Money Orders

(I was reading the thread on banks, and thought of this)

Quite a few years ago, the few stores in this area that sell money orders (convenience stores and tobacco store) put in a policy that money orders must be purchased with cash- they no longer accept debit cards. When I asked the reason, I was told it's because they're concerned about terrorists/terrorism.
I don't understand the connection, but also wonder if anyone else here has had similar experiences?

I rarely need money orders- only when payday & pay-rent-day conflict, but it can be quite a hassle when I have to go all the way to a grocery store that does sell them on debit cards.
One particularly annoying experience: I had to buy one on a day the buses weren't running, and had to walk something like 4 miles in each direction to get to a grocery store.

Is this happening anywhere else in the U.S., or only here?

 

@Janice Martin
I had advertised an expensive rifle for sale. A guy called, met me at a safe place (no one may view my wares at my home), agreed to the "buy", then produced a bunch of 7-Eleven Money Orders. He assured me they were good. I took a pass. I had written down, unbeknownst to him, as he looked over the weapon, a M.O. serial #. Later, inquiring of 7-Eleven, I was told those M.O.s had been stolen, and were valueless.
Frank

 

Our money orders are only available at a bank and nowhere else..

 

We don't buy/use Money Orders at all. Pay rent by check as well as other bills. Have never had a problem. One thing I do know, some people can only deal with cash or Money Orders because they can't have a banking account, for whatever reasons. Years ago, when I owed some State and Federal tax, I opened a Savings Acct. with an Unemployment Insurance check. I did this on a Wednesday. That weekend, I went to an ATM to draw out some money and the money I had put in was totally gone. The Fed's got it. So, from that time on, until I took care of what I owed to both State and Federal, I had to use cash and/or Money Orders.

 

Postal Money Orders purchased from the USPS were once a very common staple of fund transfer. They, too, can have stop-payment orders issued against them.
Frank