Can You Track if a Money Order Has Been Cashed?

Money orders serve as a secure payment method, providing an alternative to cash or personal checks. Senders often seek assurance that their payment has reached its intended recipient and has been successfully cashed. Understanding the methods available to confirm a money order’s status offers valuable peace of mind and helps ensure funds have been delivered as intended.

Checking Money Order Status

Determining if a money order has been cashed involves contacting the issuer directly, using information from the purchase receipt. The receipt contains details such as the serial number, purchase amount, and date, which are necessary for any inquiry. Without this receipt, tracking options are limited, often requiring more extensive research and potentially incurring additional fees.

For money orders issued by the United States Postal Service (USPS), the receipt includes the serial number, Post Office number, and dollar amount. Senders can check the status online via the USPS website’s Money Orders Application or by calling their automated phone inquiry system. If the online system does not provide sufficient detail, a Money Order Inquiry can be initiated by submitting PS Form 6401 at any Post Office location.

Western Union provides several avenues for tracking a money order’s status. Senders can call the automated helpline and select the “Check the Status of a Money Order” option, entering the 11-digit serial number from their record stub. The status can also be checked online or through the Western Union app by entering the tracking number, often referred to as a Money Transfer Control Number (MTCN).

MoneyGram offers straightforward methods for status checks, requiring the money order number and the exact dollar amount. Users can call MoneyGram’s Customer Care Center or use their online form for inquiry. If the money order number is not available, a form may need to be completed and submitted at a MoneyGram location. The online system or phone service indicates if the money order has been cashed.

Addressing Uncashed or Lost Money Orders

If a money order is uncashed, lost, or stolen, steps are available to request a refund or replacement. This process depends on the money order not having been cashed by the recipient. If it has been cashed, obtaining a refund is not possible, though a photocopy of the cashed money order may be available to show who endorsed it.

For USPS money orders, if the item is lost or stolen, a replacement can be requested by submitting PS Form 6401, the Money Order Inquiry form, along with the original receipt, at a Post Office. There is a processing fee, approximately $21.00, for replacing a lost or stolen money order. The investigation can take time, with confirmation of loss or theft potentially taking up to 30 days and the investigation itself up to 60 days.

Western Union allows refunds for uncashed money orders, with the process potentially taking up to 30 days to complete. A refund request form must be submitted, requiring details from the money order and the original receipt. Processing fees may apply, varying based on the money order’s face value, such as $5 for amounts under $50 or $15 for amounts of $100 or higher.

MoneyGram provides a refund process for uncashed money orders through an online request or by submitting a Money Order Claim Card. A non-refundable processing fee, often around $18, is required for each refund request. Claims are processed within 15 days of receipt, although the overall time can be longer when accounting for mail delivery.