I've been writing to my pp for about 2 month's.We've exchanged about 10 letters each.We seem to get along very well, and we both look forward to hearing from one another In her last letter to me, she asked me for some money.I'm not opposed to giving it to her,but first I would like to her what everybody on the forum has to say about this and how you dealt with it Thanks

Did she express what she needs the money for? If it were me, I would not send money afer two months. In fact, I've only sent money to someone once and that's because he's my birthday twin and I didn't get his card to him on time. After that, he started ASKING for money and telling me how he had no one else to ask and on and on. For the most part, once you start, it keeps going.

A clerk at the post office told me once that she sees women coming in all the time getting postal money orders to send to men in prison and they start coming more frequent and purchasing larger amounts.

I really am a giving person but I've seen too many people get "played" and for me, it's better not to start it than to start something and have to cut it off.

Either someone has given you the wrong info because at the Post office they are sworn to "confidentiality" there is no way in hell they would risk their jobs to be "gossiping" about women are men buying money orders.. PLUS when you go to buy a money order you dont tell who its going to all you do is ask for a certion amount of a money order as far as the workers at the PO you can be paying your car note, your loans anything. I find it hard to believe a postal worker would be talking about sending money orders when I myself know for a fact they have "weirder" things come thro the mail such as sexual pleasure toys and you have YET to see someone working for the PO say a word to anyone about that.They are a government REGULATED private business. That is a crime if they are even thought to be saying things. There is extensive tests and training you go through when you want to work for the Postal services.

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I won't say that these Postal employees are NOT saying what you claim, as I wasn't standing there....however, I would have to venture a guess that there is some mis-information here.

United States Postal Administrative Support Manual regulation AS-353 establishes policies and procedures for the protection of the privacy of information related to customers, employees, and other individuals conducting business with the United States Postal Service.

ASM Regulation AS 353 / 3-5.1 prohibits the disclosure of confidential information about the private transactions of customers, employees, or third parties to others.

Further, as incorporated into the Postal Service Administrative Support Manual, the Privacy Act of 1974 [5 USC 552A] provides for a penalty of up to $5,000 for each incident of a U.S. Postal employee knowingly discussing or disclosing information about a customer's private transactions in ANY manner to ANY person not legally entitled to receive such information.

Violation of this regulation by any Postal employee can result in termination, criminal prosecution, and exposure to civil liabilities concerning unlawful disclosure of private transactions with the service.

How sad to read this thread. Well I have only been writing to my P/P for 2 months and YES I sent a few Dollars to help with the postage cost. Ok I maybe stupid ,but can anyone imagine how hard IT maybe to get the stamps etc ,Well i started the friendship and I don't see any harm in helping with the postage ,afterall I WISH to hear my P/P news.It dosent mean that I am a OPEN BANK and my P/P NEVER asked ,I offered. People often forget how easy it is for US out here in Freedom Land to just walk to the shop and get the stamps etc.

Let me clarify what happened at the post office one day. I know the clerk because I buy a lot of stamps since I have a lot of pps. I let her know that I do prison ministry and write a lot. Although I was not buying a money order, she said, "You would be surprised at the number of women who come in regularly to buy money orders to send to men in prison and the amounts get higher and higher." Now maybe that was too much info on her part but she didn't reveal names. I assured her I was NOT one of those women and my mailings were cards and letters.

Also, I don't want to categorize every pp as a user but I do know it is a common game in the prison. Many of my pps I've known for years and would feel comfortable sending money without fear of them using me but I would not send money after 2 months.

Hope this explanation helps!

How the heck would the postal worker know the money orders are for inmates??? Unless these customers came in and stated so??

Its really up to you if you want to help your PP out or not, If anything I would help with postage, but dont feel obligated to do so.

Maybe the people are getting money orders, putting them in their letters and handing them over to the clerk for postage. Or they may start talking just like the clerk was talking to me...especially if they were regulars at her window.

If thats the case, that clerk is making a huge assumption, I could be buying a money order, using it to pay a utlity bill, and just mailing off a letter to PP.
But it could be like you say.
Yes i have been in the position where the money orders I have gotten for my PP would get larger, but we can only be used if we allow ourselves to be used.

Interesting to see how sideways this thread has gone so far heheh...

Personally, as regards to sending money, firstly I have never been asked for money... I have offered where postage costs may be an issue, and I may choose to send money for gifts etc, generally for books etc but have not been asked.

The pen pals I have wouldn't ask. Gifts are different, requests for money should be well explained, and even then it's up to you.