William Lipovsky
It’s possible to get a money order refund from the issuer, whether you originally purchased the money order from a bank, credit union, post office, Amscot branch, MoneyGram agent, or Western Union agent.
The process varies by the issuer but usually involves either visiting the issuing location or filing a claim by mail, email, or fax.
Before requesting a money order refund, you should make sure the money order hasn’t been cashed by someone else; you can do this by tracking the money order.
Note that if the money order you have is still blank, you can make it out to yourself or write “not used for intended purpose” on the endorsement line, and then sign it. You can then deposit the money order into your bank account or cash it at a business that cashes money orders.
Since requesting a money order refund usually requires you to pay a fee, cashing the money order is a better option when available.
However, if you already gave the money order to someone else, filled it out, or lost it, you’ll have to go through an issuer-specific refund request process.
You shouldn’t attempt to alter or correct it before requesting a refund. If you filled the money order out but no longer plan to give it to the recipient, don’t cross out their name and write your own; this will make the money order ineligible for cashing.
Refund Process by Issuer
Below, we detail the refund process for each major money order issuer. Find out more about money orders and how they work in our money order FAQ.
MoneyGram
- Receipt required? Generally, a copy of the money order stub or the store purchase receipt is required.[1]
- Refund method: You’ll receive a reference number by email which you can take to a local MoneyGram agent for a replacement money order.[2][1]
- Processing time: Seven to 10 business days[2][3]
- Cost: $18[2]
- How to request a refund: Fill out a Money Order Replacement form online using the serial number found on the money order.[3] Be sure to make copies of any documents you submit for your records.
Western Union
- Receipt required? No[4]
- Refund method: Check[5]
- Processing time: Up to 30 days[4]
- Cost: $3 for money orders under $20; $15 for money orders $20 and above[4]
- How to request a refund: Fill out a Money Order Customer Request online by filling in your information and uploading a copy of the original money order or the receipt.[4][6] Be sure to make copies of any documents you submit for your own records.
United States Postal Service (USPS)
- Receipt required? Yes[7]
- Refund method: Replacement money order[7][8]
- Processing time: Up to 60 days[7][8]
- Cost: $14.60[7][8]
- How to request a refund: Fill out a Money Order Inquiry — which can be printed at home or requested from any post office — and take it along with your money order receipt to your local post office. A postal worker will begin the inquiry process.[7][9] You can check your money order’s status at any time online.
Amscot
- Receipt required? Yes[10]
- Refund method: Replacement money order[11]
- Processing time: Up to six weeks[11]
- Cost: $12[11]
- How to request a refund: At least 30 days after the original purchase date, submit a Money Order Claim Form along with the money order stub and the $12 processing fee as a money order or cashier’s check. Visit an Amscot branch to submit your request or send all materials to Amscot Money Order Company at PO Box 25137, Tampa, FL 33622.[11][10]
Banks & Credit Unions
Individual banks and credit unions that sell money orders set their own policies and processes for refunds, so it’s best to contact the institution where you bought the money order for instructions.
Receipt requirements, refund methods, processing time, and costs vary by institution.
As noted above, if you have the original, uncashed money order and it isn’t filled out, you can fill it out to yourself and cash it.
Otherwise, you’ll need to visit the issuing bank or credit union, bringing your receipt and any other proof of purchase (if available), and ask a teller to issue a stop payment for the money order.[12][13]
I bought this money order from Walmart and sent it to someone. However, it was sent to wrong person/address and the money order came back. Now that it is addressed to someone else, how can I get the refund? I have original as well as the receipt for the money order. I took it to Walmart but they said that they could not refund me and suggested me to contact Money Gram…I am confused. Basically, I had 2 similar money orders since it was intended for an application fee for my grandpa and grandma’s visa….Please help. Thanks.
Hi Arun,
You have to request a refund through MoneyGram on this one. Since you have the receipt and the money order, you shouldn’t have any trouble receiving a refund. Go here to find the form you need to get the process started.
Hi. My mom was given a WU Money order that is now over a year old and the bank says its stale dated. The person that gave it to her no longer has the receipt. The only process i can find is if the buyer is trying to replace the mo, not the payee. Plus the mo states there is a dollar per month charge. Is that legal in Massachusetts? Would a Western Union Agent cash the mo for her?
Hi there!
Here are instructions on how a money order payee can request a money order refund through Western Union.
Hi there!
Here are instructions on how a money order payee can request a money order refund through Western Union.
