Advice on lost check

[HALEYSMOMMOM]

OK, I am so right now, I'm sure I'm not thinking straight so I need advice.
My darling daughter lost a $200 coat at school, with a check in it made out to the school in the amount of $40. What do I do about the check, anything? About my dd, I got that handled, she's grounded.

 

[minnie1928]

OK, I am so right now, I'm sure I'm not thinking straight so I need advice.
My darling daughter lost a $200 coat at school, with a check in it made out to the school in the amount of $40. What do I do about the check, anything? About my dd, I got that handled, she's grounded.

You could have the bank put a stop payment on the check, but it may not be worth it. I don't know how much your bank charges, but I believe mine is $25-30.

 

[ccgirl]

OK, I am so right now, I'm sure I'm not thinking straight so I need advice.
My darling daughter lost a $200 coat at school, with a check in it made out to the school in the amount of $40. What do I do about the check, anything? About my dd, I got that handled, she's grounded.

Like the PP mentioned you could put a stop payment on it but it probably be close to the actual value of the check.

I would just call it a loss and write a new one.

 

[Ed J]

If it were me I'd do nothing but keep a balance that if were cashed I'd have it covered. The stop payment fee at my bank is $25 so its worth the risk IMO.

 

[HALEYSMOMMOM]

OK, that's what I thought too, just wanted to make sure I wasn't missing something important I should be thinking of about account numbers or something. I think our bank charges $30 so I guess I will just not worry about it. Thanks

 

[a1tinkfans]

if the coat was actually "lost" not stolen, you may want to check with lost and found, the custodians and the room/class where she thinks she left it. Youd be surprised what gets turned in...and they toss it ALL at years end....so Id ask more than once, ya just never know...as far as the check...if the coat was stolen ..its likely a kid that will just toss it...but they DO have your address, bank account number and branch listed so if it were me, Id give my local branch a heads up...(I know the same people after many years) and IF something pops up at the bank, or a cc started somewhere, you atleast have a paper trail.... Id also notify the school if the coat and the "lost" check...because they DO track stolen items and bank checks are a serious no no.....regardless if the kid knew they took it...that is serious consequences....Id let school know asap..
sorry about the coat and check...but they are kids after all...and Other kids are often Not as well mannered as your own...just saying..

 

[GatorMommy2007]

You could call the school and ask the book keeper not to process the check.

 

[crazyme5kids]

Well, I just went through this yesterday, but it was me who lost the check.

I did put a stop payment, but after talking to the bank, they really can't do much as far as just keeping an eye on things leaving the account as it is.

So, after speaking with their fraud department, what I did, was to have the account put on a restrictive account. What it means is, the account stays open, but transitions to a new account. I must call the fraud department and let them know when I've written a check. I have to open a new account, the bank takes care of notifying any direct deposit, automatic deduction things etc... making it as painless as possible.

I could have just left it at the stop payment, but I was worried about someone having all my info from the check. I'm going to the bank in the morning to open the account. Will also monitor any credit reports for a while.

 

[Gumbo4x4]

if the coat was actually "lost" not stolen, you may want to check with lost and found, the custodians and the room/class where she thinks she left it. Youd be surprised what gets turned in...and they toss it ALL at years end

^^^This. My wife works at our local elementary school and previously was at the Middle School. The MS kids were the worst. Unless it was their phone they never bothered to pick up ANYTHING from Lost & Found. Many times parents would come in looking for something that their child *claimed* to have asked about several times, and it would be in the box collecting dust.

 

[HALEYSMOMMOM]

The first thing I did was call the school. They apparently don't care it was stolen. It is not in the lost and found and it has been gone a couple of days now. I asked the lady there to check, giving the brand name and color of the coat. I did tell them about the check too. Again, they didn't care. Just said to check back again tomorrow.

 

[cinnamon-sugah]

The first thing I did was call the school. They apparently don't care it was stolen. It is not in the lost and found and it has been gone a couple of days now. I asked the lady there to check, giving the brand name and color of the coat. I did tell them about the check too. Again, they didn't care. Just said to check back again tomorrow.

Is there any way you could go down and check lost and found yourself? I know at the school where I work, we have a lost and found on each grade level hall and the person who answers in the office would have to take quite a hike to check them all. Considering we have almost 900 students who are constantly losing items (ours is emptied monthly and donated to our local caring center and still stays overflowing), the receptionist is probably not making a hike to look for each lost jacket a parent calls about.

Honestly, we have a whole box full of really nice phones that were lost or confiscated from kids texting in class that have built up because the kids tell their parents they lost it and the office doesn't have it rather than admit that it was taken or that they didn't even ask if it was turned in.

 

[4HppyCamprs]

Okay so the actual cost of the lost check is close to what cost of a stop payment may be. When I worked at a large bank the stop payment fee was 35.00. As far as account numbers go I frequently had customers who refused to give me their account number but what many people fail to realize is that every time a check is given the recipient has : your name your address frequently your phone number, your routing number and your account number. All that information is on your check. It would take more than one check (filled out) for me to close a established account. New accounts do not get the same considerations.

