We all know that USPS services are not free. Even though a government entity owns them, services offered by USPS have corresponding fees.
How do customers pay for these services? What modes of payment are accepted?
Read on to find the payment methods accepted on the USPS website, the Postal Store, and Retail Stores:
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Does USPS Accept Credit Cards?
Credit cards are the most common form of cashless payment mode accepted in the United States and worldwide. Most in-person transactions and online purchases in the U.S. can be paid for using a credit card.
USPS accepts credit card payments on its website, the Postal Store, and retail stores.
They accept all credit cards under VISA, MasterCard, Discover, and American Express, on the USPS website and in retail stores when paying for postage and shipping services.
Credit cards are also accepted when paying for purchases in the Postal Store.
However, there are some limitations when using credit cards at retail stores. You cannot pay for some services with a credit card.
This includes:
- Collect on Delivery
- Money Orders
- Passport Fees that are payable to the U.S. Department of State
- Payment for bulk mailings
Another limitation to using credit cards for USPS transactions is that they are not accepted for purchases made by phone, except when ordering postage stamps through the Stamps-By-Phone line.
Does USPS Accept Debit Cards?
Debit cards are another commonly used mode of payment for cashless transactions. They are treated like credit cards, but the amount is deducted from your checking account in real-time.
USPS also accepts debit cards on its website, the Postal Store, and retail stores.
One limitation to using debit cards in the Postal Store is that they will only be accepted if a PIN is not required.
For retail stores, debit cards are accepted for all services except when paying passport fees to the U.S. Department of State. However, you can only use your debit card to pay the processing fee.
USPS generally accepts payments using debit cards with a VISA or MasterCard logo, as they can be used like a regular credit card. This includes MasterCard, as it is a debit card released by MasterCard.
For more information on USPS & Certified Mail, check out our guide here!
Does USPS Accept Paypal?
Paypal is an online payment and digital wallet system. It also allows its users to send and receive money.
Paypal is the first of its kind, so it is quite popular with many business merchants, and you can use it for many e-commerce platforms. Some businesses also now accept Paypal for in-person transactions.
USPS does accept Paypal on its website, but only for Click-N-Ship labels and to pay for Postal Store purchases. Paypal is also not accepted for in-person transactions in retail stores.
When you are on the Postal Store website, you can use Paypal for your purchases the same way you use it for online shopping at, say, Amazon.
Just select Paypal as your payment method when you are ready to check out your cart. The Postal Store will direct you to the Paypal login page so you can enter your credentials and process the payment.
Does USPS Accept Apple Pay?
Apple Pay is a mobile payment service created by Apple Inc. It can be used for in-person transactions, iOS apps, and the web.
This payment service stores your credit cards in a secure account while letting you use them across all your Apple devices.
What’s good about Apple Pay is that it eliminates the need to re-enter your credit card information whenever you make an online purchase. It makes online payments easier and provides a contactless way to pay when transacting in person.
USPS does accept Apple Pay on its website and in the Postal Store, but not for in-person transactions in retail stores.
You can use Apple Pay to pay for services such as Pickup On Demand, Click-N-Ship, and USPS Tracking Plus. You can also select it as a payment method when checking out at the Postal Store.
Does USPS Click-To-Pay?
Click-To-Pay is another digital wallet service.
It is by Visa, and it works just like Paypal or Apple Pay, wherein it securely stores your credit card information so you can use it across all your devices.
USPS accepts Click-To-Pay on its website and the Postal Store.
It is a seamless way to pay. You just need to create a Click-To-Pay account and link your credit cards to it, so you no longer have to re-enter the details every time you make a payment.
Does USPS Accept Checks?
If you’re wondering if checks are accepted as a payment method in USPS, then the answer is both yes and no.
Personal Checks, Business Checks, Money Orders, and Traveler’s or Cashier’s Checks are NOT accepted on the USPS website and the Postal Store.
However, you can use Personal Checks and Business Checks in retail stores.
You can use Personal or Business checks which will be accepted as long as they are made payable to “Postmaster” and the exact amount to be paid is written.
A valid photo I.D. must be presented when paying using checks at the post office.
Listed below are the only acceptable photo I.D.s:
- Valid state-issued driver’s license
- State-issued non-driver identification
- Passport
- Military ID
- Other U.S. government-issued I.D.s, with the customer’s picture and signature
Note that a Social Security card will not be accepted as a valid photo I.D. In addition, even if they are well-known, all customers must present a valid photo I.D. when intending to use checks for payment.
Why does USPS ask for checks or IDs? Find out more here!
Here Are The Payment Methods That USPS Won’t Accept:
Now that we know what payment methods USPS accepts on the website, the Postal Store, and retail stores, let’s check the ones they won’t.
Gift Cards
These are cards that are preloaded with a certain amount.
They can be used like regular credit cards and are accepted in many retail stores and online stores until the preloaded amount has run out.
However, USPS does not accept gift cards are payment on the website, the Postal Store, or even in retail stores.
Virtual MasterCard
Virtual MasterCard is a digital card that PayPal distributes.
Like a MasterCard credit card, it has a 16-digit number and an expiration date.
The difference is that it does not have a 3-digit security code because it’s not a physical card, which makes it unacceptable as a payment method for USPS.
Google Pay
Created by Google, this is a mobile payment and digital wallet service that works just like Apple Pay, except that it is used on Android devices.
It can be used for in-app and online purchases and cashless in-person transactions.
USPS currently does not accept Google Pay on its website, Postal Store, and retail stores.
Samsung Pay
Samsung Pay is a digital wallet and mobile payment service.
It works the same way that Apple Pay and Google Pay do, but this service is only available for Samsung mobile devices.
Currently, USPS also does not accept Samsung Pay on its website, the Postal Store, or retail stores.
JCB
JCB is a credit card company based in Japan that is also being used in other countries worldwide.
Currently, USPS does not accept JCB credit cards.
However, you can still use your JCB credit card if you add it to your Paypal account or Apple Pay wallet.
Diner’s Club
Diners Club is a charge card company in the U.S.
It may be well-known, but many merchants still do not accept it as a form of payment.
USPS does not accept Diners Club unless it is added to an Apple Pay account.
China Union Pay
China Union Pay is a financial services company from China.
It provides bank card services and is a major credit card scheme in China and other countries.
USPS also does not accept credit cards by China Union Pay, but it can be used when added to your Apple Pay account.
Wire Transfer
A wire transfer is a mode of payment that lets you send money from one bank account to another bank.
It is an electronic form of payment wherein the bank functions as the middleman and processes the transaction.
Most wire transfers have a transaction fee, so people pay more than the transferred amount when using this payment method.
USPS does not accept wire transfers as a form of payment on the website, the Postal Store, or retail stores.
Bitcoin
Bitcoin is a digital currency that is being accepted on some online platforms.
They can be considered a valid form of payment as transactions that use them are verified through cryptography.
USPS does not accept Bitcoin as a form of payment on its online platforms or retail stores.