I bought a money order from quick trip and filled it out for my apartment complex but ended up not using it. I have the receipt and money order, how can I get my refund?
Hi Autumn,
Here’s how to refund your unused money order: Go to the bank or store where the money order was purchased. Bring your money order and receipt. The teller will ask you to write on the back of the check, “Not used for purpose intended.” You can then receive your refund.
I sent a MoneyGram to someone & I’d like to get a refund but the problem is the money has already been cashed. Will MoneyGram still refund me?? I have the receipt & everything with me.
Hi Sihle,
Unfortunately, you cannot receive a refund once the money order is cashed. Wish I had better news for you!
I bought a money order. I got sick and was in the hospital for awhile. I had filled out the money order to my landlord, but never mailed it. Now i have the reciept but not the money order.. its lost in my house somewhere in an envelope. I called to see if it was cashed it says it wasnt cashed, so i wanted to get my money back. I am broke right now and can really use the money. If i dont have any money for fees how can i go about getting the money back from the money order.
Hi Delisa,
If you let me know what company the money order was issued through (MoneyGram, Western Union, USPS), I can get you the info you need to get a refund.
Western uninion
Hi Delisa,
Unfortunately, there is a $15 processing fee for requesting a refund from a Western Union money order. Since you have the receipt, you can fill out the refund request on the back of the receipt and send it, along with the processing fee, to Western Union.
I received a Western Union money order from my tenant. I made a mobile deposit with my bank (have done so many times), it was returned as “altered or fictitious” from my bank.
My bank says everything looks ok with it. It wa made payable to me with his address on the purchaser line and he signed it. The store stamped it with the correct amount and everything, nothing was crossed out or changed.
My tenant purchased it from the grocery store. How do we get a refund on it?
Hi Greg,
This is a really unique situation, since you say there was no fraud on anyone’s part causing this to be flagged by your bank. I would recommend contacting Western Union’s Customer Care number at 1-800-325-6000, so you can talk to them about your dilemma. They can walk you through the refund process, if necessary. Good luck!
I bought a money order on December 17. The money order was not cashed, so I sent a check for $18. Today I found out the money order is cashed. Can I get my check for $18 back? It is not cashed.
Hello, Galina! It sounds like you are referring to the $18 processing fee for a money order refund request. Unfortunately, you typically cannot get that check back, regardless of whether the money order was cashed. However, you may want to call the money order issuer’s customer service department to discuss your situation. You could also submit a stop payment request with your bank, which would stop the payee from cashing the check — but there is a fee associated with stop payment requests. Since your check is only for $18, the fee may exceed the check amount. Best of luck!
I used money order from USPS to pay for a bill. It was cashed by not by correct people. I do not have original receipt. How can i track it
Hi there! You can track your USPS money order here: https://mois.usps.com/pls/pmoisnp/mois_external_pkg.main.
I tried that link at least 20 times. Cant file 6401 without original receipt. Is there any other way to track?
I’m sorry that link doesn’t work for you! Go ahead and click here and then go to the bottom of the page where it says “Lost or Damaged Money Orders.” Hope this works for you! If not, go directly to the USPS site (www.usps.com) and search “money order tracking.”
I bought a money gram to pay for a class an they stamped the back of it but crossed out an stated not intended for use. Well i gave the wrong money order amount an want to know if I can just cross out the three letters i began to write on the pay to an write out the name person i first intended to make this money order to? Or is this not possible? I already signed for purchaser in front of the $ order, please help…
Hi Felicia,
In most cases, if you still have the receipt, you can take the money order to your bank or check cashing business and get cash back, regardless of the name you started to write. You will be asked to endorse the back and write “not used for purpose intended.” Good luck!
I bought a money order (moneygram)at the beginning of march but wrote the wrong name on it and realized before sending it. I took it back to walmart where I had purchased it the next day with the receipt and walmart would not cash it, they said I had to mail it back to moneygram to process a refund. I have contacted moneygram 4 times to figure out the easiest way to get this money back and have gotten no replies. I cannot get through on their phone line and have been using their contact me email form on their website. Does anyone have recommendations? I still have the money order as well as the receipt.
Hi Aubree,
I am sorry to hear of your frustrating attempts to get a hold of MoneyGram! Walmart is right — you do need to get a hold of MoneyGram. Contact them at 1-800-542-3590. You can also bypass a phone call and print a refund request form here to start the process. Hope this helps!
I purchased a money order in September of last year and within a hour of the purchase it was stolen. I called back then and was told it needed to be cashed. I haven’t been able to take care of this until now. If I have the store’s copy of purchase and proof I was the original purchaser, can I still receive a refund? It was from Walmart.
