[ARCHIVED THREAD] - USPS Money Order Problem UPDATE 2-13 (Page 1 of 2)
Posted: 2/6/2017 9:25:14 PM EDT
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Four years ago I purchased an accessory from an out of state brick and mortar store I originally found on GB. I sent them a USPS MO. Weeks later they claimed they never received it. I reported MO lost to USPS, explaining I sent it but it was never received. After 60 days a replacement was sent to me. I sent it to the store and received my part.
Three years and eleven months later, (today), I get a letter from USPS saying the original MO was cashed last week and I owe them $105. I called the USPS Accounting Service Center, General Accounting Branch and they tell me that: USPS MO's are good forever. They never expire. They pay out on MO's that have been reported lost and replaced with a new MO. If I don't pay they will turn this over to the treasury dept. and they will get the $105. The store has closed down. Phone is disconnected. Google tells me his FFL expired last year. I did find him on GB and emailed him explaining the situation and requesting to be reimbursed for the $105. Haven't gotten a response yet (only hours ago). Any advice? Anything else that I can do? UPDATE 2-13-2017 Spent a lot of time on the phone. USPS General Accounting office told me to FOAD. Local USPS was no help. I contacted Gunbroker and they actually responded. Gunbroker emailed the guy for me and told him the situation and asked him to contact me. I haven't heard anything from him. I finally went online and opened a fraud claim with USPS. I got a call last week from a Postal Inspector. He was super nice and seemed very interested. He said he would look into it and get back in touch with me. I got a call from the Postal Inspector this morning. He apologized for not getting back to me sooner but it seems that a snow storm out east slowed his investigation. He got footage from the bank camera's and found the person that cashed the MO is the same person that I wrote the MO too. Inspector contacted this guy by phone and explained the situation. Guy claims he found the MO when cleaning out some stuff and didn't realize it was reported as lost. He says he will pay the money back. This was late Friday night after the inspector had left work. Inspector told me he will talk to this guy again today and make final arrangements on how the money will be paid back. Sounds like he will either reimburse me and I can reimburse USPS or he will reimburse USPS directly. Just got off the phone with Postal Inspector again. The guy will be sending payment directly to USPS. Payment will have the invoice number from the bill they sent to me. This should get the Postal Accounting Office off my back. Thanks for all the helpful information you guys have shared here. I will update again when this is resolved. |
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Four years ago I purchased an accessory from an out of state brick and mortar store I originally found on GB. I sent them a USPS MO. Weeks later they claimed they never received it. I reported MO lost to USPS, explaining I sent it but it was never received. After 60 days a replacement was sent to me. I sent it to the store and received my part. Three years and eleven months later, (today), I get a letter from USPS saying the original MO was cashed last week and I owe them $105. I called the USPS Accounting Service Center, General Accounting Branch and they tell me that: USPS MO's are good forever. They never expire. They pay out on MO's that have been reported lost and replaced with a new MO. If I don't pay they will turn this over to the treasury dept. and they will get the $105. The store has closed down. Phone is disconnected. Google tells me his FFL expired last year. I did find him on GB and emailed him explaining the situation and requesting to be reimbursed for the $105. Haven't gotten a response yet (only hours ago). Any advice? Anything else that I can do? FUSPS My advice? Pay them. They will spend every last tax dollar you and I have to get that money from you with the full weight and bearing of the United States Governmet behind them. One way or another, they will get it from you-whether you pay it with interest and penalties is up to you. |
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My advice? Pay them. They will spend every last tax dollar you and I have to get that money from you with the full weight and bearing of the United States Governmet behind them. One way or another, they will get it from you-whether you pay it with interest and penalties is up to you. Quoted:
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Four years ago I purchased an accessory from an out of state brick and mortar store I originally found on GB. I sent them a USPS MO. Weeks later they claimed they never received it. I reported MO lost to USPS, explaining I sent it but it was never received. After 60 days a replacement was sent to me. I sent it to the store and received my part. Three years and eleven months later, (today), I get a letter from USPS saying the original MO was cashed last week and I owe them $105. I called the USPS Accounting Service Center, General Accounting Branch and they tell me that: USPS MO's are good forever. They never expire. They pay out on MO's that have been reported lost and replaced with a new MO. If I don't pay they will turn this over to the treasury dept. and they will get the $105. The store has closed down. Phone is disconnected. Google tells me his FFL expired last year. I did find him on GB and emailed him explaining the situation and requesting to be reimbursed for the $105. Haven't gotten a response yet (only hours ago). Any advice? Anything else that I can do? FUSPS My advice? Pay them. They will spend every last tax dollar you and I have to get that money from you with the full weight and bearing of the United States Governmet behind them. One way or another, they will get it from you-whether you pay it with interest and penalties is up to you. Kharn |
