Money order or written checks...?

Question

Which are safer to recieve from somebody you don't know. A check or a money order. Isn't it a money order since they have to give money to send a money order?

Answer 1

"Money orders are generally considered safer for payments from parties unknown to the payee, as opposed to a personal check drawn on the maker's bank account. This is mainly because money orders are unlikely to bounce due to insufficient funds, since a money order is drawn on a bank's funds rather than on an individual's bank account like a personal check is. And while an individual's checking account balance is susceptible to running out due to personal whims and incompetencies, a banking institution's funds generally are not. In recent years, partly for this reason, money orders have become a preferred method of payment by sellers of goods over the Internet, but are rapidly being replaced by electronic transfer services (such as PayPal) as the most popular method."

Answer 2

Personal checks can bounce. Money orders CAN have stop payments placed on them with restriction.

Cashier check is the best. Banks issue these. The purchaser pays for these up front. The bank records the information about the purchaser, who the check is made out to, and often records the reason for the check in the memo area. It is more easily traced.

Answer 3

Money order would be your best bet. It is so hard to forge or make one up unless you have the machine to do it. There are certain ways that money order is printed and with all the serial numbers and all it'll be hard. Have them get one from a bank or post office. Checks can be stolen or faked. Accept cash or money order and you'll be better off.

Answer 4

Definitely a money order. They have to give the cash to someone to get the money order or cashier check.

Answer 5

it is so easy to forge a money order it's not even funny.

If you get a personal check, you can go to that bank, and they can tell you immediately if the check is valid and if there are funds - do NOT deposit the check, cash it, because if it turns out that it's fraudulent the bank can't go after you because it's not in your bank account. If you deposit it, then the bank will just withdraw that (and a $15 fee for a bad check) from your account. If you go to the bank the check is drawn on, by law they have to honor it, even if you do not have an account with that bank.

Answer 6

Sure. As long as your name and the relevant numbers appear on the check or money order so they know where to credit it, the court isn't going to care about the source of the money. You really should get an adult that you trust to explain all these things to you. It's hard to imagine living a responsible adult life without knowing how to write a check.

Answer 7

Send a money order or a bank (not personnal) check by registered mail with return receipt. Keep all receipts along with the original bill or request. That way you have reasonable proof that you sent the money.

Answer 8

Money order definitely

Answer 9

Yes, a money order is always the safest way to receive money. People can always cancel checks or not have sufficient funds to cover the check given to you, which would cause your bank to charge you.

Answer 10

I would think that a money order would be safer