If someone screws you over with a postal money order the weight of the Postal Inspectors can be a great aid. I have used both services and have never had a problem with either but once my bank did stop payment on a bank money order that I mailed a E-bay seller because I thought was setting me up.
Any difference between a Postal MO and a Bank MO ?????
- Thread starter gtl1946
- Start date
Cigarcop
Silver $$ Contributor
My personal opinion and dealings with the Postal Inspector as a police Ofc. and I had MANY where I worked......If you think those Postal Inspectors are gonna go track down your funds your mistaken.
I hate paying for MO's and generally just stray away from buying if thats what the seller wants period.
Bank checks are written only if you have the funds in the account and are withdrawn before they even write the check. If you deposit one your bank can tell you in 2 minutes that its valid.
Good luck with the Postal System!
I hate paying for MO's and generally just stray away from buying if thats what the seller wants period.
Bank checks are written only if you have the funds in the account and are withdrawn before they even write the check. If you deposit one your bank can tell you in 2 minutes that its valid.
Good luck with the Postal System!
DennisH
Life Time NRA member
I was shocked when I took a Bank Cashier's check to the bank and I was told it would be ten days before the funds were available! I talked to my banker who stated they are being conterfited just like money! I couldn't believe it!
PMO's probably have more security as the FBI will get involved pretty quick, if necessary!
I still state an electronic check sent from the bank is probably more secure than anything! The funds are taken from your account as soon as the check is cut! No chance of the seller receiving a NSF notice!
I also believe PayPal is pretty secure and certainly quick!
Just my Opinion
PMO's probably have more security as the FBI will get involved pretty quick, if necessary!
I still state an electronic check sent from the bank is probably more secure than anything! The funds are taken from your account as soon as the check is cut! No chance of the seller receiving a NSF notice!
I also believe PayPal is pretty secure and certainly quick!
Just my Opinion
I don't do Postal money orders. Period.
To buy a postal money order, I have to drive 20 to 25 minutes to the post office. I then have to wait in line 20 to 30 minutes. I then have to suffer through a rude clerk who clearly wishes I were dead. I then have to drive 20 to 25 minutes back home. Total time well over an hour. Total gas used about 1 and 1/2 gallons.
I will offer pay pal and I pay the fee, or I offer to allow the seller to wait up to a week for a personal check to clear. If the seller still insists on a postal money order I just look elsewhere.
Security wise for the buyer, I don't think there is much difference. Either one can be stolen and forged and cashed. For the seller, either one can be and frequently is faked. I have a relative in the Title Insurance business. She says that in the state of Texas. there are hundreds of cases every year of title insurance companies being defrauded by fake bank cashiers checks.
The simple answer is that neither is "absolutely secure".
I really like pay pal because if I send you an email that a payment is coming, and you respond, then I send you a payment, you can respond back to me that you received it within TWO minutes.
Then we both know the transaction was completed correctly.
.
To buy a postal money order, I have to drive 20 to 25 minutes to the post office. I then have to wait in line 20 to 30 minutes. I then have to suffer through a rude clerk who clearly wishes I were dead. I then have to drive 20 to 25 minutes back home. Total time well over an hour. Total gas used about 1 and 1/2 gallons.
I will offer pay pal and I pay the fee, or I offer to allow the seller to wait up to a week for a personal check to clear. If the seller still insists on a postal money order I just look elsewhere.
Security wise for the buyer, I don't think there is much difference. Either one can be stolen and forged and cashed. For the seller, either one can be and frequently is faked. I have a relative in the Title Insurance business. She says that in the state of Texas. there are hundreds of cases every year of title insurance companies being defrauded by fake bank cashiers checks.
The simple answer is that neither is "absolutely secure".
I really like pay pal because if I send you an email that a payment is coming, and you respond, then I send you a payment, you can respond back to me that you received it within TWO minutes.
Then we both know the transaction was completed correctly.
.
For the life of me, I can't figure why folks won't accept PayPay. The seller gets instant payment and his account pays interest!
I still find most folks in gun auctions are stuck in the USPMO past! I like to send personal checks. I will gladly wait for check clearance to get my merchandise. The postal money order is a pain to deal with.
But PayPal rules! And, it is kind of neat tricking PayPal with item descriptions that don't sound gun related!
I still find most folks in gun auctions are stuck in the USPMO past! I like to send personal checks. I will gladly wait for check clearance to get my merchandise. The postal money order is a pain to deal with.
But PayPal rules! And, it is kind of neat tricking PayPal with item descriptions that don't sound gun related!
So what is the difference between a Postal MO and a Bank MO? ;D I will make payment to seller however they choose. I will drive ,stand in line, wait for check to clear, whatever it takes to get what I want. I guess this may seem weird to some but this is just me. My Postal lady at the office is a gem, couldn't be happier.
snert
Silver $$ Contributor
In my line of business I see a lot folks coming through the door needing a police report/investigation because they got stung by a check or MO. Many of these are the scams so common with the various C-lists, fleabay etc. So, from someone who sees the sad results daily, here are a couple tips. When taking a bank MO, ALWAYS wait until your bank CLEARS the MO before sending the item. A week is not uncommon. Make sure! Many tellers will take the MO, hand you YOUR cash and then days later the bank inspector will call with the bad news: the MO is a fine copy of a real MO, only the one you have is not real, it is one of hundreds sent out in payment. So, the $ now comes from your account. Don't count on the police to find the bad guy, let alone the various DA's, etc to prosecute. That is usually a jurisdictional nightmare.
Secondly, realize that if you wire money Western Union, and then send the # for the seller to pick up the money, any person ANYWHERE who has the number can go to a Western Union and get the money with a fake ID. So, when you send the # to "Cleetus" allegedly in Smithville USA, Rodney Ripoff with a "Cleetus" ID in Timbuktoo can snag your cash. This is a very common C-list scam.
Thirdly, never take a PO or MO that is more than your asking price with a request you send the difference to a third party. The Check/MO IS FAKE! The -money you send will be real and "third party" will love you for it, and will never be found.
To date, I have not had a single PO faked. That does not mean it doesn't happen. It is just less common where I live in the NE USA.
Secondly, realize that if you wire money Western Union, and then send the # for the seller to pick up the money, any person ANYWHERE who has the number can go to a Western Union and get the money with a fake ID. So, when you send the # to "Cleetus" allegedly in Smithville USA, Rodney Ripoff with a "Cleetus" ID in Timbuktoo can snag your cash. This is a very common C-list scam.
Thirdly, never take a PO or MO that is more than your asking price with a request you send the difference to a third party. The Check/MO IS FAKE! The -money you send will be real and "third party" will love you for it, and will never be found.
To date, I have not had a single PO faked. That does not mean it doesn't happen. It is just less common where I live in the NE USA.
Geronimo Jim
Gold $$ Contributor
PayPal is and I refuse to use them and support them. Just like I will not buy Levi's
Since you woke this 11 year old thread... Send money orders by certified mail...
IMO, still valid, at least to me...
...and I'm pretty sure the op passed recently.
Mark W
Gold $$ Contributor
I quit using postal money orders after having just one get lost in the mail and I never did get a refund because I lost the receipt even though I had the money order stub. At this point it’s an absolute last resort. I will usually offer a personal check and most times the seller accepts because I’m ok with waiting for the check to clear before shipment.
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