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Stolen check

seeyou | Posted in Business on September 8, 2007 04:58am

Just had a customer call me. I’d sent out a past due notice on an invoice from June she hadn’t paid – She spends a lot of time in FL and from my past experiences, doesn’t do much bill paying when she’s there, but when she get’s back everything gets taken care of. She’s been a good customer over the years, so I tolerate her sporadic bill paying. She also pays a larger percentage on the front end of the job, so that helps make up for it.  

Anyhoo, she told me this morning that she’d mailed the check out on 8/20 and it had cleared on 8/22. I just checked my bank acct and books to make sure I hadn’t deposited it and just not posted it or posted it to someone else’s acct. It didn’t go thru my acct.

Anybody had this happen? What do I do next? She’ll be at her bank 1st thing Mon morning to get the cancelled check.

 

http://grantlogan.net/

 

“he ot the placed closed down whyyy thhhattt nnooo gooodddd” – sancho

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Replies

  1. ChuckKiser | Sep 08, 2007 05:25pm | #1

    Bummer for sure. Same thing happened to me a few years ago. Customer sent the check to me via standard mail. It was stolen from my mailbox and cashed by a meth-head. Result....customer had to pay me twice cause he neglected to put my name in the payee section. Thats right, he filled out the dollar amount but not the name. That took the bank off the hook.

    If your customer put your name on the check and it was cashed, the bank is responsible to verify who is cashing the check. If they did not ask for a valid photo id then: shame, shame on them.

    You will have to wait for all the dust to settle prior to getting your funds unless, your customer pays you again while she and the bank work it all out.

  2. davidmeiland | Sep 08, 2007 05:41pm | #2

    As soon as she can determine that the check was not paid to you she should pay you again. It could take a few hours, it could take months.

  3. Shep | Sep 08, 2007 06:21pm | #3

    that sucks.

    I hope everything works out OK.

  4. User avater
    shelternerd | Sep 08, 2007 07:32pm | #4

    That happened to me a while back. On a check for about $4,500 as I remember.

    I very diplomatically asked for a photocopy of the canceled check and it did turn out that it had my signature on it and it had been deposited in with a deposit from another customer and they had gotten merged somehow.

    It all turned out fine and I'm still doing business with these folks.

    M

    ------------------

    "You cannot work hard enough to make up for a sloppy estimate."

    1. DanH | Sep 08, 2007 08:19pm | #5

      Yeah, don't discount the "duh!" factor. If the customer has online access to check images (many have) she can check the signature there, otherwise she'll need to get with the bank people to get a copy. Meanwhile, double-check your records to see if you could have mis-recorded it.If the bank cashed it without it going through your hands then it's the bank's problem, though of course there could be a lot of paperwork to settle the issue.
      So convenient a thing it is to be a reasonable Creature, since it enables one to find or make a Reason for everything one has a mind to do. --Benjamin Franklin

      1. seeyou | Sep 08, 2007 09:21pm | #6

        double-check your records to see if you could have mis-recorded it.

        Yeah, I've done that. It's not been through my acct.http://grantlogan.net/

         

        "he ot the placed closed down whyyy thhhattt nnooo gooodddd" - sancho

        1. User avater
          Sphere | Sep 08, 2007 09:28pm | #7

          The wife get a bunch of new clothes recently?

          sorry , that wasn't nice.

          don't you know your mail deliverer pretty well?  maybe enquire if there was any suspicious mail activity in the circle where you live?Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks

          "If you want something you've never had, do something you've never done"

        2. DanH | Sep 09, 2007 03:38am | #8

          What can actually happen is for a check to be accidentally placed (by your customer) in with another check for a different account. The check can end up getting accepted and credited to that account, even though it's made out to you. Especially likely with utility bills, etc, where there's a high volume. It's also vaguely possible that the check and accompanying bill could be misdelivered and the same thing happen, but considerably less likely.
          So convenient a thing it is to be a reasonable Creature, since it enables one to find or make a Reason for everything one has a mind to do. --Benjamin Franklin

          1. seeyou | Sep 09, 2007 04:14am | #9

            What can actually happen is for a check to be accidentally placed (by your customer) in with another check for a different account

            That seems likely since she came back from FL and went on a bill paying binge. I can't figure another way anyone could have gotten their hands on it unless it was the mailman and then how they were able to cash it.http://grantlogan.net/

             

            "he ot the placed closed down whyyy thhhattt nnooo gooodddd" - sancho

          2. DonK | Sep 09, 2007 05:06am | #10

            Banks make mistakes and lots of 'em. I had one a few months ago where I was making a deposit and the teller was talking about another account I had that was overdrawn. I was confused, and it turned out she was making the deposit into somebody else's account! That got corrected pretty quickly the next day when the funds didn't show in my account and I had a deposit slip.

