[Rumor] Changes to Walmart Registers to Affect Debit Card Money Transactions?

There are a few troubling reports on Flyertalk and Reddit about a new system coming to Walmart registers which could potentially affect debit card money transactions with such as buying money orders or bill-payments. Oddly, it seems the even places that have the new system can still process transactions under the old system which allows business as usual.

It’s not clear if the “new system” will change things for debit cards, for gift cards, for any split-tender, or none of the above. The changes might be rolling out more broadly on January 1, 2018.

This is all highly speculative – there have been many similar rumors in the past that either amounted to nothing or were just minor changes without much impact. Main thing is to be aware of the possibility that changes might be coming at Walmart. Keep that in mind when going about your gift card purchases.

Please contribute your own data points in the comments below.

 
    Chuck
  • On December 19, 2017, 09:00

View Comments (39)

  • Walmart refused Mastercard debit cards to pay for a bill pay to a credit card (two rejections) and for MOs (two more rejections). Error message was something like "invalid payment method". I checked with debit card issuer and they had no refused transactions and no attempted transactions, so refusal was clearly by WM. This was 5/22, in CT, at a "regular" WM. Does any one know a solution to this problem? (Stop and Shop has major gas savings on MC DCs this week only.)

  • Southern AZ rolled out the new system at most stores in my area as of the start of February. System now prompts for Driver's License, Physical Address, Occupation, SSN, etc. for MO buys totaling >$1000. This use to be the case for some Bill Pays in the past. Of course, I cancelled transaction when I was asked for my SSN (don't trust Wally with that sensitive info). I came back on another day and just did a single $950 MO buy without any issues. It was printed with "Gift Certificate" but deposited in local bank successfully as usual.

    Most Neighborhood Markets in the area will not allow split tender as well. Was 3/4th into a buy at my usual spot when the CSM recognized me, came over, and pulled cashier to side. They came back and aborted the entire transaction and said I can only swipe one card at a time. This "one swipe" policy applies to both MOs and Bill Pays. I just left and went to a Super Center instead.

    Lastly, seems like there was an update to registers at most stores here. When purchasing a Walmart Pre-paid VISA, system will automatically decline load at register and issue a refund if a credit card is used for the purchase. Tried with Apple Pay as well with same outcome. Receipt shows an Error Code 14 and a small receipt is printed that states "The following card cannot be activated [...] Please note that the amount of XXX [...] will be credited back to your Credit. This amount is equal to the value of the unauthorized card(s)."

    Oh well, guess it's off to Simon for my GC buys!

  • Bought staples VGC today, split tender at WM here in CA required signature and the gift certificate logo was printed on the MO

  • Can confirm walmart MO's no longer have gift certificate inscription and no longer require signature in Wash DC. Bought yesterday. CSR was advized it had reverted to old system.

  • My closest WM started limiting to getting one MO with 2 cards at most. Others in area have not changed. Don't know if this was a Christmas thing or not. Did not buy and MO since the warning at that store. Other store had nothing different, no signature, nothing.

  • A lot of what has triggered cashier and CSM questioning was the multiple $200 swipes coming from the OD/OM & Staples low denomination VGC's. That is a tough hurdle to get over if they ask to see your cards and, in some cases, your ID.

    • CSRs at my local WM actually get perplexed for a second if I *don't* want to do multiple $200 swipes to buy a MO.

  • Registers update, yes.
    Affect debit payments, no.
    The updates are to tackle something different, unrelated to what people here are worried about. It will affect others, however, but that "hobby" is a different beast.

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