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I would think the USPS would be able to obtain the information on the person(s) who cashed the MO? Does it not have to be deposited into an account somehow? That's traceable. Suck too, USPS MO's were supposed to be the safest way to obtain payments. I'm curious if it was cashed at a post office, or just deposited... |
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This. Kharn Quoted:
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Four years ago I purchased an accessory from an out of state brick and mortar store I originally found on GB. I sent them a USPS MO. Weeks later they claimed they never received it. I reported MO lost to USPS, explaining I sent it but it was never received. After 60 days a replacement was sent to me. I sent it to the store and received my part. Three years and eleven months later, (today), I get a letter from USPS saying the original MO was cashed last week and I owe them $105. I called the USPS Accounting Service Center, General Accounting Branch and they tell me that: USPS MO's are good forever. They never expire. They pay out on MO's that have been reported lost and replaced with a new MO. If I don't pay they will turn this over to the treasury dept. and they will get the $105. The store has closed down. Phone is disconnected. Google tells me his FFL expired last year. I did find him on GB and emailed him explaining the situation and requesting to be reimbursed for the $105. Haven't gotten a response yet (only hours ago). Any advice? Anything else that I can do? FUSPS My advice? Pay them. They will spend every last tax dollar you and I have to get that money from you with the full weight and bearing of the United States Governmet behind them. One way or another, they will get it from you-whether you pay it with interest and penalties is up to you. Kharn I agree . Kinda like dealing with the IRS . A hive of Mindless .gov wonks . Who don't mind tormenting you forever . gd |
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Something smells strange here. I sent a MO to a guy once for some gun stuff a few years back, weeks went by he never got it, so I sent him another, told him if other showed up to mail it back to me, and when the time came up i requested a track on my lost MO, paid the fee to do it, and in a few weeks I got a letter saying that the money order was not cashed could not be found and they were refunding me the face value, and the lost money order would have payment stopped. They even mailed me a check.
So just how in the fuck did you file a lost MO request, have it replaced, and the old MO cashed, when they are deemed lost, payment is stopped on them?  Sounds like USPS didn't stop payment on lost money order, and you got hosed for their fuck up...
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Something smells strange here. I sent a MO to a guy once for some gun stuff a few years back, weeks went by he never got it, so I sent him another, told him if other showed up to mail it back to me, and when the time came up i requested a track on my lost MO, paid the fee to do it, and in a few weeks I got a letter saying that the money order was not cashed could not be found and they were refunding me the face value, and the lost money order would have payment stopped. They even mailed me a check. So just how in the fuck did you file a lost MO request, have it replaced, and the old MO cashed, when they are deemed lost, payment is stopped on them? Sounds like USPS didn't stop payment on lost money order, and you got hosed for their fuck up...That was my question also. I'm contacting a family friend who recently retired from the Post Master General's office. Hopefully I will get some good advice. |
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My advice? Pay them. They will spend every last tax dollar you and I have to get that money from you with the full weight and bearing of the United States Governmet behind them. One way or another, they will get it from you-whether you pay it with interest and penalties is up to you. If you can't do the time, don't do the crime (or in this case don't invite the man into your life) 
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Sue the shit out of the dealer for mail fraud. Pay it, then that. Then go after him for every freaking dollar of expenses you possibly can. Lost time, work, fees, everything. Get the judgement. I'd throw a couple thousand dollars after this just to make a fucking example out of him, and stick him with a criminal record to boot. That motherfucker got the original money order, told you he never got it, and then got another one from you. When he finally goes out of business, then he cashes it? If you could get proof he's done that to anyone else besides you, I wish you could send him to prison. Yeah, yeah, maybe he shut his business down and 'found' it, and cashed it thinking that he just found a money order he didn't get twice. Even if that's the case, hammer his ass for shitty accounting anyways. Either way, fuck him. I'd be highly tempted to tell USPS to go fuck themselves for not tracking that a replacement had been issued for it. |
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Just a thought - contact your congressional rep and have them reach out to the USPS. It might not change the result, but at least you will have another set of eyes looking at the problem.