 

[momxx5]

1. Do not worry about putting a stop payment on the check. The cost is too much for a check in that amount, plus the check can only be deposited by the school. Keep an "eye" on your account to see if the check clears....IF it ever does clear your account then there will be a trail to find who cashed it and where the funds are now. The check most likely is lost and tossed out. Even if the coat was stolen there is a good chance the check would be tossed out because it would be connected with the coat and the thief would not want that attention.

2. Sooooo sorry about the coat. My DS had a sweatshirt stolen when he was in 5th grade. The stinker was that the boy who stole it wore it all the time, including on a filed trip that I was his chaperone. UUUggghhh.

I agree with others that you should email the teacher, the vice principal AND go into the school to "look" for the coat. Many times a coat is missing, the child assumes its lost and in reality it is sitting in the lost & found. I would not give up so easily on a coat that expensive.
We are currently looking for DD's coat that is "misplaced". I am trying not to concede that it is lost quite yet. Tomorrow I will be subbing at the school and I will be going through the lost & found myself, plus asking around. This is not an expensive coat but it is her one and only winter coat.

Every few months our school puts all the lost and found out for display. The parents are notified as are all students. You would be suprised ( or maybe not) at how many NorthFace coats, expensive sneakers and school uniform gym clothes are among the Aeropostale hoodies, Roots bags and even Coach wristlets. At the end of the quarter everything is boxed up and donated. If the school held a garage sale they could probably make some funds for school use.

Anyway, I will say a prayer to St. Anthony that we both are able to locate the missing coats.

 

[crazyme5kids]

I know I probably over reacted in my case. My concern with the check I lost (which was written out to someone) is that dishonest joe blow on the street who might find it, now has the routing number and my account number, name, and address, enough info for someone who is savvy enough, or knows someone savvy enough running scams to access my money. At least when I write a check and present it to someone, or a store etc, I have that info and there is a paper trail. With joe blow, it would be harder, or take longer to track.

That doesn't mean it will happen, but I just didn't feel comfortable taking a chance. I just had a sinking feeling in my gut that my checking account could be compromised. Sometimes you just have to go with your gut feeling.

 

[minnie1928]

Okay so the actual cost of the lost check is close to what cost of a stop payment may be. When I worked at a large bank the stop payment fee was 35.00. As far as account numbers go I frequently had customers who refused to give me their account number but what many people fail to realize is that every time a check is given the recipient has : your name your address frequently your phone number, your routing number and your account number. All that information is on your check. It would take more than one check (filled out) for me to close a established account. New accounts do not get the same considerations.

I too worked at a bank and totally agree with this. I don't think people think about it in that regard. I think checks had been so commonplace that people forget just how much nformation is actually shown on them.

 

[Gumbo4x4]

Is there any way you could go down and check lost and found yourself? I know at the school where I work, we have a lost and found on each grade level hall and the person who answers in the office would have to take quite a hike to check them all.

Same where my wife works - there's actually one "official" lost & found, but they have discovered many lost items stacked up in various classrooms and other places around the building. Unless the coat just happens to turn up, I suspect going down there yourself will be the only way you make any headway.

 

[Kies99]

Okay, here's what I don't get....

The coat was $200...There is a check in it with all your information on it....Your daughter says it was stolen, not lost...You contacted the school and they don't seem to care it was stolen....

If your daughter is positive it was stolen and if it's true the school administrators don't seem to care then why don't you file a police report?

Seriously...this is theft of your property that could potentially lead to identity fraud. If it was truly stolen then i'd definitely file a police report.

 

[seashoreCM]

For a check that small I would not bother to put a stop payment on it but I would investigate if the check does get cashed by someone other than the payee (person the check was written out to).

New (contemporary) thinking. Children should not take anything to school that would result in heartbreak if it was lost or stolen. Corollary: I believe that children should not be carrying laptops to and from school. Separate stationary computers at home and at school together with diskettes or thumb drives to be carried back and forth should be used instead.

 

[apnep]

OK, I am so right now, I'm sure I'm not thinking straight so I need advice.
My darling daughter lost a $200 coat at school, with a check in it made out to the school in the amount of $40. What do I do about the check, anything? About my dd, I got that handled, she's grounded.

Not sure if I would've grounded her, sometmes we lose stuff too. I probably would make her do alot of work around the house though to pay for it though. I'd cancel the check but that's just me because I'd be freaked out.

I would keep looking at the school to see if the coat shows up in the lost and found. I would give the playground area a once over too, maybe she left it outside? When my kids were younger, and they forgot something, I'd check the lost and found area and there it was. Hope you find the coat!

Good luck! It'll be OK.

 

[Gumbo4x4]

Okay, here's what I don't get....

The coat was $200...There is a check in it with all your information on it....Your daughter says it was stolen, not lost...You contacted the school and they don't seem to care it was stolen....

Stolen to me means one thing - she put it in her locker, and came back to her locker to find it missing. If it disappeared any other way, it's "lost" IMO even if some other kids picked it up & walked off with it. Theft from a secure location versus carelessly leaving something laying around unguarded.

Unless it was stolen from her locker, get her the ugliest coat you can find at Goodwill and let her wear that for a year