How To Fill Out A Money Order

You would be surprised to know not a lot of young working class adults know how to fill out a money order. I do not blame some of us though. In an age of instant money transfer, money orders are like the ancestors of this mode of money transaction. Most young working class adults would rather not be burdened with this instrument of payment.

Filling out a money order requires being meticulous This is because mistakes on a money make it hard to cash. As a result, one has to carefully write a money order in an eligible and correct manner.

So, how do you go about filling out a money order form correctly?

On this article, I am going to walk through the top three money orders. Namely- Western Union, MoneyGram and USPS money orders. The process to fill out each of the money order mentioned above is self-explanatory. This is because the forms tell you what to do. However, it is not going to be as a simple as the walk-through I am going to show you below.

How To Write A Money Order

Here is how you would go about writing on the following money orders below:

1. Western Union Money Order

Before I start though, you could just keep what I am going to tell you and go to the Western Union website below to fill and send a money order. Personally, I think it is easy since you do not have to drive to an agent location. There is currently a fee-free offer going on right now.

Anyways, western union money order is one of the easiest money order forms to fill out. This is because it has about five fields for you to fill out. On Filling Western Union Money Order the Right Way article, I elaborated it step by step.

I will talk you through it again. Here is what you need to fill out each of this field exactly as I mentioned below.

i. Pay Exactly

On this field, you write the amount you are purchasing. This is where most people make mistakes. I have issues with this one sometimes. We are supposed to write out the amount in words.

Listen.

I know we all know how to write, but when it comes to write some amount in words. It is not the same, because it could be a little tricky. This is especially, when the amount has cents on it.

Let me elaborate on that.

Assuming you are trying to purchase $453.07 in money order, it is supposed to be written as four hundred fifty-three dollar and seven cents. If this amount is written as four hundred plus fifty three and seven cents, the bank or store cashing it for you may get confused.

I know. I know. We all back to writing out middle school money arithmetics all over again. But, this is important. I just thought you would be aware of this issue, so you do not make a mistake.

ii. Pay To the Order Of

You are going to write the name of the recipient here. Be sure to use their legal name as on a legal form of identification. This is because any bank trying to cash the order, will ask for a legal form of ID. If the name on the money order is not the same as on the ID, he or she will not be able to cash the check.

Not sure about you, but I have felt the embrassment of this before. So, I say to take your time to fill out the money order well in order to avoid it.

iii. Purchaser’s Address

You are going to put your address here. When I say your address, I mean the same address as on a legal form of identification. What will this include, my dear reader?

This is going to include the following below:

• Street name
• Street number
• Zip code
• City
• State

I do not know whether mailing address is accepted, but I will not use it. This is in case there is an issue which requires your ID for identification. If the address on your ID does not match the one used when purchasing the order, you are going to have a difficulty time requesting a western union money order refund.

iv. Payment For/Acc. #

This is where you write your reason for purchasing the money order. If it is for rent or any other reason, write the reason on this field. Also, you do not have to fill out this field. The decision will not affect cashing the money order in any way.

v. Purchaser’s Signature

I want you to sign your signature here. This is especially since you are the one who is buying the money. You signing the money order makes it legitimate. If there is no signature, the money order is pretty much useless. This is because it will not be processed.

On the whole, filling out a western union form is easy. Whether you are getting it from a western union or an agent location, the order will always have the same five fields. Just be sure to take your time to fill it out. If you have any question, the customer service there will always help you.

I would be sure to keep the receipt too. This is in case you need to cancel a western union money order. It is not common to do it, when a mistake is discovered on the order. You would be surprised at how often that happens.

2. MoneyGram

MoneyGram money order is a little similar to WU. I call it- western union greatest rival in the age of international money orders transfer. This is because I have used either of the two and they are similar in functionality. Nowadays, there are better apps for doing this kind of things though.

So, what to fill out on a MoneyGram?

A MoneyGram order has three lines for you to fill. Below, I am going to write them out and tell you exactly how to fill them. Here are what to fill on the money order.

• Pay To the Order Of / Pager a la order de: This is where you write the name of the person or company who will receive the money. I prefer you use a legal name, since MoneyGram always asks for ID when cashing their money order.
• Purchaser, Signer For Drawer / Comprador, Firm Del Librador: I want you to write your legal name here in full. This is as it is with your driver’s license.
• Address / Dirección: You write exactly the address on your driver’s license or any other form of identification on this line.
• On the back, there is a Payee’s Endorsement line. Do not sign there. The line is for the receiver to sign. It is the only way he or she is going to be able to cash the money order.

The above is how you fill out a MoneyGram money order. Be sure to rip the receipt attached to the order. It has your tracking number on it. The receipt is often on the right hand of the order, where it says to “detach here“. You will need that receipt in case there is an issue with cashing the money order.

3. USPS Money Order

Yes- you can get a postal office money order. This is especially from United States Postal Service. Its money order usually comes in two parts- a money order and a receipt. There is a perforated line separating the two, so you can rip out the receipt and keep it.

How do you go about filling out a postal office money order?

Below is how you fill on a USPS money order:

• Pay to: This is where the name of the receiver is going to be. You write the legal name of the person or company in an eligible form.
• Address line (under Pay to): Put his or her address here. This is as it is on their driver’s license or any other legal form of identification.
• Memo: You write what the money order is for.
• From: Your name should be written on this line.
• Address (under the From line): Put a legal address here. I do not recommend using mailbox address. This is because your driver’s license will be asked, in case of an issue with the money order.

As for the other part I mentioned earlier- the receipt, rip it out and safe keep it before handing the order to the intended person. The receipt has the money order number on it. Should you have problems with the money order, the number is used to see what is going on.

Also, I recommend filling the two lines on the receipt which says- Pay to and Address. Put the name of the company or person and their address. Filling these will help you recall information, in case there is an issue with the money order. Issues include anything like error in processing, scams or any other problem with the transaction.

The above is how to write a money order. There are other money orders out there, but they are usually a variant of WU and MoneyGram. Unless they are from a bank, then they will be different. But if you are ever going to go with one of the above orders, my guide here should help you through it.

Do I Need To Sign A Money Order?

You do not need to sign the back of a money order. This is because you are a remitter on the money order. To simplify, you are the one who bought the order.

Unless the money order is bought for your personal use, do not sign the endorsement area on the back. It will make it hard for the receiver to cash. The back signature on a money order is for who the money order is intended for.

Who Is the Remitter On A Money Order?

A money order contains a remitter. The remitter on a money order is who bought the money order. Why is this important, my good reader?

Some money orders like western union sometimes, may ask security questions about who remitted the money. Since you are reading my article, I am assuming the remitter on your money order is you.

If it is your first time getting a money order, I recommend reading What Is A Money Order article. I explained eveything you need to know about this financial instrument. Money orders are not going away any time soon, despite instant money transfer financial techs.

On the whole, you just have to be meticulous when you fill out a money order. This is because a mistake could make it really hard to cash. Following the above steps I have laid here should help you write a good money order.