I'm in Canada and have paid sellers many times using an International Postal Money Order (in US funds) from Canada Post. No problems ... until now.
I received an email from my seller stating that his bank says the "check" bounced and charged him a $17 fee. Of course, now he wants his original amount (over $200 US) plus the fee again. He says he'll send me scans of the document(s) from the bank.
I've emailed him about this problem and asked him to pursue his bank more vigorously to determine how/why such a thing could happen (which I don't believe it can). I'll be putting a trace on the MO at my local postoffice.
I also explained to the seller that I am out of the funds as well ... I paid cash for the MO, filled it out properly, and sent it safely on it's way.
posted on January 27, 2001 11:48:54 AM
If you didn't stop payment on the money order (and obviously you did't) then it sounds like a bank error to me.
What you also need from him --is a a scan of the 'returned' money order--not just his bank info. If it did bounce(in error) then he should have gotten it back from the bank
posted on January 27, 2001 02:28:29 PM
It is NOT a bank error. My bank does the same thing. If she pursues it with her bank, she can possibly get the fees waived, and the money order collected through the collections department. (There is a fee for that).
What happens, is that the international postal money orders do not have a US bank routing # on them. Therefore, they have no way of clearing through the US banking system, and must be cleared through collections.
Now, the US postal service will cash the international postal money orders from Canada without charge. Tell your seller that if he should get a Canadian International Postal Money order, to take it to his local post office to cash.
posted on January 27, 2001 02:34:24 PM
Sounds to me like this seller may be scamming you. If your Money Order bounced, he would have it. If he can not send you a copy (front and back) I would not send him a dime. Did you get the item you pruchased?
posted on January 27, 2001 02:45:18 PM
The way American banks work is when a check 'bounces" the person (your seller) gets that check (MO in your case) back.
So your seller has that MO.
Tell him Monday morning to go to the PO and he can cash it for free. There is a list the clerk or postmaster can look on that tells them what postal MOs they can cash for free. Canada is one of them.
But unfortunately, your seller's bank will still charge him the 17.00 processing fee.
Yes, the probelm with a Canadian Postal MO is there is no American address (routing # )
on that MO. I learned the hard way, my bank charged me $25.00 to cash a 15.00 MO.
posted on January 27, 2001 03:23:46 PM
That is the most bizarre thing I have ever heard!Money Orders don't bounce.The guy likely just wants the bank fee back because he did not know to go to the Post Office and beat the charges.That is not your problem,if he is a seller he should know that.If he wants another $200.00 he is scamming you if he cannot show you the M.O,he already cashed it in that case.Even the fee from the bank is not your resposibilty as a buyer.What is wrong with people these days? My Bit
