People who hold onto checks

[disykat]

Because you are left to wonder if you have a check that got into the wrong hands. That is why people cancel checks. Check theft, check washing, etc.

If people don't cancel checks, then each month you have to go back a subtract that amount, wading through old check registers looking for the right one, etc. It's an irritant, even if you know it's sitting on their dining room table. Your register won't balance until it is cashed.

Every month when I balance my checkbook I have outstanding checks, the most recently written. I notice the second month when I have to go back pages and pages or even dig out my old register to find the missing entry.

I'm still guessing those who don't care at all don't "balance" their checkbooks.

 

[ChattaAlley]

Because you are left to wonder if you have a check that got into the wrong hands. That is why people cancel checks. Check theft, check washing, etc.

I get what you are saying

Plus it is a courtesy to cash the checks not too long after you receive them IMO.

 

[ols386]

I can understand a check given as a wedding gift not being cashed right away, because with a wedding things can be somewhat hectic for a bit.

When I balance my checking account, as long as there is an outstanding check, then each month I have to take into account that it's still outstanding, if I don't, then my account won't balance. It's not a huge deal or the end of the world or anything like that, and my life will certainly go on, but it is a minor annoyance.

Also like to know that the couple did indeed cash the check and that it wasn't lost or something.

Like everything else, we all probably view it in our own way.

What bothers some folks, isn't even a blimp on the radar for some.

 

[ols386]

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.

Unless they hold on to it too long and it expires.

Personally, I do keep a check register, but I also like to know that the couple did indeed get the check cashed, and that it was not accidentally lost, or possibly ended up in the wrong hands.

Not sure why you think it's so funny.

 

[Heidict]

Yes, I hate it when people hold onto checks to long. I can understand it would take longer in this circumstance but over 2 months, really? Wouldn't surprise me if some of those checks bounced when they do deposit them. A lot of people go strictly by their online banking numbers these days and after 2 or more months will probably have forgotten that the check never even cleared.

I think it's even more rude to tell the bride & groom that they have a specified time to cash it or you will cancel it. You know they received since the brides mother told you as much. To call them and give them a deadline would be even ruder.

 

[Hannathy]

Unless they hold on to it too long and it expires.

.

But again that is their problem not yours. It is their gift to use or not to use.

 

[ols386]

But again that is their problem not yours. It is their gift to use or not to use.

True.

And if they do not cash it before it expires, than I have that amount back into my account.

 

[goofyernmost]

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.

It does create a minor hassle because it remains outstanding, but if you understand that you really do not have that money anymore, you gave it to someone else...it really isn't a problem. Now if you decide, heck, I got that still in my checking account so I can spend it (again) then you have a problem. More than one actually!

Because you are left to wonder if you have a check that got into the wrong hands. That is why people cancel checks. Check theft, check washing, etc.

So your saying that the check got into the wrong hands, but they didn't do anything with it either? Man you would have to have a huge group of stupid people to have that happen. A whole bunch of people have the check and no one is smart enough to cash it.

I see no problem with asking the recipient to cash if after a certain amount of time has passed, because it is only common courtesy to understand that the individual that sacrificed money as a gift, would like to know that they didn't throw money away on someone that didn't need it. It eventually becomes rude. Too busy to cash or deposit a check? Really? That just sounds like either lazy or irresponsible to me.

 

[kathie859]

Another reason I don't give a check as a present!! I admit to being a little neurotic about balancing my checking account and it would annoy me to no end if, month after month, I had to check if the gift check cleared. And the whole "where" is my check with all my information on it would bother me. Other posters alluded to check washing and other fraud concerns which I believe to be valid concerns.

I think the newlyweds are rude to hold checks for over a month post honeymoon.

 

[CoP Luv]

We couldn't deposit our checks after our wedding for 3.5 months. Since they were made out to 'Mr. & Mrs'. New Last Name', my name HAD to be changed in order for the bank to accept the checks. I couldn't sign the checks in my maiden name.

Our marriage certificate didn't arrive for 2 months and then it took another few weeks for my new SS card to arrive.

Nothing could be done in our situation and no one seemed bothered by it.

 

[SaraJayne]

Because you are left to wonder if you have a check that got into the wrong hands. That is why people cancel checks. Check theft, check washing, etc.

If people don't cancel checks, then each month you have to go back a subtract that amount, wading through old check registers looking for the right one, etc. It's an irritant, even if you know it's sitting on their dining room table. Your register won't balance until it is cashed.