Hello, Angela! Walmart issues MoneyGram money orders; you will need to follow the instructions listed above for lost, damaged, or stolen MoneyGram money orders and submit a claim. You will receive a refund if the person who stole the money order did not cash it. Unfortunately, if the money order was cashed, you won’t receive a refund. Best of luck with your claim!
My money order was damage by usps it got set back to me I got it at Walmart I still got my receipt from it
Hi Jerry,
Unfortunately, if the money order itself is damaged to the point that it cannot be cashed (either at Walmart or at your own bank), you’ll need to follow the process described in the article above to pursue a refund through MoneyGram. Best of luck getting this resolved!
I purchased a money order from Walmart and would like a refund. The money order hasn’t been filled out and I still have the receipt. I purchased the money order this morning. Is this refund possible?
Hi Damon,
If the money order hasn’t been filled out yet, the easiest thing to do is simply fill out your own name as the payee and then cash it (either with your own bank, which will be the easiest, or at Walmart). I hope this helps!
It helped tremendously!!! I really appreciate your help!!
Hello,
I’m in Chicago suburbs of IL and posted some of my jewelry on Craigslist. A Vietnamese woman who barely speaks English from Church Falls, VA called me a few days ago and wants to buy 2 pair of my diamond earrings. She fears to sign up with paypal, and give her bank info. or credit card. So I agreed to accept a Western Union Money Order that will be arriving in the next couple days. I checked out her name, address, and phone number that matches on white pages and other sites, and will compare it to the money order upon receiving, and will call WU to verify if the M.O. is legit. But I’m having second thoughts about this. 7-11 is where she purchased it, yet none I called will cash them, even though they sell them. And my 2 currency exchanges that use Western Union will not cash it. ( I found out from WU that sellers of them don’t need to cash them.). 🙁 So, I can cash it at my bank, however they told me that it’s possible that after I cash it, she still can stop payment and get a refund… and I may not know or would my bank for up to a month or even 2 and I’d be stuck paying back the money? In the meantime my jewelry would be long gone mailed out to her. Is this correct that Western Union won’t clear their own M.O.’s as any other checks that normally do in a week? I called WU and can’t even get a definitive answer on clearing it or how long. I know of other scams I read about, but can’t find out if this is one. My two thoughts: 1) Why would someone buy jewelry on Chgo. if from VA. which she said she just didn’t like anything in her area 2) She’s been in the US for 25 yrs. she said, but can’t speak English well? which is an afterthought. Last… Is a WU wire transfer safer since instant that a sender can’t stop or cancel? I’ve never accepted either from anyone, and I realize CL does warn us not to…..but for other reasons when I researched what types of fraud involving M.O. They don’t state that this is one. Forgive my being stupid or naive about this and need your advice.
Thank you!
Hi Trish,
As far as cashing money orders, you’re right that a great number of places will sell money orders, but very few will cash them. By far the most common scenario is for the recipients to cash the money orders in a bank. The reason that so many places are reluctant to cash money orders is largely due to the risk of cashing a fraudulent money order. Depositing the money order in a bank does still leave the possibility that the bank could discover the money order was counterfeit, at which point the funds would be removed from your account (much like a bank can reject a check if it’s discovered that there’s a problem with the deposit, even if the check is initially accepted).
I don’t immediately see anything suspicious about the buyer’s proposal, but at the same time, it’s generally not recommended to accept money orders for any sort of purchase due to the risk of fraud. Ultimately, the decision is up to you. But if I were in your place, to be on the safe side, I would likely decline the money order purchase and hold out for a buyer who can pay through a more conventional method. Best of luck with whatever you decide to do!
I sent a money order with a from and it was returned, with a stamp on it from the facility it was sent to, due to insufficient funds. Can I still get my money back for this money order and purchase a new one with the correct amount?
