No — you should not cross out a mistake on a money order. Any visible alteration, even an honest correction, is treated as tampering, and banks or retailers will refuse to cash it. If you still have the spoiled money order and the purchase receipt, the issuer will usually replace it. USPS does this for free.
Why a Strikethrough Voids the Money Order
Money orders are negotiable instruments, which means they work like guaranteed checks backed by prepaid funds. Under the Uniform Commercial Code, an unauthorized change that modifies a party’s obligation counts as an “alteration,” and once a money order has been altered, the original obligation is discharged and the document loses its legal force.1Legal Information Institute. UCC 3-407 Alteration A bank or store that cashes an obviously altered money order can end up absorbing the loss, so tellers are trained to reject them on sight.
The paper itself is designed to expose tampering. USPS money orders carry a Benjamin Franklin watermark visible when held to light, a top-to-bottom security thread that repeats the word “USPS,” and ink around the dollar amounts that discolors if anyone tries to alter it.2USPS. Verifying U.S. Postal Service Money Orders Correction fluid, an eraser, or a heavy pen stroke can trigger those features and make the change unmissable. Once that happens, no bank or retailer will take it — which is why replacement is the right move, not a workaround.
Getting a Free Replacement From USPS
If the money order came from the Post Office and you still have both the money order and the matching receipt stub, USPS will replace it at no charge. The Postal Service treats these as “spoiled” money orders and issues a replacement whenever the customer brings back the original along with the receipt.3USPS. Money Orders – The Basics
Take both documents to any Post Office, show a valid photo ID, and fill out PS Form 6401 (Money Order Inquiry) in black ink. Acceptable ID includes a driver’s license, state ID, military ID, alien registration card, or passport.4USPS. PS Form 6401 – Money Order Inquiry The clerk verifies your information and submits the form.
You will not get cash back. USPS issues a replacement money order, which you can then make out to the correct payee, or to yourself if you’d rather cash it.3USPS. Money Orders – The Basics
Because the replacement itself is free, this is almost always cheaper than starting over. A new USPS domestic money order costs $2.55 for amounts up to $500 and $3.60 for amounts between $500.01 and $1,000, which is the maximum for a single USPS money order.5USPS. Price List – Notice 123 If the paperwork feels like more trouble than a few dollars, buying a fresh one and filing for the refund later is a reasonable trade.
If Western Union or MoneyGram Issued It
Money orders bought at grocery stores, pharmacies, and convenience stores are usually issued by Western Union or MoneyGram, and each has its own process.
Western Union takes refund requests through its Money Order Request Form, and if the money order has not been cashed, a processing fee comes out of the refund:
- $5 or less face value: no fee
- $5.01 to $99.99: $5 fee
- $100 or more: $15 fee
If you don’t have proof of purchase, Western Union runs a search and notifies you of the results within two to four weeks.6Western Union. Money Order Request Form
MoneyGram also processes refunds on money orders that haven’t been cashed, but it doesn’t publish its fee schedule — you’ll see the amount only after starting a refund request. MoneyGram does charge an $18 fee if you need a photocopy of a cashed money order for your records.7MoneyGram. MoneyGram Money Order Frequently Asked Questions
If You Already Sent It or Can’t Find It
The free replacement only applies when you still hold the physical money order. If you’ve mailed it, lost it, or had it stolen, USPS treats the request as an inquiry, and the fee is $21.8U.S. Postal Service. Sending Money Orders – Replacing Lost, Stolen, or Damaged Money Orders That fee covers the investigation into whether the money order has been cashed and, if it hasn’t, the issuance of a replacement.
Bring your purchase receipt to any Post Office and complete PS Form 6401 with the serial number, dollar amount, purchase date, and Post Office number, all of which appear on the receipt.4USPS. PS Form 6401 – Money Order Inquiry You can also mail the form to the St. Louis Accounting Service Center at PO Box 80453, St. Louis, MO 63180-0453.3USPS. Money Orders – The Basics
USPS will not issue a replacement until at least 60 days after the original purchase date, and only if the money order hasn’t been cashed. If it has been cashed, USPS sends you a copy of the paid money order instead.4USPS. PS Form 6401 – Money Order Inquiry You can check status online using the serial number, Post Office number, and issued amount from your receipt.9USPS. Money Orders FAQs
Getting It Right the Next Time
A little care at the counter saves the trip back. A few habits help:
- Fill in the payee’s name first, before you sign the money order or detach the receipt, so you can void it right away if you slip.
- Use black ink. It’s legible, doesn’t smudge, and PS Form 6401 requires it if you ever need to file an inquiry.4USPS. PS Form 6401 – Money Order Inquiry
- Match the payee’s name to their ID exactly. A misspelling can stop them from cashing it.
- Keep the receipt somewhere separate from the money order itself. It carries the serial number you’ll need for any future inquiry, and it should never travel in the same envelope as the payment.
- Complete the money order before you leave the counter. If something goes wrong, the postal clerk is right there.
- Know the limit. A single USPS money order can’t exceed $1,000, so a larger payment needs to be split.5USPS. Price List – Notice 123