            Sounds like she mailed the check to somebody else and a "machine" (2 legged or mechanical) just deposited it. If it's not in your account, the bank needs to make good on it. If it was an honest error, that's easy. If it was forgery or fraud, then the bank needs to go after whoever endorsed the check. Either way, not your problem other than a little handholding...

            Don K.

            EJG Homes      Renovations - New Construction - Rentals

          3. User avater
            BillHartmann | Sep 09, 2007 08:30am | #11

            When a check is deposited in a business acount no body looks at anything other than the amount and the account/routing numbers.I was a church treasurer and would often get checks made out to some other "entity". Never a question when I deposited them. Always legit, but the people often didn't know how the funds where being handled and often not the real name of the end group.And I have heard of more than one time with check being miss directed. A check to my doctor was delivered do a different doctor in the same building. Although I was not a patience or the right sex that doctore when ahead and deposited. Like this case I had no idea what was going until I got a notice from the doctor..
            .
            A-holes. Hey every group has to have one. And I have been elected to be the one. I should make that my tagline.

          4. Clear_River_Construction | Sep 10, 2007 12:54am | #12

            no Bank will tell you this ...if she's within 60 days ...the Bank is responsible for replacing the Funds, and prosecuting whoever .make the claim quick ..

          5. User avater
            BillHartmann | Sep 10, 2007 01:01am | #13

            It is not that much of a "secret".But yes you must object.No matter what the reason, same with a forged signature (on either side of the check).The payor has to request that there bank verify the check and if not valid then refund the money.Then they go back to the bank that cashed the check. Then that bank goes back after the depositor.Each person or bank that handles the check guarantees it to the next person..
            .
            A-holes. Hey every group has to have one. And I have been elected to be the one. I should make that my tagline.

          6. Piffin | Sep 10, 2007 01:23am | #17

            I once accidentally put two checks for payment to two different credit card companies in the same envelope.Both cleared and were credited to account for the one that received them.
            of course that left me with a late pay fee on the other account by time I figured it out.Similarly, I have two power company bills. one for the business at the shop and one home. To save stamps, I used to pay both in the same envelope. somehow both got credited to the same account once, but they fixed that with a simple phone call instead of turning my power off. 

             

            Welcome to the Taunton University of Knowledge FHB Campus at Breaktime. where ... Excellence is its own reward!

          7. BryanSayer | Sep 21, 2007 04:23pm | #43

            This reminds me of one of my pet peeves: Bills or invoices that do not say WHO TO MAKE THE CHECK PAYABLE TO! Almost nothing grates on me more than people making it difficult for me to give them money. They can manage to give all the information for credit cards, but not payable to. What are they thinking?

          8. Piffin | Sep 10, 2007 01:19am | #16

            I had something similar a few times with banks depositing to wrong accounts.The most recent was when I walked in to a teller with about five deposits on a saturday morning. The teller was young, and could have been good looking except it seemed like she'd been partying all night.She handed me one receipt and smiled off by rote, "Thank you sir and come again"I said yeah....and waited.....while she got a dumb look on her face....."I gave you several deposits and you only gave me one receipt..."All of a sudden the alarm clock in her head woke her up.It was one of those precious moments 

             

            Welcome to the Taunton University of Knowledge FHB Campus at Breaktime. where ... Excellence is its own reward!

          9. mike_maines | Sep 10, 2007 02:21am | #20

            Is there a bank on your island?  On my old island there were a couple of them.  I can imagine it would be a pain if there wasn't.  You would definitely have to stay on top of your cash flow....

          10. Piffin | Sep 10, 2007 02:32am | #23

            no, there isn't. not even an ATMI do most of my banking by mail and have some of my customer wire me the larger sums of money when I can. 

             

            Welcome to the Taunton University of Knowledge FHB Campus at Breaktime. where ... Excellence is its own reward!

          11. Piffin | Sep 10, 2007 01:14am | #15

            While some here have pointed out how sometimes the bank is at fault to some degree, I am wondering if you have asked your wife, the banker, what policies and procedures are.What I am even more curious about is if she works for same bank this check was drawn on.
            ;) 

             

            Welcome to the Taunton University of Knowledge FHB Campus at Breaktime. where ... Excellence is its own reward!

          12. seeyou | Sep 10, 2007 03:39am | #24

            I am wondering if you have asked your wife, the banker, what policies and procedures are.

            It varies, based on circumstance. It's up to the payer to decide whether to issue another check immediately before the mystery is solved.

            There are a number of corner grocery stores that cash checks for a percentage and they're not real particular about ID.

            if she works for same bank this check was drawn on.

            Nope. It's on a small neighboring town bank.

