Juliet
Birmingham,#2Consumer Comment
Sun, April 22, 2007
(I submitted this response on Saturday, but it never showed up, so sending it in again, today, Sunday. So if it shows up twice, that's why.) I didn't know, till someone told me they got a money order from the Post Office to send me, and I could cash it at the Post Office. Now, I know. Since my bank doesn't treat any money orders, except those drawn off of them, as cash, I request USPS money orders. Since it's the same cost or less than buying a money order at my bank, I buy them from the Post Office so other people can cash money orders I send them just as easily, without worrying about "how" their bank will treat the money. It's all cash, at the Post Office.
Juliet
Birmingham,#3Consumer Comment
Sun, April 22, 2007
(I submitted this response on Saturday, but it never showed up, so sending it in again, today, Sunday. So if it shows up twice, that's why.) I didn't know, till someone told me they got a money order from the Post Office to send me, and I could cash it at the Post Office. Now, I know. Since my bank doesn't treat any money orders, except those drawn off of them, as cash, I request USPS money orders. Since it's the same cost or less than buying a money order at my bank, I buy them from the Post Office so other people can cash money orders I send them just as easily, without worrying about "how" their bank will treat the money. It's all cash, at the Post Office.
Juliet
Birmingham,#4Consumer Comment
Sun, April 22, 2007
(I submitted this response on Saturday, but it never showed up, so sending it in again, today, Sunday. So if it shows up twice, that's why.) I didn't know, till someone told me they got a money order from the Post Office to send me, and I could cash it at the Post Office. Now, I know. Since my bank doesn't treat any money orders, except those drawn off of them, as cash, I request USPS money orders. Since it's the same cost or less than buying a money order at my bank, I buy them from the Post Office so other people can cash money orders I send them just as easily, without worrying about "how" their bank will treat the money. It's all cash, at the Post Office.
Juliet
Birmingham,#5Consumer Comment
Sun, April 22, 2007
(I submitted this response on Saturday, but it never showed up, so sending it in again, today, Sunday. So if it shows up twice, that's why.) I didn't know, till someone told me they got a money order from the Post Office to send me, and I could cash it at the Post Office. Now, I know. Since my bank doesn't treat any money orders, except those drawn off of them, as cash, I request USPS money orders. Since it's the same cost or less than buying a money order at my bank, I buy them from the Post Office so other people can cash money orders I send them just as easily, without worrying about "how" their bank will treat the money. It's all cash, at the Post Office.
Juliet
Birmingham,#6Consumer Comment
Sat, April 21, 2007
I didn't know, till someone told me they got a money order from the Post Office to send me, and I could cash it at the Post Office. Now, I know. Since my bank doesn't treat any money orders, except those drawn off of them, as cash, I request USPS money orders. Since it's the same cost or less than buying a money order at my bank, I buy them from the Post Office so other people can cash money orders I send them just as easily, without worrying about "how" their bank will treat the money. It's all cash, at the Post Office.
Steve [Not A Lawyer]
Bradenton,#7Consumer Comment
Sat, April 21, 2007
Juliet, First you say that you didn't even know the Post Office offered money orders, then you say that you call yo make sure the small town post office you use has enough cash on hand to cash your money orders! Which is it? You wrote>> "I didn't even know the Post Office offered momey orders, or that you can CASH them there - USPS money orders only, not money orders from any other business or bank - but this leaves out any bank entirely". No need for a deposit, just take the money order in to the Post Office, and get cash. The Post Office I use is a small town one, so I do call to make sure they have enough cash on hand for if the amount of the money order is over a $100 or more. >>>
Juliet
Birmingham,#8Consumer Suggestion
Sat, April 21, 2007
I don't know what the Post Office (USPS) would have done if you went to them to cash the money orders, but they MIGHT have known they were fraudulent. I didn't even know the Post Office offered momey orders, or that you can CASH them there - USPS money orders only, not money orders from any other business or bank - but this leaves out any bank entirely. No need for a deposit, just take the money order in to the Post Office, and get cash. The Post Office I use is a small town one, so I do call to make sure they have enough cash on hand for if the amount of the money order is over a $100 or more. The other respondents are correct. Any bank would have behaved just like this bank.
Ken
Randolph,#9Consumer Comment
Sat, April 21, 2007
It sucks that you were swindled, and I hope you can recover your money. Here are a few facts of life though... a bank wouldn't tell you that any deposit item was good, for the simple reason that they have no way of knowing. (unless of course, it is drawn on the same bank.) Even a legitimate money order could have a stop payment placed on it. The amount of time it takes for them to credit you for any certain type of check is regulated by the government. What they would tell you is something like" this item will be on hold for 3 business days". The fact that the hold drops does not mean that the check cleared. In the case like yours where the check ultimately does not clear, they are within their rights to take the funds back from you. If you look at your receipt you will see a disclosure to this effect. If it makes you feel any better, the scam that got you is getting a lot of people these days.
Ken
Randolph,#10Consumer Comment
Sat, April 21, 2007
It sucks that you were swindled, and I hope you can recover your money. Here are a few facts of life though... a bank wouldn't tell you that any deposit item was good, for the simple reason that they have no way of knowing. (unless of course, it is drawn on the same bank.) Even a legitimate money order could have a stop payment placed on it. The amount of time it takes for them to credit you for any certain type of check is regulated by the government. What they would tell you is something like" this item will be on hold for 3 business days". The fact that the hold drops does not mean that the check cleared. In the case like yours where the check ultimately does not clear, they are within their rights to take the funds back from you. If you look at your receipt you will see a disclosure to this effect. If it makes you feel any better, the scam that got you is getting a lot of people these days.
Ken
Randolph,#11Consumer Comment
Sat, April 21, 2007
It sucks that you were swindled, and I hope you can recover your money. Here are a few facts of life though... a bank wouldn't tell you that any deposit item was good, for the simple reason that they have no way of knowing. (unless of course, it is drawn on the same bank.) Even a legitimate money order could have a stop payment placed on it. The amount of time it takes for them to credit you for any certain type of check is regulated by the government. What they would tell you is something like" this item will be on hold for 3 business days". The fact that the hold drops does not mean that the check cleared. In the case like yours where the check ultimately does not clear, they are within their rights to take the funds back from you. If you look at your receipt you will see a disclosure to this effect. If it makes you feel any better, the scam that got you is getting a lot of people these days.
Steve
Cary,#12Consumer Comment
Sat, April 21, 2007
"Take into mind; I'm a college student barley making ends meet. I absolutely didn't have that kind of money in my account before this deposit." "I've been banking with Fidelity for a long time, and even have my mortgage through them." So you have NO money AND a mortgage??? So where are you getting the money to pay the mortgage??
Vince
Carmichael,#13Consumer Suggestion
Fri, April 20, 2007
Banks are given a limited amount of time to credit your account with a deposited instrument. You were involved with a scam (any deal involving Western Union is a scam) and should have known better. I have seen it take 3 weeks for a bad check to return. The fact it 'cleared' your bank doesn't mean much. I do think it was a nice thing for them to offer a loan to cover your overdraft. Many banks wouldn't even do that much. You have been ripped-off - but not by the bank.