Most definitely file a complaint with the Postal Inspector. Hope it works out for you. |
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My advice? Pay them. They will spend every last tax dollar you and I have to get that money from you with the full weight and bearing of the United States Governmet behind them. One way or another, they will get it from you-whether you pay it with interest and penalties is up to you. Thanks, I will have to pay them. I just hope I can get reimbursed from him or at least get the USPS to go after him. |
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If you explain the situation that sounds like something the postal inspectors would handle. Either the guy scammed you or the MO truly was lost, someone found it, faked the seller's ID, and cashed it. I don't know. I'm thinking maybe he found it and had forgotten about it after 4 years. Hopefully he will be cooperative. I can't believe the USPS would pay out on a 4 year old MO that was reported lost and that they issued a replacement for. |
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Just a thought - contact your congressional rep and have them reach out to the USPS. It might not change the result, but at least you will have another set of eyes looking at the problem. Hope it works out for you. For $105????? 
Might as well call the BBB too. 
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If they don't expire, why do you owe them extra money? They had already replaced the MO I reported lost 4 years ago. The replacement was cashed right after he received it 4 years ago. I'm guessing the original MO was delivered and one of the knuckleheads at his shop misplaced it and it was found last month. He had probably forgotten all about it. Why the USPS would pay on it after it was reported lost and they replaced it is what a can't believe. |
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They sent me a copy of the Money Order, both sides, with his signature on the back. You got fucked by a clever-enough-for-this-shit but too-lazy/crooked/druggy-to-make-it-in-life scumbag. He beat you and for $105 you just have eat it. Well played ex-FFL scumbag. Well played indeed sir |
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Sue the shit out of the dealer for mail fraud. Yeah the OP is going to sue the shit out an defunct FFL in another state for $105. I have a feeling some of you guys do not read what your write? Also and fyi the post office will not do jack on something like this.
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Pay it, then that. Then go after him for every freaking dollar of expenses you possibly can. Lost time, work, fees, everything. Get the judgement. I'd throw a couple thousand dollars after this just to make a fucking example out of him, and stick him with a criminal record to boot. That motherfucker got the original money order, told you he never got it, and then got another one from you. When he finally goes out of business, then he cashes it? If you could get proof he's done that to anyone else besides you, I wish you could send him to prison. Yeah, yeah, maybe he shut his business down and 'found' it, and cashed it thinking that he just found a money order he didn't get twice. Even if that's the case, hammer his ass for shitty accounting anyways. Either way, fuck him. I'd be highly tempted to tell USPS to go fuck themselves for not tracking that a replacement had been issued for it. I'm thinking one of his employees lost the original one 4 years ago. What a can't understand is from what I found online, his shop closed down a couple years ago. How could it have just been found now? I would love to tell USPS to pound sand, but they will get the money from me no matter what, just a matter of if I want a bunch of interest and penalties tacked on. Hopefully my local post office can help. |
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Just a thought - contact your congressional rep and have them reach out to the USPS. It might not change the result, but at least you will have another set of eyes looking at the problem. Most definitely file a complaint with the Postal Inspector. Hope it works out for you. Thanks! Will do. |
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They are supposed to stop payment on it when it's replaced. Someone goofed and they are hoping you will eat it. I'm hoping that's the case. I just got a return email from an old friend that just retired from the local Post Master General's Office. I have some contact information for a local postal inspector. I will call him in the morning. A friend of a friend's son. |
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They even post all the lost money order serial numbers currently in circulation. You need to escalate this issue at the post master generals office. https://mois.usps.com/pls/pmoisnp/mois_external_pkg.lost_stolen_file?pfile_format=txt Thanks!! I didn't know that. That should help. |
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They had already replaced the MO I reported lost 4 years ago. The replacement was cashed right after he received it 4 years ago. I'm guessing the original MO was delivered and one of the knuckleheads at his shop misplaced it and it was found last month. He had probably forgotten all about it. Why the USPS would pay on it after it was reported lost and they replaced it is what a can't believe. Quoted:
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If they don't expire, why do you owe them extra money? They had already replaced the MO I reported lost 4 years ago. The replacement was cashed right after he received it 4 years ago. I'm guessing the original MO was delivered and one of the knuckleheads at his shop misplaced it and it was found last month. He had probably forgotten all about it. Why the USPS would pay on it after it was reported lost and they replaced it is what a can't believe. Hopefully he responds to you and makes it right. It may be that he was cleaning out some paperwork and found it, then cashed it, not remembering the original lost money order situation. I had sort of the opposite situation happen. I sent a USPS PMO as payment for a case of ammo. I get the case, then a week later I get another case. I called them up and they said they made a mistake. I ended up sending a check for the second case as it was good ammo and didn't want the hassle of sending the second case back. 
