than one week!! Called the cuemaker and he is just as stunned as I am, now all I have to figure out is the best way to send payment. LOL!!!
Gotta love a happy ending to start the day!! Congrats on your new cue!
This is best odds. I use a flat rate priority envelope with insurance and signature confirmation as well as delivery confirmation if they let me. Anything I can put on that envelope that let's me track it. Some people on eBay don't accept PayPal, which has won three problems for me. PayPal all the way in my book
60 days must have elapsed since the original money order was issued so you were eligible for an immediate replacement. I guess their system was able to determine that the original wasn't cashed or you wouldn't have received it. I'm not sure about this but I read something online about having to wait 60 days before a replacement can be issued.
But I have an honest question. Why wouldn't a cuemaker or other vendor accept a personal check? Is it to hide income to avoid tax? Surely as someone who buys supplies and pays bills he would have his own checking account and could easily deposit a personal check without difficulty.
I guess maybe I answered my own question.
But I have an honest question. Why wouldn't a cuemaker or other vendor accept a personal check? Is it to hide income to avoid tax? Surely as someone who buys supplies and pays bills he would have his own checking account and could easily deposit a personal check without difficulty.
I guess maybe I answered my own question.
HI Rich, It was MY choice to send the USPS money order.. He's reputable and honest in all respects and accepts personal checks..
The easiest way is probably to just send him a US Postal MO. :thumbup:
It's like Scotty in star trek use to say, if you think it will take a week to fix something you tell them 2 months that way when you get it done in a week they'll think your a miracle worker, if you tell them it will take a week and it takes you 10 days then they'll say your a ****ing bum....lol
speaking of weird
I had a cashiers check for a little under $30,000 from a large bank with many locations, the reason I banked with them myself. I wanted to cash this check. Went to my local branch and they called the branch about a hundred miles away the check was written at. The manager that signed the check wasn't in and my bank refused to cash it. Seems that they had an issue with counterfeit cashiers checks drawn on themselves! Took two weeks to cash that check, not a draft, a cashiers check. I wasn't in a bind but I still found it very annoying. One reason I don't bank with them anymore.
I had a check drawn on the folks I bank with now for $62,000. The title company was right behind one branch of the bank so just for grins I went in, flipped it to a teller and said, "cash this please." The lady said not a problem but it would take awhile to count it out. Told her I was joking and she did a little electronic magic and the money was in my account ready to spend instantly.
Seems to all depend on who you are dealing with and the mood they are in.
Hu
I had a cashiers check for a little under $30,000 from a large bank with many locations, the reason I banked with them myself. I wanted to cash this check. Went to my local branch and they called the branch about a hundred miles away the check was written at. The manager that signed the check wasn't in and my bank refused to cash it. Seems that they had an issue with counterfeit cashiers checks drawn on themselves! Took two weeks to cash that check, not a draft, a cashiers check. I wasn't in a bind but I still found it very annoying. One reason I don't bank with them anymore.
I had a check drawn on the folks I bank with now for $62,000. The title company was right behind one branch of the bank so just for grins I went in, flipped it to a teller and said, "cash this please." The lady said not a problem but it would take awhile to count it out. Told her I was joking and she did a little electronic magic and the money was in my account ready to spend instantly.
Seems to all depend on who you are dealing with and the mood they are in.
Hu