Lost Money Order? How to Cancel It and Get Your Cash

Whether you received a money order or bought one to pay someone else, losing it doesn’t always mean saying goodbye to your funds.

» Want more detail on money orders? See our money order guide

Here’s how to cancel and replace a money order or get a refund.

You can cancel a money order that hasn't been cashed. (If it’s already been cashed, skip ahead.) If you're not sure about your money order's status, you can track it by calling the issuer's customer service number or using the tracking feature on its website.

Here are the steps to cancel a money order.

Step 1: Contact the issuer, who will ask you to start the cancellation process by completing a request form.

Step 2: Provide details on the request form, such as the money order’s purchase date, location and amount, as well as its tracking number. You’ll find this information on the money order receipt, which the buyer gets at the time of purchase. If you don’t have the receipt, fill in as much information as you can.

You might also be asked for the name of the person or company you were paying and a brief description of how the money order was lost.

Step 3: Attach a copy of the receipt, if you have it.

Step 4: Submit the cancellation request form and pay a fee. Depending on the provider, you don’t have to return the form to the same location, or even in person. Some issuers, including Western Union, let you email or mail the request.

Here’s what some of the larger money-order issuers charge for a cancellation or replacement:

• MoneyGram: $18 (available at Walmart).

• U.S. Postal Service: $18 to replace a missing money order.

• Western Union: $15 if you have your receipt, up to $30 if you don’t.

Once the issuer accepts payment, it will verify your information and research whether the money order was cashed. If all goes well, the issuer will cancel the old money order and send a new one. The entire process varies by issuer, but it often takes about 20 to 30 days if you provide a receipt. If not, it can take around eight weeks.

Instead of receiving a new money order, you can ask for your money back, usually on the same form. The fees and time to process are generally the same as if you canceled and asked for a replacement money order to be sent.

» Learn more: How to fill out a money order

If the money order has already been cashed, you probably won’t get your cash back or a replacement money order. But you might still be able to collect.

The provider might give you a photocopy of the cashed money order. If you think it was cashed fraudulently, alert your local law enforcement. The copy could help authorities catch the criminal and make sure the money is returned to you.

To help protect yourself against fraud, write a name in the “payee” field as soon as you buy the money order and give one only to people or businesses you trust.

If you receive a money order, cash it or deposit it in a checking or savings account before you have a chance to lose it. But if your money order does disappear, follow these steps for a decent shot at reclaiming your cash.

» Need to send money to family or friends? See NerdWallet’s picks for the best ways to send money domestically and internationally.