barrelracer
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posted on September 5, 2000 11:22:32 AM
About a month or so ago I needed help on Canadian money orders, and cdnbooks and reddeer both suggested I cash a canadian Postal Money Order at my post office to avoid the $5 charge my bank was charging.
Canadian Postal Money Orders are payable in US dollars, but do not list a US bank.
So I just returned from the PO where they cashed it with no problem, (after of course saying I brought them "another first"
as in first international package, first "yes this is small enough to go small packet air" , etc.
Since the MO was only $10.50, needless to say a $5 charge would heavily cut into the profits from that sale!
Thank you for your help. With all the negativity and rude remarks posted on this board lately, it is nice to be helped like in the old days.
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jada
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posted on September 5, 2000 11:33:03 AM
Barrelracer - Yep, those two are definitely of the "good guy" variety.
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nowwhat
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posted on September 5, 2000 11:54:05 AM
barrelracer ~ I'm glad your Post Office cashed it. Mine told me I had to go to a Post Office that is 45 minutes from where I live. I don't quite believe them and will check other sites a little closer by.
Since time is money, driving 1 1/2 hours does not seem worth it to me unless of course I do some shopping while I'm there and run across some treasures.
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barrelracer
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posted on September 5, 2000 11:58:40 AM
nowwhat,
I thought all post offices were supposed to offer the same service?
There is another thread right now about Canadian MO where somebody posted a link to some pages that might help you.
My PO is in a town of 700, if they cashed it......
Best of Luck.
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RB
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posted on September 5, 2000 12:00:13 PM
Hey! I resemble that remark ...  I posted that info under several different threads.
I must be "The Forgotten Canadian" 
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barrelracer
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posted on September 5, 2000 12:04:18 PM
RB,
Well then thank you to you too!
I tried to look for the original thread but I gave up after so many pages.
barrelracer, who is trying to not get a little to anal in postings to RB.
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reddeer
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posted on September 5, 2000 12:22:01 PM
Thanks, and you're welcome.
Here's a post I swiped off an eBay board that might help clear things up for both Canucks & Americans with regards to Postal MO's.
For the benefit of all: I think some of the confusion is this-- "postal MOs" are subject to reciprocal agreements which allow recipients to cash them at post offices in some other countries. Obviously, only the pink international MOs are cashable in those countries that have agreed to do so. The green domestic MOs can only be cashed at
"post offices" in the US and its possessions. (The Canada PO used to take the green ones, but stopped in 1997).
HOWEVER, that restriction is not necessarily applicable outside of the postal system. Canadian banks do accept the Green ones. All major Cdn banks have US subsidiaries and Can/US clearing facilities where they are treated like a check from the US would be.
edited to add. My guess is the USPS put a stop to the Canadian PO's accepting the "green" USPS MO's. The International USPS MO's cost 3 times as much which means more moola for the USPS. I guess they forgot about our banks cashing them?
[ edited by reddeer on Sep 5, 2000 12:29 PM ]
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RB
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posted on September 5, 2000 12:31:38 PM
reddeer ... "Canadian banks do accept the Green ones. All major Cdn banks have US subsidiaries and Can/US clearing facilities where they are treated like a check from the US would be."
The two TD banks I deal with, and the Bank of Montreal where I work will NOT cash USPS green money orders at any fee. I have had to send 3 of these back to US buyers during the past couple of months, totalling $238.00 US. Guess what --- not one has been returned with the pink ones that I can cash.
Boy, if eBay hadn't of reacted so fast to my self-imposed cancelation of my account, I'd be getting ready to do some serious negging
PS - It WAS the USPS that kyboshed the cashing of green money orders in Canada. I'm glad you mentioned this as there are many of my US friends that still think this was a Canadian decision ...
[ edited by RB on Sep 5, 2000 12:33 PM ]
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VeryModern
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posted on September 5, 2000 01:09:25 PM
Posting to say thanks too.
I just deposited one of these Canadian funds MO's (unknowingly) to my bank which held the funds while the MO was sent to Wells Fargo to clear and slapped me with a $10 fee. (Policy is 3% or $10 - whichever is HIGHER).
After reading that the PO would have cashed for free, I called my bank and asked that they return the check to me so that I could cash it fee free at the post office and in the end they refunded the $10.
Thank you!
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reddeer
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posted on September 5, 2000 01:49:39 PM
RB ..... The person at your bank that gave you that info is full of sheet.
I bank with the Bank of Montreal, & they'll accept anything I bring to them, including the "green" Domestic USPS MO's.
Sometimes you have to go to the top & rattle some cages before they clue in.
FYI - The TD bank in Toronto is the bank that is dealing with Wells Fargo via Billpoint, they seem to accept US funds with no problem.
If the Branch Manager can't help you, ask to speak to their Boss. I assure you they'll have a change of heart very quickly.
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RB
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posted on September 5, 2000 02:02:30 PM
It wasn't just at one bank. I tried two different TD banks and the BOM in the facility where I work. I even tried the US Embassy - they just laughed at me
The TD bank that I have been dealing with for the past 30 years was very polite when they told me "sorry, we're not allowed to cash these". I don't hold it against them, but rather the buyers who failed to read my TOS (or the big letters on the money order stating that they can be cashed in the USA or it's possessions only).
