800 mistake totally my fault - just need to vent

**dwnloom** · 02-10-2012, 02:22 PM

I dont want to go into details, but I made an 800 dollar mistake and am worried that a check will bounce....totally sick to my stomach. Yes, its my fault...totally..my payday is Wednesday -1200am..direct deposit.....so....saying prayers that the check will not hit till Tuesday night/Wednesday morning. I know the people dont have the check yet, probably wont get it till Saturday afternoon or Sunday....two days to worry.....and pray....This has really been a bad couple of days.....No, I cant move my emergency funds around right now....

**ladytoysdream** · 02-10-2012, 02:30 PM

Can you call the place where you sent that check and ask them to hold it till wednesday ?

**DWHISNANT** · 02-10-2012, 02:31 PM

Put a stop payment on it.

**dwnloom** · 02-10-2012, 02:35 PM

I will call them to see if they can hold it till Wednesday.......

How many days does it take to process? I know they use a different bank and the earliest anything will happen with it is Monday....

**ladytoysdream** · 02-10-2012, 02:41 PM

Banks move things real fast nowadays, if you ask me.
If they won't hold it a extra day or so, then do the stop payment.

**McD** · 02-10-2012, 02:48 PM

I would research your state laws prior to placing a stop payment on the cehck: Stopping payment on a check in order to avoid payment of a legitmate debt may be a criminal act of fraud, governed by state fraud laws, which vary bystate Stop Payment Law & Legal Definition

**dwnloom** · 02-10-2012, 02:54 PM

Im not trying to keep from paying.....I want to pay this bill just need it to hit bank Tuesday evening/Wednesday morning.....Hopefully they will hold it a day or so....

**McD** · 02-10-2012, 03:00 PM

I'm not saying that you are attempting to avoid payment as in defrauding them. It could appear that way to a court or to ther person you wrote the check to, especially if you read the portion of the article I copied below. That's why I suggested researching your state laws prior to placing a stop payment.

"(a) A person commits the offense of deposit account fraud when such person makes, draws, utters, executes, or delivers an instrument for the payment of money on any bank or other depository in exchange for a present consideration or wages, knowing that it will not be honored by the drawee or issues a stop-payment order directing the bank or other depository on which the instrument is drawn not to honor said instrument knowing that the instrument would not otherwise be honored by the drawee.

It might not hurt to call and ask your bank to honor the check if the other party won't hold it.

**mombottoo** · 02-10-2012, 03:54 PM

OP--mistakes happen with adding & subtracting all the time. I would call & explain to them what happened & ask them to hold it until Wednesday. If they refuse then I would stop payment and re-issue the check immediately once you have the money in your account.

In order for the law to apply here you would have had to "knowingly" written the check, knowing you didn't have the money in your account to cover it. Sounds to me like you didn't realize the check wasn't covered until you found an error.

I think they will appreciate your honesty, since most banks charge for depositing checks that end up bouncing. I know my bank does since I had someone write me a check that bounced...cost me $3.00. Luckily, their check bouncing didn't cause my account to bounce, which was a good thing.

**McD** · 02-10-2012, 04:05 PM

But this part could apply: issues a stop-payment order directing the bank or other depository on which the instrument is drawn not to honor said instrument knowing that the instrument would not otherwise be honored by the drawee. .

Again, I urge you to check your state laws prior to stopping payment.

I would also contact your bank. Knowing that your direct deposit will be coming in, they may honor it for you.

**dwnloom** · 02-10-2012, 04:17 PM

I dont think I will stop payment. I will call and see if they will hold it. If not, I will call the bank and see it they will honor it. But in the mean time, I will be praying that the check doesnt hit until Tuesday evening or Wednesday......

**bent** · 02-10-2012, 04:19 PM

if it's where you can call the company you wrote the ck to and ask to speak to the A/R department manager explain about your error and ask if there is any way they can hold your ck. some companies will some won't but if you call asking maybe this one will.

**shoiji** · 02-11-2012, 10:44 AM

Call the company and ask them to hold the check. It may be possible depending on how big the company is. If not call and cancel the check and let the company know you will be doing this. Just explain the situation. You will be probably incur more fees from the check not clearing depending on how many times the company tries to honor the check. In which case it will be cheaper to cancel the check since the company may also charge a fee.

Mistakes happen. It would be different if this was a habit but it isn't. It is just a mistake. No need to be wondering and worrying and getting deeper in debt fee wise. I remember once paying for car insurance online. Well somehow I made a payment that was larger than I intended. Fortunately when I immediately called the insurance company and explained they were able to change the amount. If they didn't do this my rent check would have bounced.

It is just one of those things where you need to get proactive to make sure things don't get more out of control. And I speak from experience as far as getting myself so distraught I get numb and don't continue forging ahead. Not trying to scold you. Just trying to encourage you to keep at it.

Hang in there.

**madhen** · 02-11-2012, 01:43 PM

I would call. Even if they can't hold the check, it shows that you made a good faith effort and they MIGHT be willing to reverse any NSF fees, should it bounce.