Peeps that take forever to cash checks

**Palooka** · 08-10-2009, 03:03 PM

This drives me crazy. I wrote my dad a 125 dollar check over a month ago for a heating/cooling part for our furnice that he picked up, and it took him over a month to cash it. I keep track of it and deduct it, but it bothers me when people take forever to cash a check I wrote. Like anyday now would be nice. I just want to see it cleared and gone.

Say I mail a check as a birthday gift or even a bill...two years later, it clears the bank. lol

I hate writing checks anyway. That is just an example.

Could be my OCD though.

**StartingOver** · 08-10-2009, 03:14 PM

guilty as charged.....

All my banking is done on-line and our checks are direct deposit. I can't truthfully remember the last time I had to go to a bank. When I get a check I put it aside and eventually i run across it and try to get it cashed right away...for me it's a hassle. Bank is not real convenient for me.

Have you talked to your dad? Did he loose the check or put it somewhere and forget about it (I've done that too). Next time you are talking to him just ask him "hey dad...are you gonna cash that check anytime soon?"

**frugalfranny** · 08-10-2009, 03:15 PM

Originally Posted by Palooka

This drives me crazy. I wrote my dad a 125 dollar check over a month ago for a heating/cooling part for our furnice that he picked up, and it took him over a month to cash it.

Could be my OCD though.

My plumber is always famous for doing this. The last time I told him if it didn't come through in a month's cycle that I would put a stop payment on it. He laughed.

My concern is that maybe he/they LOST it and it is out there floating around somewhere. Had this happen one time when I wrote a check for a haircut. Hadn't cleared for 2 months, finally called the gal and asked. Found out the day I was in the salon the asst. mngr. had STOLEN the bank bag. It NEVER did surface! They 'thought' that she might have tossed the checks into a dumpster (oh great!) and kept the cash. I went to cash from then on!!

**Palooka** · 08-10-2009, 03:37 PM

Originally Posted by StartingOver

Have you talked to your dad? Did he loose the check or put it somewhere and forget about it (I've done that too). Next time you are talking to him just ask him "hey dad...are you gonna cash that check anytime soon?"

The check is cashed now. He is just from the old school and loves checks and thinks debit cards were invented from satan.

My parents are just check people. They are the ones to hold up the line in the grocery store writing one. They don't get it really.

**savvy_sniper** · 08-10-2009, 04:30 PM

I handle a trust account for myself and three brothers. I make a distribution every quarter. One of my brother's will sit on the checks and let them add up until he has 3 or 4 of them - that is 9 months to a year!

It is his way of saving money because his wife spends EVERY penny she can get her hands on and them some. He just cashed three of them. He is buying a laptop and other off to college things for my niece. I know how he is; so I just don't worry about it.

One of my other brother's cashes his checks in record time! I swear when I mail it to him, that he high tails it to the bank as soon as he opens the envelope.

It used to be inconvenient to go to my bank; so I would mail deposits. It took several days to get there, but it was faster than me getting around to driving to the bank.

**MomToTwoBoys** · 08-10-2009, 05:02 PM

I have a check that I got on July 20th. It's still in my drawer. I just haven't had the time to get to the bank to do it. I might end up saving it until I get another one on the 20th of this month, then walk to the bank when I get the kids back to school and deposit them.

I'm one that used to run right to the bank when I got a check. Now, I just do it when I have the time.

**dcompton** · 08-10-2009, 05:33 PM

I have a friend in Maryland, and one here, that occasionally I have sent checks too to reimburse something they have done for me. I would say two months is about the average time for clearance. Makes me nuts. I keep a close watch on my checking account on the computer, and I just keep changing the date on the check so I can at least see it on the screen without scrolling up.

I understand it may not be the most convenient thing, but really -- two months! I want to tell them if they don't need it any worse than that, just send it back!

**frugalwarrior** · 08-10-2009, 05:44 PM

My DH can beat anyone. He lost his money in a vending machine. $1. So he complained to the company and they mailed him a check for $1. It is sitting on the back of the bathroom cabinet. For over 2 months I have seen it there. I am waiting it to fall. And get flushed.

My first boss was a real corker and I loved her. She told me once about a woman who saved every paycheck since she started working. She was treating them like savings bonds. At this time there wasn't a 90-120 expiration on company checks. I guess the payroll dept. finally had to call her personally. I suspect she may have been talking about herself!!LOL

**Palooka** · 08-10-2009, 05:52 PM

Originally Posted by dcompton

I understand it may not be the most convenient thing, but really -- two months! I want to tell them if they don't need it any worse than that, just send it back!

OMG, my thoughts as well.

**McD** · 08-10-2009, 07:01 PM

I am horrible about getting to the bank now that I don't work at one. Finally, I started just doing my deposits through the ATM. It works better for me.

**calimomx2** · 08-10-2009, 07:07 PM

I wrote a check 3 months ago to our local Fire District (ds is an explorer scout with them) and they still haven't deposited the check! I know I've been guilty of holding a check but never that long, it is making me crazy that they are holding it!!!

**craftypam** · 08-10-2009, 07:38 PM

I have a son who is anxious about checks getting cashed immediately. If you weren't checking your account so much it wouldn't be such a problem. I balance my account once a month and if the check isn't cashed its not a big deal. Once you write the check the money isn't yours anymore anyway. I don't like having to run to the bank either. This same son has his car ins with us and he brings me a check; its a pain to have to go to the bank. Just like you like the internet to check your account frequently, some of the rest of us don't want to go to the bank either.

I also think its a good idea to ask if it was lost if the time period is long.

**Palooka** · 08-10-2009, 07:57 PM

Originally Posted by craftypam

I have a son who is anxious about checks getting cashed immediately. If you weren't checking your account so much it wouldn't be such a problem. I balance my account once a month and if the check isn't cashed its not a big deal. Once you write the check the money isn't yours anymore anyway. I don't like having to run to the bank either. This same son has his car ins with us and he brings me a check; its a pain to have to go to the bank. Just like you like the internet to check your account frequently, some of the rest of us don't want to go to the bank either.

say what?? If you are going to accept/write a check, then you should be the responsible party to go to the bank and do the right thing. It shouldn't be that hard.....

**Palooka** · 08-10-2009, 08:01 PM

Originally Posted by calimomx2

I wrote a check 3 months ago to our local Fire District (ds is an explorer scout with them) and they still haven't deposited the check! I know I've been guilty of holding a check but never that long, it is making me crazy that they are holding it!!!

It is truely frustrating.

**frugalwarrior** · 08-10-2009, 08:07 PM

Gotta admit I try to avoid/evade the bank too. We get auto deposit for paychecks and pay bills online and some things are auto w/ drawal. I just wish every store would take debit cards so I never had to go to the atm. I used to hate it when relatives would send checks in small amts. to my kids. I always ended up covering the checks and then forgetting to cash the actual checks. At which time my DM would accuse me of losing it. I have often wished we could print a coupon off the computer which represented money.LOL.