Every month when I balance my checkbook I have outstanding checks, the most recently written. I notice the second month when I have to go back pages and pages or even dig out my old register to find the missing entry.

I'm still guessing those who don't care at all don't "balance" their checkbooks.

Not quite. Our checkbook is balanced every single month, by either DH or myself. It doesn't bother either one of us.

 

[tefrench]

All of our cash and checks were deposited mere hours after the wedding - it came in handy for the honeymoon!

That said, it does bother my dh when checks aren't cashed fairly quickly. We send checks to pay for the kids lunches at school, because we would be charged extra to do it online. It is a question of making sure the check made it to where it is supposed to go.

 

[ChristmasElf]

I would just subtract the $1 or 2 hundred dollars from my checking account now and forget about it. When they cash it, they cash it. If you have already deducted the money, it won't matter in the long run.

 

[TheSchragFamily]

All of our cash and checks were deposited mere hours after the wedding - it came in handy for the honeymoon!

That said, it does bother my dh when checks aren't cashed fairly quickly. We send checks to pay for the kids lunches at school, because we would be charged extra to do it online. It is a question of making sure the check made it to where it is supposed to go.

Yes, this exactly! That monthly check to the school department for lunches is a hassle. Mostly when I try to remember why check number 1324 is missing, since they are usually written as we are flying out the door to do school drop-off! Then they don't cash it for weeks, sometimes...so I often start to wonder if they even received it. They don't send us a nasty letter until the kids owe for FIVE lunches, so it can take a while to figure out we aren't paid up. Here is the usual conversation later that day:

Me: "Did you give the check to Mrs. Jones?"
Child: "Yes."
Me: "Are you sure?"
Child: "Uh-huh."
Me: Did you see her put it in the folder for the front office?
Child: "Mm-hmm."
Me: Did the lunch lady tell you your balance?
Child: <stares at me like I'm crazy>

 

[rascalmom]

We couldn't deposit our checks after our wedding for 3.5 months. Since they were made out to 'Mr. & Mrs'. New Last Name', my name HAD to be changed in order for the bank to accept the checks. I couldn't sign the checks in my maiden name.

Our marriage certificate didn't arrive for 2 months and then it took another few weeks for my new SS card to arrive.

Nothing could be done in our situation and no one seemed bothered by it.

This is a VERY valid point and something that anyone writing checks to newlyweds should keep in mind. Banks are funny about legal names being on accounts and going on endorsements.

I hadn't thought about this in a very long time, but dh and I moved out of state right after our wedding and it was a hassle getting all the documents gathered to open new joint bank accounts. I can't remember how we handled our wedding checks - but I do remember not having a local checking account in the new state for a while while we waited for the marriage certificate, etc.

 

[TheSchragFamily]

Yes, that's a good point...I was told to buy my plane ticket to the honeymoon in my maiden name because it could be a hassle to get past security without proof of my name change.

 

[Coconut36]

I thought personal checks stayed valid for a long time..far longer than 6 months but I do know that can depend on the bank and the state laws.

I find it odd people feel it appropriate to set a deadline on a personal check they wrote as a gift. I know it sucks when you are waiting for it to clear but you have already deducted that money from your balance so it shouldn't really matter if they do it in 2 weeks or 4 months. If you feel the need to set deadlines give a gift check or cash instead.

It's true that there can also be cashing issues for newlyweds depending on how the check is address and who is on the account. If it is for Susie and John Smith or Mr. and Mrs. Smith instead of Susie Jones and John Smith they might have issues cashing it until she can legally show her name is Susie Smith now. That takes time.

ETA-I found this online:

There is no federal law that requires banks to turn away stale-dated checks. The law simply gives the bank the discretion to do so and, typically, each bank has its own policy for how to handle such checks.

This explains why the policy can vary so much from bank to bank or state to state. They have the ability to do it but also the ability to go longer than 6 months if they choose to.

 

[snapppyd]

A check is good for six months.

This drives me crazy too! I send checks to all the nieces and nephews for their birthdays. They wait months to cash them. I hate reminding them because it looks like I'm looking for a thank you - but twice the check never got to them. I felt terrible that they thought I had forgotten.

Christmas checks have been cashed at the end of March.

 

[PrincessKsMom]

Drives me nuts!

With that being said, I just cashed a check on Saturday that someone sent to my daughter for Christmas.

 

[disneyfav4ever]

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.

That's what I don't get either. When I write a check I know that money's gone from my checking account. I balance my checkbook accordingly when I write the check!