which is better to receive as a payment, a check or a money order?

Question

which kind of payment to receive is better? check or money order? any advice or explanations? thanks...

Answer 1

As a bookkeeper, I would recommend a check every time if you are paying. You see, a money order is harder to track then a check. If you send a check to someone and they cash it, you know right away that they cashed it because it is on your bank statement. If they say they never received payment, you just print a copy from your online banking account or go to your bank and ask them for a copy (which usually costs $2) and fax or mail it to the merchant who claims that you did not pay. The merchant cannot deny they received a check because their signature and account number will be on the back.

With a money order, you have to keep the stub that comes with the money order. If a merchant says you did not pay, only the stub acts as proof of payment...and stubs are very very easy to lose. If you can't find the stub and verify payment with the money order's corresponding bank, you have no proof that you made the payment and you would have to pay again. No judge would ever agree that you paid without proof.

Therefore, checks all the way. It's easiest for people who don't want to have to keep every scrap of paper. (A credit card would also be good.)

If you are receiving the payment, I still recommend a check. You can call the bank on the check and verify funds are available for cashing. Money orders are too often counterfeited these days.

Hope this helps.

Answer 2

Money order by all means, I know I once received a check, it bounced and I was the one having to go back and get my money another way. If you can get a cashiers check from the bank, that is okay. The bank will not issue that without the money being there and they reserve the money back for that.

Answer 3

Money order is better, esp if it is a US POST OFFICE MO. That will make sure that is is a good one. A check is not good at all, how do you know the person has the money in the acct or not. Also they can stop payment on it too. Of course Cash is the best.

Answer 4

a money order protects the buyer and the seller.
I agree with the person who stated that a POSTAL MONEY order is the BEST!
If you get a check and the check bounces, YOU could actually owe YOUR bank money to cover the fees.
Just get the money order...insist on a postal money order. you can cash it at the post office and there are no fees to cash it and no waiting time for the bank to make sure it is good etc

Answer 5

A check must have adequate funds in the check writer's account to have any value. A money order is purchased with cash, so it is always good. With the money order you never have to worry about insufficient funds, or a check bouncing.

Answer 6

Money order. They had to pay with cash to get a money order so it is considered cash. You can't write a check for a check nor charge it.

Answer 7

A money order is more reliable than a check. Money orders are equivalent to cash.

Answer 8

A USPS money order is best. Watch out for those "7-11" money orders as some are fakes.

Answer 9

US Postal money order. You can get it cashed at any post office.

Checks bounce and regular money orders can be counterfeit or have some other fraud problem. If you deposit or cash them at your bank and the bounce, the money comes out of your account.

Answer 10

Postal Money order. It is the same as cash. If you accept a check you are essentially on your own if they skip out on you. Hope this helps.