Believe me - it really hurt having to send back all that dough, especially since I will probably never see it again ...
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stockticker
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posted on September 5, 2000 02:51:14 PM
Redeer: RB is right. Policies vary from branch to branch, even within the same Canadian Bank in the same city. Many, many Canadian posters (both here and on the eBay Canada Board) have reported that their branches will not accept the green money orders. The confusion doesn't appear to be confined to one region of Canada either.
By the way, up until 1997 the U.S. post office only issued one kind of money order - it was green in color and could be used internationally. They invented the pink international money order apparently simply to be able to charge a higher fee. The green money orders then started to state that they were negotiable in the U.S. only.
Irene
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cdnbooks
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posted on September 5, 2000 05:34:58 PM
barrelracer
You are welcome.
Reddeer, RB and Stockticker
I really think that cashing green US money orders in Canada depends on the phase of the moon and what the teller had for breakfast.
I have cashed them at 2 big banks and Canada Trust. But some branches of these same institutions won't take them, nor will some tellers at branches that usually take them. You'd think they were US credit unions with that level of service 
Where I live there are 5 big banks and CT within two blocks. If I run into a teller who had spoiled corn flakes I just walk down the street.
Bill
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reddeer
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posted on September 5, 2000 10:59:28 PM
Stockticker ..... Yes, I know. I've heard it all dozens of times. I would also be willing to bet that I could walk into the same bank & they would change that "branch" rule/policy.
I've yet to meet a banker that wouldn't take my $$$.
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eventer
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posted on September 6, 2000 06:47:23 AM
I've yet to meet a banker that wouldn't take my $$$.
Sorry, this isn't about Canadian money orders but I simply couldn't resist the temptation to respond to this.
I HAVE met a banker that wouldn't take my money & he's right in New York City.
On our mother-daughter marathon tour of the east coast horseshows this summer, we stopped by NYC so my daughter could "experience" it for the first time.
I was down to only $100 bills (awwww....) & needed to cash one down to $20's. We walked into Citibank over in the Wall Street district & asked to cash a $100 bill into $20's.
They refused...because we didn't have a Citibank account. They refused to change CASH into CASH. I was absolutely blown away. Wasn't the BEST introduction to NYC for my daughter.
Fortunately...a customer overheard our discussions w/the teller & made change for us out of his own account which greatly restored my daughter's faith in the citizens of NYC.
Now I can understand if I had asked to cash a check, or even used a credit card...but CASH into CASH? Do they think I was minting them in my basement?
Yes, reddeer, there are bankers who won't take your money..but the good news is there IS a Santa Claus.
edited because reddeer is a "deer" and not a "dear"..though he may be..I'm just not allowed to get that personal. 
[ edited by eventer on Sep 6, 2000 06:48 AM ]
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cdnbooks
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posted on September 6, 2000 07:03:20 AM
eventer
actually this thread has about run its course. Good to see you back - your kids must be back at school.
I don't think that they use cash on Wall Street.
Bill
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eventer
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posted on September 6, 2000 07:29:00 AM
Hi Bill!
kidS? Oh, God, did I have one I forgot about?
Actually the one is all I can afford. Gotta save up for those Canadian citizenship papers, you understand!
Thanks..good to be back. Yes, the Canuck wannabe is back in school (or so she tells me..but do we [b]really[b] know for sure?) but we have full line up of fall horse shows, so no rest for the weary mother.
Welll, we asked for a sample of stock but they just wouldn't share..the swines!
Hey, next year...Spruce Meadows!
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RB
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posted on September 6, 2000 08:05:59 AM
Before you go ...
I received some US cash for an item. Would you believe that Future Shop nor Office Depot would NOT accept it as payment for something I wanted to buy? Talk about embarassing. Here I am with US cash and two major Canadian chain retail outlets would not accept it !!
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RB
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posted on September 6, 2000 08:08:26 AM
eventer ... how old is your daughter? My 23 year old son has been begging me (and still does) to take him to New York.
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eventer
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posted on September 6, 2000 09:23:01 AM
RB,
Took her for her 13th birthday. Had a blast! You should take him...it's really a cool experience! Just break those $100 bills BEFORE you go.
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cdnbooks
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posted on September 6, 2000 11:27:04 AM
eventer
I'll break your US$ 100 for 5 CDN$ 20 anytime.
Bill
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RB
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posted on September 6, 2000 12:15:51 PM
Bill ... I'll see your 5 and raise it to 6
Rob
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cdnbooks
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posted on September 6, 2000 01:39:38 PM
RB
shhhh....maybe she won't notice
Bill
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eventer
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posted on September 6, 2000 03:14:15 PM
Yeah...sure...take the poor naive American for a ride.
Thank you both very much but I can't get my daughter to let go of the Canadian currency we got while up there because it's "cool looking".
And since when are sausage biscuits served on english muffins?
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