             

            I'm betting she put my check in the wrong envelope and now has a $1700 credit with the water company or something.http://grantlogan.net/

             

            "he ot the placed closed down whyyy thhhattt nnooo gooodddd" - sancho

          13. Piffin | Sep 10, 2007 04:13am | #25

            I won't bet against that one. 

             

            Welcome to the Taunton University of Knowledge FHB Campus at Breaktime. where ... Excellence is its own reward!

          14. highfigh | Sep 10, 2007 05:35am | #26

            "and now has a $1700 credit with the water company or something."Yup, and just try to get them to send a refund check.
            "I cut this piece four times and it's still too short."

          15. seeyou | Sep 11, 2007 08:17pm | #27

            The mystery is solved.

            I had deposited the check in my account, but had posted it to the wrong invoice. The check had the name "The Wells Farm" on it, which is the name of the property we were working on, unbeknownst to me. But, the check had the address of the lady who sent it.  We were also working for one of her neighbors (last name Wells) that owed me a very similar amount. So, I credited the check to the Wells acct rather than the Adams acct. http://grantlogan.net/

             

            "he ot the placed closed down whyyy thhhattt nnooo gooodddd" - sancho

          16. DanH | Sep 11, 2007 08:35pm | #28

            Yeah, usually there's a simple explanation.
            So convenient a thing it is to be a reasonable Creature, since it enables one to find or make a Reason for everything one has a mind to do. --Benjamin Franklin

          17. User avater
            IMERC | Sep 11, 2007 08:37pm | #29

            it's not often ya get to see a simple explanation aeound here...Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming<!----><!----><!---->

            WOW!!! What a Ride!Forget the primal scream, just ROAR!!!

          18. DanH | Sep 11, 2007 08:40pm | #30

            Well, hang on -- we're not done analyzing it yet.
            So convenient a thing it is to be a reasonable Creature, since it enables one to find or make a Reason for everything one has a mind to do. --Benjamin Franklin

          19. User avater
            IMERC | Sep 11, 2007 08:42pm | #31

            okay...Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming<!----><!----><!---->

            WOW!!! What a Ride!Forget the primal scream, just ROAR!!!

          20. Shep | Sep 11, 2007 11:50pm | #32

            Give yourself a slap to the head.

            <G>

          21. seeyou | Sep 12, 2007 12:23am | #33

            I should give her a slap to the head. She sent me a check without any invoice number or any other sort of designation (just a check in an envelope). Her name was not on it except for the signature which was unreadable (like mine). There was nothing to tie it to the correct job. There was a name to tie it to another job. I don't ever send a check without an acct # or invoice # on it.http://grantlogan.net/

             

            "he ot the placed closed down whyyy thhhattt nnooo gooodddd" - sancho

          22. User avater
            Sphere | Sep 12, 2007 12:26am | #34

            Glad it came thru for ya, I hate that feeling of "WTF?"Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks

            "If you want something you've never had, do something you've never done"

          23. DanH | Sep 12, 2007 12:54am | #35

            But you should have known that was her. Who else would do that? ;)
            So convenient a thing it is to be a reasonable Creature, since it enables one to find or make a Reason for everything one has a mind to do. --Benjamin Franklin

          24. Shep | Sep 12, 2007 01:11am | #36

            I guess your ESP was on the fritz LOL

            At least you've got it figured out now, and can go on the the next crisis <G>

          25. User avater
            jonblakemore | Sep 12, 2007 02:44am | #37

            So are you still owed by the Wells family? Maybe their check was stolen... 

            Jon Blakemore RappahannockINC.com Fredericksburg, VA

          26. BryanSayer | Sep 21, 2007 04:28pm | #44

            Do you have an invoice number on your invoices, and do you ask (in writing on the invoice) that they put the invoice number on the check? In the same place where you put who to make the check payable to?If not, why not?

  5. Piffin | Sep 10, 2007 01:08am | #14

    Never that one. My grandmother sent a birthday check to one of the kids once that got stolen from the mail. They caught the guy - part of a mail theft ring with one guy working inside the PO there. He got tiome in fed prison - not just for that $20 check, but the whole deal.

    So she should report it to PO. They may already have a case open for that time period from other complaints.

    I almost thought i had a similar where I had to check my own book-keeping and deposit records - I did a window repair/replacement for an old lady. Left the bill on her counter when I left.

    Couple days later I get an envelope from her so i assume it is the check and stick it on the appropriate pile. Thjat weekend when I am doing bank stuff, I open it and there is nothing inside! I look on the floor. I check to see if it was still sealed thinking maybe I did open it and take the check out. I looked at all my deposit info at office and at bank online.

    Nada.

