Is Sending a Postal Money Order Safe?

A postal money order is a money order issued by The Postal Department. Basically, a money order is a prepaid money transfer instrument. This means you have to pay the value of money order at the time of issue. Because of this pre-paid feature, it is more reliable and safer than sending cash in the mail.

How Postal Money Orders Work

In India, Postal department uses the regular postal channels to deliver the money order to the recipient.

A money order involves transaction between two people - the payer and recipient. A payer sends money to a recipient after paying the amount and a small commission at a post office. The post office issues a receipt for the money order.

The amount is then delivered as cash to the recipient after a few days by a postal employee, at the address specified by the payer. A receipt from the recipient is collected and delivered back to the payer at his address. This is done as an acknowledgement of a successful transfer.

Is Sending Postal Money Order Safe?

A money order is commonly used for transferring funds to a recipient in a remote, rural area, where money orders may be the only method of money transfer. It works similar to registered posts and the postal department takes full responsibility of your money order.

When you order a money order, you are requested to fill out the money order forms including all the important details of recipient. For efficient delivery of money order, it is always suggested to use the PIN number along with the address. Postal department is only responsible for delivering the money order to the specified address. Hence, it is your duty to make sure the address is correct.

In case, the recipient tells you that he didn't receive the money order, you can contact the post office from which you bought this money order with the receipt. Postal department will investigate the issue and will inform you about the status of your payment.

If the payee of a money order cannot be found or if the payee refuses to take payment on presentation of the Money order to him, the amount of the money order will be returned to the sender free of charge.

Postal department also allows you to change the address and name of recipient if you need to change it for some reason. For example, in a case where the recipient dies and postal department cannot deliver to him. In such cases, you can change the name and address to that of the dependent.

If there is any dispute regarding payment. You can even stop payment of money order. In such occasions, contact postal department with a request to stop the money order. Please remember, you have to include the receipt number in your letter.

How to make sure your Postal Money Order will be safe

The delivery of postal money order takes place in same way as regular letters and packages. Thus, it is important to make sure that you have mentioned the correct address of recipient.

It has been observed that address problems are the single largest reason why some money orders cannot be delivered. As a matter of fact, you can see that address field is the most important part of a postal money order.

A money order, just like any other financial instrument, is safe only if it gets to the correct addressee. Hence, always make sure you quote the correct address on the money order form.