How to Cancel a Postal Order

A postal order is a way to send money in the UK.

A postal order is the UK version of a U.S. postal money order. People use postal orders to send money when they do not have bank accounts, or are unwilling to send bank details along with money payments. You can obtain a postal order by making payment to the Post Office. The Post Office sends the postal order to the recipient, who can then cash it at a Post Office. If a postal order is lost or stolen, it is possible to cancel it. You should do this as soon as possible.

Instructions

1. Go to a Post Office and ask for a P58, which is a lost mail form. To find your nearest Post Office, go to the Post Office website (see Resources) and insert your postcode or the area in which you are.

2. Fill in the form, and send it off to the Royal Mail address given on the form. Also include your receipt. Make a photocopy of the receipt and the completed form before sending.

3. Report any stolen postal orders to the police. The police will give you a Crime Reference number, which you should write down. Call the Post Office at 08457 223 344, and give your Crime Reference number and the User ID printed on your receipt. If it has not been cashed, then you will be able to get a full refund on the value of the postal order.

References

• Post Office: Postal Orders and the Post Office
• Post Office: Postal Orders FAQs

Resources

• Post Office: Branch Locator