Monegram in person

[daytripper]

After having a bad experience with monegram online (which I understand is quite common), I've been doing it in person ever since using a red phone, which has worked great. The last time I used it, I was asked for an ID when completing the transaction. That's the first time it's happened to me, and so I asked the teller why they were asking me for it now when they never had in the past. She said that it's a new policy that ID will be required for not only receiving but sending as well. Has anyone else had that experience?

[Governor]

@daytripper Not at WalMart or Ace Cash Express. Did you go to a CVS or Albertson's or a store along those lines?

[Nickel]

The last time I used MG, about a month and a half ago, I was asked for ID. I was using one of those shipping/mailbox outlets in a mall. The person pulled up my entire MG history right there on her screen. It was a place called Mail and More.

[buffy8999]

I always use the red phone at my local CVS and the first two times they did not ask for ID but the third time I went I had to show my license so Im not sure what it is that makes them ask for ID because I was sending money to the same person each time but only asked once.

[trevor_wood]

I've been using the moneygram/ATM machine at a nearby convenience store. It's great because it's all over the phone and no ID is required. The dowside is when someone is waiting behind you to get cash from the ATM while you are talking to the moneygram rep.

[daytripper]

@daytripper Not at WalMart or Ace Cash Express. Did you go to a CVS or Albertson's or a store along those lines?

Yeah, it was a CVS. It was exactly what happened to buffy... first 2 times no id requested, and then the 3rd time they did. Thanks for the WalMart suggestion.

[knocker]

I have read a couple of posts where members said that they had "bad experiences" with moneygram online. What exactly were the problems? Can anyone be more specific? I like the idea of using a CC rather than cash.

[lseven7]

Mostly the problem is that they ask you a lot of questions and often decline the transaction. Specially if you are sending money to Mexico or Pakistan. Do you really want a credit card record of all your drug transactions, the more often you send $$ using a CC, the more likely you are to be declined. This doesn't apply to domestic transactions. I use cash at WalMart or at a tiny hispanic shop in my neighborhood, I use a fake sender name, but a real disposable 'prepaid' cell phone number (Aslo known as a 'burner'), so I can change the receiver over the phone if I have to. You can change the new receiver info to your own name so you can go and pick up the cash. That way there is no paper trail that can ever lead to you. Maybe I'm a little paraniod. Some people have no trouble at all and some folks get turned down every time they try over the phone....there is no rhyme or reason...go figure!

[Nickel]

I had a bad experience with MG when I tried to sign up online. I'll fill out the forms with my info but when I hit the SAVE button I would get an error message. I emailed them and was told that part of the site was down and to try again in 12 hours. I tried again and still got the error message. Finally I called them and had to give them everything again verbally.

Then, the first time I tried to make a payment online I got another error message, saying I wasn't registered. Argh! Back to the phone and after some searching, the customer service rep finally got me going. I successfully completed the transaction.

It was really nerve-wracking, esp. the second part where I tried to pay and couldn't. Everything seemed to be going wrong and I was just waiting to hear that the pharmacy didn't get the MG but they did or than I had paid twice or something. Two days later, I completed the process. Not so convenient, huh?

I've never used it since though. It felt like there were too many ways for my payment to slip through the cracks online. Or it could have been bad timing on my part. I might try them again sometime to see if it works any better.

[BrightDay]

Yeah, it was a CVS. It was exactly what happened to buffy... first 2 times no id requested, and then the 3rd time they did. Thanks for the WalMart suggestion.

WalMart is always easy, and cheap. Only $9.00 and no questions asked. They do require you to fill out the address and phone info but they don't check it. I grab a handful of transfer forms on the way out so I can just fill it out at home.

[knocker]

Thanks for the feedback guys. I appreciate it. Hopefully others can now avoid these issues.

[TennTom]

I use WalMart hand have yet to have a payment problem. I am concerned that they are getting curious about why I send so much money down south. So I am slowing to a trickle.

[MattMar]

Just wanted to let you guys know that I just used red phone MG and they asked "What state in MX are you sending to?" That is new.....

[medicaldean]

unless you can find an off the wall location(bribe) it IS now policy for some form of ID of sender - this is for improved tracking of users info as well as receiver - still best to use face 2 face if worried about personal info
I NEED REP SCORE HELP

[Burlingus]

Both W/U and MG are great , for MG when you got to a place where you gotta use the red phone there is a couple more questions they ask you but nothing too personal , other MG are very easy like W/U , you fill out one sheet ( senders name , amount , receivers name/location) and present your ID and thats it places like that around here are Cash Advance , America Advance and so on i prefer those to the red phone. For W/U its always great i just go to Win-Dixie and its a snap easy to send money all over the world , im not sure on this but i think W/U is a tiny bit cheaper. You can go to the website of W/U or MG and find locations near you to make it easy to find the closest one.

[DrCrumbs]

I have been asked kinda randomly to present ID when I have used MG at a grocery store. I just put something kinda similar to what my ID reads but never exactly and it works great.

[beavis2]

Never been asked to show ID when sending via MG in-person at Ace. I do keep my transactions small, though. Have never sent more than $250 at a time, for various reasons.

[xcheck44]

I have tried using MoneyGram's website to wire money for orders on three different occasions, and each time they declined the transaction. The first two times, they gave me a phone number to call, where they asked why I was sending money to Mexico (told them it was for my church's mission team), but they still declined it. Second time, they didn't ask but declined it anyway. Third time it was declined almost immediately. There was a span of about three weeks between each try. There is a small grocery store near where I work that does MG transfers, and that is where I go to do my business.

[c729]

I have read a couple of posts where members said that they had "bad experiences" with moneygram online. What exactly were the problems? Can anyone be more specific? I like the idea of using a CC rather than cash.

I'm one that has had issues. I used the same SY vendor but it was a different receiver every time. MG and WU both locked me out (I can't even log on to my account now to look at prior history). I was able to use Xoom once before they did the same thing. I changed to a vendor in another country and went to Walmart to use MG and they did allow it to go through, although the Walmart employee could not have made me more uncomfortable when she started listing off all of the different receivers I've used and saying so it's not so and so, or so and so, or so and so. Geez lady...shut up and just input what I wrote on the form. It's going to a completely different country so there is no need for you to tell everyone in line how much money I send over the border!

I have since read that because I was checking that it was for goods and services then I may have created issues. Maybe checking no and saying you're sending money to family is a better idea.

[LeviDenim]

It is always best to check the box that makes it a personal transfer. When pushed to use
a money transfer service I prefer MG over WU and always use personal as the reason funds sent.