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My advice? Pay them. They will spend every last tax dollar you and I have to get that money from you with the full weight and bearing of the United States Governmet behind them. One way or another, they will get it from you-whether you pay it with interest and penalties is up to you. Agreed. You're fuxored OP. Accept your fate and rest easy knowing the douche probably just found the envelope as he was cleaning out crap. Maybe he'll step up and do the right thing when you remind him where it came from but I doubt it. |
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For $105?????
Might as well call the BBB too. Quoted:
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Just a thought - contact your congressional rep and have them reach out to the USPS. It might not change the result, but at least you will have another set of eyes looking at the problem. Hope it works out for you. For $105?????
Might as well call the BBB too. I guess he could do nothing and swallow it. I bet that's how you would handle it. By swallowing. Isn't it. |
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Pay it, then that. Then go after him for every freaking dollar of expenses you possibly can. Lost time, work, fees, everything. Get the judgement. I'd throw a couple thousand dollars after this just to make a fucking example out of him, and stick him with a criminal record to boot. That motherfucker got the original money order, told you he never got it, and then got another one from you. When he finally goes out of business, then he cashes it? If you could get proof he's done that to anyone else besides you, I wish you could send him to prison. Yeah, yeah, maybe he shut his business down and 'found' it, and cashed it thinking that he just found a money order he didn't get twice. Even if that's the case, hammer his ass for shitty accounting anyways. Either way, fuck him. I'd be highly tempted to tell USPS to go fuck themselves for not tracking that a replacement had been issued for it. LOL are you kidding me!? I feel like it was more than $105 worth of work to read that rant. It sucks that the OP may or may not have been taken by the FFL in question, but what you are suggesting would waste an awful lot of time and money over a bit of cash that is inconsequential in the long run. Once I was overcharged for an appetizer at a restaurant while on vacation 1,100 miles away, perhaps I should drive back there armed with a receipt and my word in a beautifully futile attempt to make myself financially whole again
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I hate money orders, and will only use that option for something that I just have to have/got a killer deal on, and I trust the seller enough.
What they should do to modernize this antiquated system is just digitize the MOs. You go to your USPS, pay em in cash/debit card, they give you a special code. Give that code to whoever you're paying, they can take that code and cash it out at their nearest USPS, or have them print out a MO for them to deposit. |
| sucks but for a buck o five I would pay it chalk it up as lesson learned and move on with my life. If the ffl doesn't cooperate then its between you and USPS and you wont win anyway and definitely not worth the hassle of suing, calling your congressman or whatever other wacky dumbshit has already been suggested in this thread |
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I hate money orders, and will only use that option for something that I just have to have/got a killer deal on, and I trust the seller enough. What they should do to modernize this antiquated system is just digitize the MOs. You go to your USPS, pay em in cash/debit card, they give you a special code. Give that code to whoever you're paying, they can take that code and cash it out at their nearest USPS, or have them print out a MO for them to deposit. Really? never heard of this. what is the fee |
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I guess he could do nothing and swallow it. I bet that's how you would handle it. By swallowing. Isn't it. Quoted:
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Just a thought - contact your congressional rep and have them reach out to the USPS. It might not change the result, but at least you will have another set of eyes looking at the problem. Hope it works out for you. For $105?????
Might as well call the BBB too. I guess he could do nothing and swallow it. I bet that's how you would handle it. By swallowing. Isn't it. Wow! Thought of that one all by yourself did you? You really think a US congressman is going to spend time dealing with the post office over $105? You guys are delusional.
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You can sue somebody for committing a crime against you. Including fraud. Quoted:
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Mail fraud is criminal, not civil. The OP cannot sue for a criminal offense. Even if he could, sue for $105??? You can sue somebody for committing a crime against you. Including fraud. First of all, it's the post office who has been defrauded. The OP hasn't paid a dime, yet at least. Defrauding the post office is a criminal offense, not civil. But even if it were, what attorney would take the case for suing for $105????? |