can a postal order be cancelled?

Reality Bites · 8 May 2012 at 16:40

I've googled for ages and many people give many different responses.....does anyone actually know?

I've sold something on ebay and been paid by PO. It's crossed so had to go to my bank who told me 5 days clearing time.

Am i right in thinking that it's as good as cash so simply wait 5 days and all is good...meaning I can post item now. Or, should I wait 5 days until cleared, in which case the PO is nothing but an expensive cheque?

Tyron · 8 May 2012 at 16:42

The trick is to wait for it to cash before sending the stuff.

Reality Bites · 8 May 2012 at 16:44

Tyron said:
The trick is to wait for it to cash before sending the stuff.

mmm.....I guess I was half expecting a little sarcasm but having not dealt with PO's before i was kind of hoping for a civil reply.

So, is a PO basically an expensive cheque which can be cancelled or is it like cash which takes ages to get to me?

Tyron · 8 May 2012 at 16:47

It was a civil reply.

malfunkshun · 8 May 2012 at 16:47

I was of the impression that it could not be stopped. I may be wrong though.

Swifty55 · 8 May 2012 at 16:49

Wait till payment has cleared...

WARNING: Please note that there are currently some Postal Order scams being perpetrated - particularly on online auction sites. Please note that under no circumstances would Royal Mail or the Post Office® issue an email notification of receipt of a Postal Order to a potential recipient. Should you receive such a notification, please report it to the police.

Gangster · 8 May 2012 at 17:02

Wait for the cash to go into your bank account. Then post.

FlapR · 8 May 2012 at 17:04

Definitely wait for it to clear before you post. I assume you're posting to a UK address too?

antijoke · 8 May 2012 at 17:06

I hope it was something of insignificant value.

Energize · 8 May 2012 at 18:08

Postal order. Retro.

StriderX · 8 May 2012 at 18:27

Kill the postman, order cancelled.

Reality Bites · 8 May 2012 at 19:02

Swifty55 said:
Wait till payment has cleared...

Yeah. I saw that on the mail website. I think thats a warning for people trying to send email receipts for pos etc.

I think I will just wait for the cash to clear.

Reality Bites · 8 May 2012 at 19:02

anticonscience said:
I hope it was something of insignificant value.

Nope 217quid. Will just wait for it to clear.

Reality Bites · 8 May 2012 at 19:03

l0wther said:
Definitely wait for it to clear before you post. I assume you're posting to a UK address too?

Yeah, weirdly its only 10mile from me.

mattyprice4004 · 8 May 2012 at 19:18

Reality Bites said:
mmm.....I guess I was half expecting a little sarcasm but having not dealt with PO's before i was kind of hoping for a civil reply.

So, is a PO basically an expensive cheque which can be cancelled or is it like cash which takes ages to get to me?

The hell, it was a perfectly civil reply?

arknor · 8 May 2012 at 20:20

lol postal order do people not have bank accounts?

ChilledLJ · 8 May 2012 at 21:21

I don't think they can be cancelled, I have used them before on ebay when I didn;t have paypal, you hand your cash over to the guy at the post office and all they give you is a receipt that it and the postal order which you now have

Reality Bites · 8 May 2012 at 21:22

ChilledLJ said:
I don't think they can be cancelled, I have used them before on ebay when I didn;t have paypal, you hand your cash over to the guy at the post office and all they give you is a receipt that it and the postal order which you now have

Cheers.

I know there's a process to cancel lost ones but involves crime ref numbers etc.