    So I mailed a copy of the bill with a nice short note. She was immensely embarrassed when she called about it - which was why I had mailed the copy, so she wouldn't be upset by a personal call that might sound like a demand or anything.

     

     

    Welcome to the
    Taunton University of
    Knowledge FHB Campus at Breaktime.
     where ...
    Excellence is its own reward!

    1. User avater
      BillHartmann | Sep 10, 2007 01:25am | #18

      "So she should report it to PO.So she should report it to PO."No, really needs to get a copy of the check and see who cashed it.It is jsut as likely (and mayb more so) that it a misdirected check, included in the wrong envelope, left in the wrong mail box, or CU desposited it (don't remember the details as if this is possible) and it was not credited to his account.Only if it was cashed by someone like Joe's Licquore store or Bob's No Questions Ask checkin cashing and loan company would it become a criminal matter..
      .
      A-holes. Hey every group has to have one. And I have been elected to be the one. I should make that my tagline.

      1. highfigh | Sep 10, 2007 02:16am | #19

        The deposited check will have the account number of the one it was deposited to. If it has cleared, she can call her bank and get a photocopy of it to verify which account it went to.
        "I cut this piece four times and it's still too short."

        1. DanH | Sep 10, 2007 02:21am | #21

          Yeah, the bank should be able to provide a "chain of custody" back to the original casher/depositer. This will quickly tell you if the check was accidentally misdirected or stolen.
          So convenient a thing it is to be a reasonable Creature, since it enables one to find or make a Reason for everything one has a mind to do. --Benjamin Franklin

          1. highfigh | Sep 10, 2007 02:30am | #22

            Right. Wherever it went, account and possibly routing numbers will be printed on the check. Photocopied and ready for the signature to be compared with the signatory.
            "I cut this piece four times and it's still too short."

  6. epiphaknee | Sep 21, 2007 09:58am | #38

    You need to have your customer talk to her bank and get a copy of the front and back of the check. The check will have a routing number on the back which will correspond to someone's checking/savings account and prove you never received the funds. Or it may have some "funny" endorsements that will also prove you never received the funds. From this point it will be much easier to fix responsibility for repayment!

    1. seeyou | Sep 21, 2007 01:25pm | #39

      http://forums.taunton.com/tp-breaktime/messages?msg=94357.28http://grantlogan.net/

       

      I was born in a crossfire hurricane..........shooby dooby do

      1. User avater
        Luka | Sep 21, 2007 01:49pm | #40

        94357.39

        Yeh... That'll work.

        1. Piffin | Sep 21, 2007 01:52pm | #41

          http://forums.taunton.com/n/mb/message.asp?webtag=tp-breaktime&msg=94357.42 

           

          Welcome to the Taunton University of Knowledge FHB Campus at Breaktime. where ... Excellence is its own reward!

          1. User avater
            SamT | Sep 21, 2007 02:45pm | #42

            95,000.87SamT

          2. DanH | Sep 21, 2007 06:37pm | #46

            Some people just don't know how to tell a joke.
            If your view never changes you're following the wrong leader

          3. User avater
            IMERC | Sep 21, 2007 06:51pm | #47

            he's just being cheap agin... 

            Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming<!----><!----><!---->

            WOW!!! What a Ride!Forget the primal scream, just ROAR!!!

          4. Piffin | Sep 21, 2007 07:18pm | #48

            LMAO 

             

            Welcome to the Taunton University of Knowledge FHB Campus at Breaktime. where ... Excellence is its own reward!

          5. User avater
            BillHartmann | Sep 21, 2007 08:05pm | #49

            I think that you gave the wrong link.Here it is.http://www.endoftheinternet.com/
            .
            .
            A-holes. Hey every group has to have one. And I have been elected to be the one. I should make that my tagline.

      2. User avater
        BillHartmann | Sep 21, 2007 04:37pm | #45

        BTWI was paying the electric and gas bills.Looked at the electric and could not figure out why it had the amount that it did. Looked closer and I had only paid part of it.Looked at the register and saw that the amount paid matched last month gas bill.Then I opened the gas bill which showed a credit.The check where correct, but in the wrong envelope and both went through without any problem..
        .
        A-holes. Hey every group has to have one. And I have been elected to be the one. I should make that my tagline.

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We use cookies, pixels, script and other tracking technologies to analyze and improve our service, to improve and personalize content, and for advertising to you. We also share information about your use of our site with third-party social media, advertising and analytics partners. You can view our Privacy Policy here and our Terms of Use here.

Cookies

Analytics

These cookies help us track site metrics to improve our sites and provide a better user experience.

Advertising/Social Media

These cookies are used to serve advertisements aligned with your interests.

Essential

These cookies are required to provide basic functions like page navigation and access to secure areas of the website.

Delete My Data

Delete all cookies and associated data