Hi Kathleen,
To get your money back for the money order, you should be able to write “Not used for purpose intended” along with your signature on the endorsement line, then deposit the money order at your bank just like you would with a normal check. While some ATMs are set up to accept money orders, I would recommend depositing it with a bank teller; this minimizes the risk of having the deposit rejected later, which can cause a major headache if the funds are suddenly withdrawn from your account when you aren’t expecting it. If the bank refuses to accept the money order as a deposit because of the “insufficient funds” stamp, unfortunately your only recourse will likely be to follow the standard refund policy as we’ve outlined in the article above. I hope this helps, and please let me know if I can answer any further questions!
hi I purchased a month order and made it out to my fuel company. Then decided to go with another company the money order I purchased I’d made out to the first fuel company. Can I go In and just have it printed to use for new fuel company without going threw the whole t
Refunding process
Hi Heidi,
It’s worth contacting the location where you purchased the money order to see if the agents there would be willing to print a new one with the correct fuel company as the payee. It will likely help if you have the receipt for the purchase and if the purchase took place relatively recently. It’s a good idea to give that location a call before you drive out, as there’s no guarantee that the store or branch will be willing to print a new money order for you with a different payee. If you can’t get the money order reprinted with the correct company name on it, you can instead write “Not used for purpose intended” on the endorsement line and add your signature, then deposit the money order at your bank. Then you can use the funds to get a new money order made out to the correct fuel company. I hope this helps!
Hello, I purchased a money order but signed my name as the reciever how can I cash it? Do I just sign the purchaser line also?
Hi Smit,
Yes, you can definitely make a money order out to yourself. Just fill out your name as the purchaser and you should be able to cash it without a problem at any location you would normally cash a money order. I hope this helps!
I purchased a money order and it was stolen. I called to request a stop payment on the money order but the process of western union did not stop it in time and it was cashed is there any way I can still get my refund. If I am the purchaser?
Hi Jasmine,
Unfortunately, Western Union doesn’t guarantee that refunds will be provided for money orders that have already been cashed. Do you have a copy of the cashed money order? If the copy shows that the money order has been tampered with or altered, you may be able to request further investigation from Western Union to try to pursue a refund. The best bet is to speak directly to a Western Union representative who can provide you with options in your particular situation. You can reach Western Union customer service at 1-800-999-9660 or by visiting the Customer Care page on the Western Union website. It may be helpful if you have documentation that you tried to place a stop payment on the money order before discovering it had been cashed. Best of luck getting this resolved!
My Daughters Father whom is a Seafarer sent From a Western Union Branch in Longview,WA USA money to South Africa, so that i could buy our daughter her clothes and a gift from him.Me as the receiver went the Next day to my Western Union Branch to fetch it but they said the MTCN is non exsistance.How is this possible?When he was in signal zone he imidiatly contacted me and asked what happen.According to Western Union it was returned to the sender…How he was on the ship on the ocean not close to land and only arrived two days ago in South Korea.WE both are sitting with the original slips and that it was sent.Is there any way someone can assist me in this big messup.Its alot of money missing in my currency.And thats my daughters money missing that was needed to provide for her.
Hi Laurishia,
I’m sorry to hear about the frustration you’ve had with Western Union! To clarify, did your daughter’s father send the funds as a money transfer through Western Union (not a physical money order)? If the money was transferred back to him, he may need to visit a Western Union branch in his area to send it again. I would recommend that you contact Western Union customer service to see what steps you can take in this situation. Western Union will need the MTCN, so be sure to have that with you when you call or contact the company. You can reach Western Union customer service through the Customer Care page of the WU website here. Best of luck getting this resolved!
I am trying to check the status of a claim for refund. It has been 3 weeks since I sent in claim form.
Hi Micheal,
To which company did you submit a claim form? Processing times can vary based on which money order issuer you contacted. For MoneyGram, claims are typically processed within 15 days of receipt, with up to an additional five days for mailing. To check up on a MoneyGram claim form, you can reach MoneyGram customer service here. Western Union request forms can take longer to process, sometimes up to six to eight weeks. You can check up on a Western Union request form by contacting Western Union customer service here. I hope this helps!
$30 is a ridiculous fee for a $45.00 check. I’m sure the records are computerized and it is a simple process.
Hi Debbie,
I agree that $30 is exorbitant for a money order that was only $45 in the first place. Unfortunately, it is a flat rate for all Research Request forms. If you’d like to find out if there are any other steps available to you or you’d like to make a complaint, you can reach Western Union customer service directly on the Customer Care page of the WU website.
I received a Western Union money order in the mail that was damaged in the postal equipment. The entire bottom has been ripped off and lost. What do I have to do to replace it.
Hi Debbie,
The Western Union Money Order Research Request form states that the form “must be completed by the Purchaser if the original bottom portion/receipt with barcode has been misplaced, lost, or stolen.” The person who sent you the money order will need to fill out this form, and submit it along with a $30 non-refundable processing fee (by money order or check only). Once the request is processed, Western Union may be able to issue a new money order (if the money order has not been cashed and if the serial number for the missing money order is located). Best of luck getting this resolved!