International Post Guide - Australia Post

28 International Post Guide
�2.11 – International Money Orders
Australia Post sells Western Union International Money Orders as an agent of Integrated Payment
Systems Inc., of Englewood Colorado USA.
�2.11.1 – Currency
Western Union International Money Orders are available only in US dollars. The money orders are
not cashable at a post office either in Australia or overseas.
�2.11.2 – Amount
Western Union International Money Orders may be for any amount up to $US1,000. Customers may
purchase more than one money order at the same time.
�2.11.3 – Acceptance of money orders
The acceptance of International Money Orders in any country is subject to that country’s foreign
currency laws. These $US money orders are only recommended for payments to the USA and must
be deposited into a bank account. The normal bank clearance periods for such items in the
destination country apply. Banks outside the USA treat these money orders as a foreign currency
deposit and will use the exchange rate of the day to convert from US dollars to the local currency.
Banks also charge fees for handling foreign currency deposits. These fees vary from bank to bank
and neither Australia Post nor Western Union has control over their size. For example, banks outside
the USA commonly charge the equivalent of $US25 or more for handling foreign currency deposits,
and clearance of funds can take two or three weeks depending on the country and bank involved.
The level of these bank fees makes it inappropriate to use International Money Orders to
send small amounts (eg. les than $US150) to countries other than the USA.
You can obtain further information at any office of Australia Post.
September 2007