Stopping payment on a check question

[DOREEN1779]

On Wednesday night someone entered my vehicle parked in the driveway and stole some items. I really thought I locked it, but I must not have because there were no signs of forced entry. A portable DVD player, about $12.00, and two personal checks were stolen. The DVD player was on the back seat and the money and two checks were in a closed compartment in the console, not in plain sight. It could have been a lot worse and they left some more expensive items that were in the trunk untouched. We have a rental unit and both checks were rent made out to my husbands name. I did not realize the theft until early Thursday afternoon when I went to make the deposit. I immediately called the two tenants and explained what had happened and told them to stop payment and we would reimburse the stop payment fee. They both stopped payment before the end of the business day. What do you think the likelihood that someone tried to cash those checks before a stop payment was put on the check? If they tried to cash it at the branch the check was issued from, I would think they would have to produce ID and cash it against their own account but what about happens at these check cashing places? The checks were in an envelope so I'm not even sure they knew what they had. I should have been more careful. We had a bulk garbage pickup day in our town that weekend and there were a lot of cars and foot traffic trying to get an early jump on the what was put out.

 

[disneychrista]

I am pretty sure if the checks had cleared their banks the stop payment would not have gone through.

 

[nene0182]

I'm not sure how all banks work but for the one I work at, they wouldn't have been able to do a stop payment if the check had already gone through. Our system scans check numbers and if it has been flagged for any reason we have to either verify it or deny it. If it was the case of a check with a stop payment placed on it getting through the system after that, the bank would be responsible for the amount. I think you should be fine.

 

[Tarheel girl 1975]

If the stop payment was placed the day after the checks were stolen, they should be okay. The only way they could clear that fast is if he cashed them at the bank they were drawn on. I think he would have a very hard time cashing the checks without id. They would probably have to be altered.

 

[Malibustyle23]

On Wednesday night someone entered my vehicle parked in the driveway and stole some items. I really thought I locked it, but I must not have because there were no signs of forced entry. A portable DVD player, about $12.00, and two personal checks were stolen. The DVD player was on the back seat and the money and two checks were in a closed compartment in the console, not in plain sight. It could have been a lot worse and they left some more expensive items that were in the trunk untouched. We have a rental unit and both checks were rent made out to my husbands name. I did not realize the theft until early Thursday afternoon when I went to make the deposit. I immediately called the two tenants and explained what had happened and told them to stop payment and we would reimburse the stop payment fee. They both stopped payment before the end of the business day. What do you think the likelihood that someone tried to cash those checks before a stop payment was put on the check? If they tried to cash it at the branch the check was issued from, I would think they would have to produce ID and cash it against their own account but what about happens at these check cashing places? The checks were in an envelope so I'm not even sure they knew what they had. I should have been more careful. We had a bulk garbage pickup day in our town that weekend and there were a lot of cars and foot traffic trying to get an early jump on the what was put out.

Honestly if I was either of your tenants I would close that account and open a new one. Call me over cautious but nowadays with everything electronic all someone needs to empty your account with a large purchase is your account and routing number. While yes you give that out everyday you write a check it is not generally going to someone with a malicious intent such as those that stole the checks from you.

At the beginning of this year I looked up my checking account online and saw that there was an electronic transfer for around $30. I did not recognize it nor did my husband. I called the company tried to get some info from them and they were beyond shady with no help. I called my bank and they immediately froze my account and had me open a new one. Upon more investigation from my bank he found that this company and another similar one had taken money from a few other accounts. The company did business in another state so it was near impossible to have authorities do anything about it. The bank said they probably use a small amount like that to keep anyone from noticing and just hit a bunch of accounts to add up. Once the scam is figured out they open a new license and dba name and start over again.

My situation is probably not going to happen in yours but I guess I am just very leery nowadays.