Stolen Check

Two points...

2) A checking account is never really closed these days. If you have a check outstanding, and the account is closed, the account still exists, and it will go negative. You will then get hit with a bunch a fees, and it could be referred for criminal prosecution if the bank cannot get in touch with you to get it fixed up.

-john-

John, both your points are correct, but the OP didn't lose a signed blank check. Cashing the check would be a crime, and if it were cashed, the OP can present the check to the bank as they shouldn't have cashed it. Is all of the responsibility on the check writer? Whoever cashed it has some obligation to verify it's to the order of the presenter. No? JOE

"Mike" wrote in news:1168115247.854791.232130 @i15g2000cwa.googlegroups.com:

Very simple. Work with the bank to migrate the account number (close the account) as soon as you can.

Good reasons to make one's payments online using a credit card, or (if you trust the creditor) via automatic pre-authorized debits. I would never put an outgoing check in my mailbox.

Well, I don't know if I'd go to that extreme. I still pay all my bills by check, some of them get redeemed ETF though. All of my outgoing mail is taken to the post office. But then, I live in a small town and have a PO Box.

Elizabeth Richardson

Days? A little bit dramatic aren't we? For twenty accounts it shouldn't take you more than a couple of hours at the most.

wow, didn't know either of those things. Man, I really hate the checking system, especially that fact that you can never know for 100% sure if a check has really cleared (unless you ask the check writer, but even then you have to know and trust them).

John,

Thanks, I guess I just needed that extra voice to reinforce that "little voice" that was telling me to do that... As for putting a check in my outbound mail in my mailbox, yes, it was not brilliant, but we have never so much as had a jay-walker in the neighborhood until now. Not to say it was smart of me not to have been more vigilant, though.

Mike

It has been recommended for years to not put outgoing mail in your house mailbox. From one web site: "Never send mail by placing it in your mailbox for the carrier to pick up when they deliver. Always deposit your mail in a mail slot at your local post office, or hand it to your letter carrier. Thieves drive around your neighborhood looking for those mailboxes with the little red flag up, obviously indicating that there is outgoing mail."

The stop payment should be all you need, IMO.

As for fear of the rtn and acct number being compromised, keep in mind that that same routing number and account number are available to anyone you've ever written a check to.

Personally, I wouldn't be going through the trouble of opening a new account over this, but I would make sure to review the bank statement every month quite quickly.

Best Regards,

-- Todd H.

Paranis aside, this would be a slam-dunk lawsuit in small claims court should these sloppy practices occur.

Sure you can - have your checking account at a place that offers internet/web access to your account. Most banks and credit unions have that now. In my case, if I click on a cleared check, it even pops up a scan of both sides of the item.

John Cowart

Oh, I wasn't talking about your own checks. I mean when you deposit someone else's check, you can't know for sure if it has cleared on their end. (I know this isn't the scenario for the OP, but I was just mentioning another issue with the checking system).

Seeing as a couple of them require paper forms to be filled out and sent in, yes it will take days.

Yes, you have every right to say "I told you so". It's one of those occasions where of course it always happens somewhere else and your neighborhood is so safe. But, I guess this is the painful reminder that it does not always happen elsewhere and yes, it can happen to you. I try not to learn lessons the hard way. I'm glad to say that this is a lesson learned. Just heard this morning that one of my neighbors lost his mail the same day, too.

Thats just one of the reasons why I absolutely refuse to let anyone do pull payments from my checking account. I do almost all bill payment by EFT but it is push. I set it up the way I want and I can easily specify or change anything I want.

I am sorry to hear of your misfortune. I have read through the replies an have a comment and suggestion.

At every bank I have used, stop payments were good for six months and could be renewed once, for a fee, giving stop payment coverage for up to

You should close this account. I also suggest you open two accounts to replace it. One for all of your automatic debits and credits, and one for checks, check card purchases and other debits.

Best of Luck

David