If you do not have a checking account, then you can use money orders to mail out bill payments or for payment gifts. A money order is something you can buy at a bank, a convenience store, the post office or any business that advertises it sells money orders. Since your money orders are not tied directly to an account you own, they are difficult to track. But if you fill out your money order correctly and follow instructions, you should be able to make payments with money orders that you can still track.
Identify The Recipient
Filling out a money order can be a simple process if you follow the instructions printed on the money order itself. When you look at a money order, you will notice a line for the recipient, and it is a pretty long line too. You can put as much information as you want on this line pertaining to the recipient, but make sure it is all legible. Most people fill in the person’s name or the company name that will be receiving the money order, but some people also like to include the address on this line.
Identify Yourself
Underneath the recipient’s line is a line for the purchaser (you are the purchaser). You might notice that the money order does not ask specifically for your name, but it does ask for your address. If you feel more comfortable, you can write your name along with your address on the line designated for the purchaser’s address. Once again, it is important to make sure that everything you write is legible.
Your Signature
Directly to the right of the purchaser’s address is a line requesting the purchaser’s signature. You must sign this line with the signature you use to do business. You should never print your name in this area as that could make the money order void.
Payment For Account Number
If you are using the money order to pay a bill, then you should put your account number for the recipient in the spot designated for the account number. You will make things much easier on your recipient if you include your account number, especially if you mail in your payment without the bill.
Keep Your Receipt
Your money order receipt will identify the money order and who issued it, but there will be no other information on the receipt. You should write down the recipient and the account number you are paying on the receipt so you have that information if you ever need it.
There is no easy way for you to tell if a money order has been cashed or not. If you feel that you need to track the progress of a money order, then you should only use money orders from reputable companies such as the post office or Western Union. If you buy money order from a bank, remember that in most cases you do not need to have an account with a bank to buy a money order.
Jim Treebold is a North Carolina based writer. He lives by the mantra of “Learn 1 new thing each day”! Jim loves to write, read, pedal around on his electric bike and dream of big things. Drop him a line if you like his writing, he loves hearing from his readers!