I have a Walmart money card, and use it for online purchases. When I reload it in the store, I frequently also use Walmart's moneygram service to wire money to my college age children. However, I got sick, and was unable to get out, so I used Western Union online to wire money. I used by Walmart Money card.
The last transaction I tried, they began questioning my card, and at one point; a customer service rep got on the phone. She began asking me about employers from 25 years ago, former addresses, and information that I had never given Western Union, nor Walmart, for that matter.
Because I was flustered, and irritated that I could not send grocery money to my daughter in any timely manner, apparently I failed to "verify" my identity.
(Yeah, I stole this card, and I think I'll just send this woman's daughter some money with it.)
Well, Walmart "flagged" this suspected fraud, and was feeding Western Union these questions. However, the reason it was flagged is because for three (3) weeks in a row I had used Western Union instead of Walmart's Money Gram service. However, Walmart still held the money I had attempted to send, and so I could not use any another service for 15 days—as my money was frozen.
Calls about the frozen money to Walmart and Western Union were followed up with questions about how, where, and why they had all of this personal information.
Apparently, if you do ANY business with Walmart, even with debit cards and credit cards NOT related to Walmart, or buy alcohol or tobacco at a Walmart store, they use the credit/debit card names and numbers, as well as info from your DL or ID to run background checks on you. This way they can call the police if you have warrants. This is no lie. The woman in Bentonville told me this.
If you do more than One transaction per 3 months with Western Union, and it involves a credit/debit card, the same is done. Beware. It's Big Brother at it's most intimidating. Walmart doesn't need to know this info unless you are applying for a job.
Anyway, I finally got my $400 back in my account, so I cut up my money card and turned it into the Customer service desk. I will wire the money straight from my bank account into hers and not use either Western Union or Walmart Money Gram.
I will also not be shopping at WalMart anymore. For real grocery bargains, you just look around at the other grocery chains, and; for all of the other stuff go to Family Dollar, or Dollar General. For clothes, Target, or searching in the sales racks at J.C. Penney's, Kohls, T.J. Maxx, Old Navy, etc.
You might have to spend a bit more time shopping, but noone will be keeping personal tabs on whether you buy alcohol, tobacco, or tobacco products, your entire past, or your mother's maiden name.
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