How to Put a Money Order Back Into My Account

Money Order

What Is a Money Order?

A money order is a certificate, usually issued by a government or banking institution, that allows the stated payee to receive cash on demand. A money order functions much like a check, in that the person who purchased the money order may stop payment.

Money orders are readily accepted and converted to cash and are often used by people without access to a standard checking account. These instruments are an acceptable form of payment for small debts, both personal and business, and can be purchased for a small service fee from most institutions.

Money orders were first issued by American Express in 1882 and later became popularized as traveler's checks.

Key Takeaways

• When you purchase a money order, you may have to pay a small fee.
• You can purchase money orders at banks and credit unions, and also at a variety of locations like big box stores, post offices, and even some gas stations.
• Money orders are a safe alternative to using cash or checks.
• International money orders can be an inexpensive way to send across the border and overseas quickly.

How Money Orders Work

A person who buys a money order will have to fill out the name of the recipient on a form and the amount that the recipient should receive. Most money orders have a maximum limit of $1,000. Therefore, a buyer would need to purchase multiple orders if he needs more than the stipulated limit. Be sure to fill out the money order carefully; it's a one-off purchase and you need to keep good records of it.

The financial institution or authorized body that issues the money order to the payer will have the payee's name, the issuer's name, and the amount of money that can be cashed. This dollar value does not include the fees charged to the payee. Factor in all costs when purchasing money orders. A bank or credit union will normally charge more than a convenience store to issue money orders.

A money order is not a check, and it's harder to trace one; keep your receipt until you are sure the order has been received and cashed.

When a purchaser pays for a money order, it comes with a receipt that includes the serial number of the money order. This information should always be kept until the purchaser is certain the money order has cleared. Without a receipt, tracing a money order can be difficult or even impossible.

Advantages vs. Disadvantages

In some situations, paying with a money order can be safer than paying with a personal check. Since personal checks include the account holder's routing number and bank account number printed on the bottom this private information can be stolen and used to create and sign fraudulent checks. In contrast, money orders do not include personal information about the purchaser.

Pros

• Money orders do not include personal information, such as your bank's routing number and your bank account number.

• The recipient can cash the order at a local bank or credit union—there's no requirement to go to the issuer to have it cashed.

• Money orders can also be deposited into a bank account, for no fee.

• The money order can be issued in one country and be cashed in another country.

Cons

• Money orders can be more difficult to track than a personal check—to find out whether the money order has been cashed, for example, can require forms and take weeks.

• Cashing the money order can incur a fee.

• There may be a delay in getting the funds if they are cashed at a bank other than the issuer.

• Money orders can be fraudulent; be wary about receiving them from people you don't know and don't spend money orders you deposit in the bank until you know the bank was able to cash them.

On the downside, money orders can be more difficult to track than a personal check. To determine whether a personal check has cleared, check writers only need to visit their bank or look at their online account for information about its status.

To track a money order, the issuer must fill out tracking forms and pay an additional fee to learn whether the money order has been cashed. The entire process for researching the status of a money order can take weeks. The USPS offers an online money order inquiry service that allows buyers to input the money order number and get an update on its status.

In addition to checks and money orders, other financial instruments that can be used to send guaranteed funds to an individual or business include traveler's checks, wire transfers, bank drafts, and cashier's checks.

Special Considerations

The recipient who receives the money order does not necessarily have to go the same issuer that sold the money order. The recipient can have it cashed at a local bank or credit union, but may not receive the funds all at once, depending on the institution's policy. If the payee has no account, cashing the money order at the issuer's office is a great option.

However, a payee does not have to cash the money order right away. They can deposit it into a bank account, much as you would do a check. Depositing money orders is a good option for payees who are concerned about the fees charged to cash the certificates at multiple locations.

Since the fees are certain to reduce the amount of money that will be received, depositing it with no additional charges at a bank will ensure that the account holder keeps all the money paid to them.

As is often the case, a money order can be used as a vehicle to send money outside the country. An issuer with multiple branches in different countries can issue a money order in one country that can be cashed in another country. International money orders thus provide an inexpensive and swift way to send money across the border.

Article Sources

Investopedia requires writers to use primary sources to support their work. These include white papers, government data, original reporting, and interviews with industry experts. We also reference original research from other reputable publishers where appropriate. You can learn more about the standards we follow in producing accurate, unbiased content in our editorial policy.

1. Smithsonian National Postal Museum. "American Express." Accessed Sept. 3, 2020.

2. USPS. "Money Orders: The Basics." Accessed Sept. 3, 2020.

How to Put a Money Order Back Into My Account

Source: https://www.investopedia.com/terms/m/money-order.asp

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