Kroger Hard-Codes their System Not to Allow Gift Cards for Money Orders

Kroger changed their system to hard-deny gift cards from purchasing money orders.

All gift cards and temporary debit cards are excluded. Permanent reloadable cards with your name on them can still be used. In practice, system-denial will depend on the Bank Identification Number,  YMMV.

This change affects all Kroger family stores as well, including Ralph, Dillons, Frys, Smiths, etc.

R/churning member ID4TgIOBi got a picture of the official internal memo announcing the change:

kroger-mo-gc

 

 

Hat tip to @telewatcr and MPD

Subscribe
Notify of
guest

74 Comments
newest
oldest most voted

Tan T
Tan T (@guest_356831)
February 19, 2017 19:09

A member on Flyertalk said that Kroger rolled back the change because it affects the government benefit cards. Link here: http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/27809894-post688.html

Charly Chang
Charly Chang (@guest_356834)
February 19, 2017 19:11

I had no problem using vgcs to pay a bill last month. I don’t believe the cash register is hard coded. But the cashiers are fully aware of the no-vgc-mo policy.

dan
dan (@guest_356902)
February 19, 2017 23:08

It depends on the cashier; one let me buy multiple at a time at 1 store while another stopped or voided the trans after insisting on seeing the card at another store. While a same store may be more flexible than another, also have to look for a right cashier

will s
will s (@guest_340477)
January 18, 2017 05:20

wee data point: I’ve had no problems buying money orders at Krogers in my area (Virginia)…. using visa gift cards. I do it sparingly, perhaps twice a month, if that – including yesterday. 🙂

No “hard-coding” against it here.

Robin
Robin (@guest_348624)
February 4, 2017 02:24

Can I know the brand of the vgc? Is it one vanilla

Charles
Charles (@guest_331978)
December 28, 2016 19:57

As of 12/28, my Dillons store still taking metabank VGC.

Jason
Jason (@guest_323860)
December 6, 2016 15:21

As of Dec 6, one Kroger affiliated convenience store chain is still accepting every Visa/MC GC I can throw at them … hope the restrictions with the POS hold off as long as possible! Plus, I have two other supermarkets for MO purch with Meta/Vanilla etc GC if this one goes down.

Lela
Lela (@guest_323077)
December 4, 2016 18:59

As DoC said, some gc’s, perhaps those put out by local banks, might not be noticed. Like those put out by US bank or Suntrust bank. I will be trying tomorrow and report back.

Jeff H
Jeff H (@guest_322610)
December 2, 2016 23:38

Reading various Reddit megathreads, I am seeing reports dated Dec 1st or 2nd of wide variety of Kroger owned locations that are accepting GC MO actions. Perhaps not hard coded or being ignored? YMMV as to who has read the memo.

Frank
Frank (@guest_321732)
November 30, 2016 18:56

How can you unload the VMCs bought at Sams? Anywhere you can purchase MOs? I tried walmart but it didnt work.

dan
dan (@guest_321748)
November 30, 2016 19:36

USPS

Dan
Dan (@guest_321896)
December 1, 2016 09:39

What’s a VMC? Do you mean VGC or MGC?

Frank
Frank (@guest_322710)
December 3, 2016 12:53

Vanilla master card.

Just at USPS?

Lela
Lela (@guest_323074)
December 4, 2016 18:56

That is the only place left for VMCgc that I know of. If that doesn’t work in your area, and Wally world is still good for Metabank vgcs, then you could use your vanilla’s at giftcard mall to buy metabank cards (through a portal like Topcashback or yazing) for no extra costs, just the wait time.

Charles Chang
Charles Chang (@guest_324257)
December 7, 2016 12:11

Are you be able to split payment at GCM?

bob
bob (@guest_321655)
November 30, 2016 14:41

MS is for Losers.

Happy to see this. I hope more loopholes are stopped.

Kirk
Kirk (@guest_321743)
November 30, 2016 19:14

Which specific loopholes are you talking about?

Dan
Dan (@guest_321903)
December 1, 2016 09:59

I think he’s referring to being able to purchase money orders with gift cards as a loophole. It kind of was, as most stores had policies that forbade it but they were rarely enforced.

Kirk
Kirk (@guest_322262)
December 2, 2016 01:08

Dang it. I was hoping to find other loopholes to use.

Lela
Lela (@guest_323072)
December 4, 2016 18:52

Ha! Thanks for the laugh!

Prem
Prem (@guest_321633)
November 30, 2016 13:59

why did my comments not get posted?

time to point out the abusers who consider this a money making job (rather than working full time) and handle punitive damages to these morons.

Kirk
Kirk (@guest_321510)
November 30, 2016 05:29

Grrrr. My Kroger 11.29.16 said no go. I have $10k in MOs now. Was fun while it lasted. Gonna miss extra $1,000 I was making each month.

Have to maybe go get real job. I’ve been driving for Uber recently. Not very profitable in my area.

Have to try liquidating via Walmart or Publix.

Anyone have suggestions for making money other than 8 to 5?

Dan
Dan (@guest_321555)
November 30, 2016 10:23

You could deliver for Domino’s.

But what’s wrong with 8 to 5 jobs? If you really want to make money, you’re probably going to have to work one of those eventually.

Prem
Prem (@guest_321621)
November 30, 2016 13:17

Morons like him who considered this as a Money MAKING job for livelihood (more important than the 8 to 5 jobs) are the people responsible for these shutdowns.

I am shocked such idiots exist. Agree with one comment above, such stupid fools such be kicked out first by Trump. Idiots still do not realize the damage they are causing to others

Kirk
Kirk (@guest_321734)
November 30, 2016 18:59

I don’t really understand why doing MS/churning is such a horrible thing or such an emotional issue?

Why are you even posting /following doctor of credit if not to get points/deals/cashback?

What does Donald Trump have to do with it? Troll bait or what?

Kirk
Kirk (@guest_321738)
November 30, 2016 19:06

I’m not much of an 8-5 person. Nothing wrong with it though. I’m doing pretty good doing stuff other than 8-5. at one point I had a pretty good paying 8-5. I didn’t enjoy it.

I’ve delivered for Pizza Hut. I made more money than Uber. But I like trying new things so time to find something else to do.

Now I’m looking to increase my income since this is closed. Not sure how. I could probably get decent 8 to 5 and grind it out for next 20 years, but I think I’d enjoy the journey doing a variety of things.