How to Track a Money Order

Using money orders to pay bills or send money to someone is as safe as using a check. Money orders all have a tracking number or serial number that can be tracked. How you go about tracking them will depend on who you purchased the money order from. It's important to save your receipt for the purchase and the portion of the money order that you tear off. This will prove that you purchased the money order in the first place and supply the number needed to track it.

Things You'll Need

• Original receipt for the purchase of the money order
• Tear-off portion of the money order that you did not mail

Instructions

Track a Post Office Money Order

1. For postal money orders, take your receipt and the tear-off receipt to the post office.

2. Fill out a form 6401 and pay a fee of $5.20.

3. After the U.S. Postal Service runs the tracking, if the money order had been lost or stolen, and it was not cashed, it will refund the amount of the money order. If it was cashed, it can tell you where.

Track a Western Union Money Order

1. Have the serial number of the money order and fill out a Consumer Service Affidavit from Western Union. Sign it and have it notarized.

2. Send the notarized form with a payment of $15 to Western Union at Integrated Payment Systems, P.O. Box 7030, Englewood, CO 80155-7030.

3. If Western Union finds the money order was not cashed, it will refund the amount of the money order. If it was cashed, it will supply you with a photocopy of the front and back of the money order. This process could take up to 30 days.

References

• Western Union Money Orders

Resources

• Read this Article in Spanish
• U.S. Postal Service: Lost, Stolen or Damaged Money Orders