People who hold onto checks

[dakcp2001]

I wrote a check for a wedding gift that was a Valentine's Day Wedding. Now, I gave them 30 days before checked with the bride to be sure the check had not been lost. The bride told me that they had all the checks and they were planning to open a new checking account to deposit all of them together. It is now going on May and they have yet to cash the check. I spoke with the brides mom and she told me that all the checks are laid out on their dining room table and they just have not had time to get to them yet. Aren't all the checks going to expire? How long until they do? I don't often write paper checks and everytime I do, I regret it.

Is it just me, or does this drive you crazy? From now on, money orders for wedding gifts or gift cards.

 

[Breezy_Carol]

It bugs me too when folks hold onto checks. I believe a person has 6 months before the check goes "stale" and expires. But, some banks will still cash it even after that time so be prepared.

 

[giffy231]

How odd! Seems to me like cashing the checks and sending out thank you cards would be in the works right after the wedding. I would not hold my breath on a thank you card if they ave yet to even cash the checks.

 

[Jennasis]

According to my bank...6 months and then a check is considered "stale" and they will not allow me to cash or deposit it (I know this because I tried to deposit a check just last week that I found in the pocket of a pair of pants I hadn't worn since last September). I checked with the client who wrote me the check to make sure it was okay to try to cash it. She said she'd write a new one if they wouldn't take it.

Two and a half months isn't a huge deal yet, but I can't imagine why a young couple starting out hasn't cashed those puppies immediately to have their nest egg in order.

I did have a kid who did some work for me successfully cash a check I had written him TWO YEARS after I wrote it. He lost it in his room and found it while cleaning.

 

[ols386]

I thought checks were good for at least 6 months, maybe longer.

Maybe they have the checks laid out on the table and are writing thank you's, but haven't gotten all the thank yous written yet. Seems like that would be a good way of keeping them organized until all are written and ready to be mailed, and then they will cash the checks.

But it would be a bit annoying waiting for the check to clear the bank, because it's outstanding until it's cashed, and you have to take that check into account in order to balance your checking account each month.

 

[Imzadi]

My bank had told me it was a year before they went stale. But, this was years ago.

 

[Charade]

We had the checks from our wedding deposited right after we came back from our honeymoon.

I think holding on to them for a couple of months is a little inconsiderate.

 

[ChattaAlley]

THIS is one of my biggest pet peeves. I hate writing checks. I do write some checks for bills but they cash them within the week usually. but if I write a personal check and they do not cash i usually call or text them after 2-3 weeks.

 

[Mokat76]

Give the bride a definite date by which she must cash your check or you will stop payment. Give her something like two weeks. Banks are open weekends nowadays. They have time; they're just being lazy and inconsiderate. Even if you don't actually stop payment since that'll cost you money, maybe a deadline might make her get her butt in gear.

 

[Northstar]

These days, I think many people are not used to checks and to balancing a checking account, so they don't realize it's inconvenient for the person who wrote the check if it's not cashed promptly. They just see it like a gift certificate or something, that you've already paid for so why would you care when they use it.

I suppose a gentle reminder wouldn't hurt... "hey, Recent Bride, if you don't cash that check soon I'm going to see that extra money in my account and forget that there's a check that hasn't been cashed yet..." But it is annoying that you have to remind them.

 

[Robinrs]

Wasn't this a Seinfeld situation?

 

[Sgt Mickey]

I hate writing checks for this reason. I try to give cash as much as possible. I know it isn't as easy to track if something were to happen but makes my life easier.

 

[ols386]

I hate writing checks for this reason. I try to give cash as much as possible. I know it isn't as easy to track if something were to happen but makes my life easier.

I like to give cash too, but I'm always afraid it might get mis-placed with all the confusion surrounding a wedding and gifts, etc. With a check, if it does get lost or something, then the receiver of the check isn't out that money, and neither am I.

 

[Hannathy]

Give the bride a definite date by which she must cash your check or you will stop payment. Give her something like two weeks. Banks are open weekends nowadays. They have time; they're just being lazy and inconsiderate. Even if you don't actually stop payment since that'll cost you money, maybe a deadline might make her get her butt in gear.

Why? What difference does it make to you whether they get it cashed in time or not? you gave a gift now it is up to the recipient to do what they want. You weren't expecting to have that money so what difference does it make if it just sits in your checking account for a while.

So if they don't cash it in time and it isn't good when they get around to it oh well. Just like if you gave them a gift card and it expired, it is on them to do what they want.

 

[Sgt Mickey]

I like to give cash too, but I'm always afraid it might get mis-placed with all the confusion surrounding a wedding and gifts, etc. With a check, if it does get lost or something, then the receiver of the check isn't out that money, and neither am I.

I t happend at my husbands childhood friends wedding. The checks came up missing but they had moved the cash thankfully to a safe place.

 

[disykat]

Like another poster said, many people don't balance their checkbooks so they are ignorant of the fact that you even KNOW they didn't cash the check. Doesn't excuse it, but it does explain it.

 

[SaraJayne]

Give the bride a definite date by which she must cash your check or you will stop payment. Give her something like two weeks. Banks are open weekends nowadays. They have time; they're just being lazy and inconsiderate. Even if you don't actually stop payment since that'll cost you money, maybe a deadline might make her get her butt in gear.

What?? Who in the world does that? Once you give a check as a gift, it is the recipients prerogative to do with as they wish, within the timeline they deem acceptable.

It does not bother me in the least when checks aren't cashed right away. The money is already taken out of my register, it's already "spent", so I don't worry about it at all.

If people would keep a check register and know how much money they have (instead of relying on online banking, which isn't always accurate), this wouldn't be a problem.

 

[disykat]

But, if you keep a check register, every time you balance it you see that the check is still outstanding. You KNOW it hasn't been cashed - which means you have a check out there that may not have made it to the right place.

 

[SaraJayne]

But, if you keep a check register, every time you balance it you see that the check is still outstanding. You KNOW it hasn't been cashed - which means you have a check out there that may not have made it to the right place.

So? Why does it matter if the check is outstanding?

 

[Hannathy]

So? Why does it matter if the check is outstanding?

yeah that's what I was wondering.

I still stand with my statement on the first page, who cares if they cash it or not. Their gift, their business.