Where do I cash my paycheck?

[ronaldtc]

I have stopped my automatic deposit of my paycheck because my bank is the same as one of my credit cards. I am filing this week and will get a paper check on Friday.

Do I have to use one of the checking cashing stores in order to get the cash to buy money orders? My personal bank is the same as my employers bank.

Can I start an account at another bank once I have filed?

Am I correct in assuming that a bank can freeze my funds if they are the issuer of my credit card?

Thanks so much!

[momof5]

Banks dont make it easy to cash a check if you are not a customer.

We just found this out recently. Do you have a grocery store that cashes paychecks if you have a shoppers type card? They usually dont charge a fee.

I dont know anything about the bank/credit card thing but it seems to me if you have an account with them they should cash the check. I cannot see them taking your check and saying..we are keeping this now. Then on the other hand if your bank is like ours it will not cash a check even if you have an account with them, if the check is for more than what is in your account.

I imagine there are many here who have been through this and can help you!

[chapter7inpa]

Pretty sure Wal Mart will do it for a small fee, probably like $2-3.

I would call to make sure though.

[Cali]

You can always open up an account at another bank.

[epiphany]

Do you have any outstanding checks (unpaid that you are bking) at another financial institution or retailer? If not, you can go open another checking account quickly (at a bank you presently have no affiliation with) and use your check as the opener...they may hold funds till they clear though.

If the holding of funds is a problem for you, try to cash it at a local grocery store or Walmart and then take some of the cash to go open a new account. Change your employment direct deposits to the new bank asap. Banks generally do not hold funds on direct deposits but be sure to ask that question before opening a new account.


Run, don't walk and good luck to you.

ep

[magyar123]

I thought it was credit unions that are allowed to collaterize if/when an account holder is filing on one of their products.
All the other banks have to live with the automatic stay.

[CindyLou]

I say either WalMart or even better at the bank of issue, it there is one near you.

[vegas911]

This will sound a bit crazy (I'm in Vegas), but casinos love when people cash their paychecks. I imagine casinos across the country would be the same.

[jwbbx]

I just did this in prep for my BK, I have a Visa with my old bank what will be included in BK.

First, you still have the account at your employer's bank, so cash your check there. You have a relationship with them, and they don't yet know about your BK - they should have no issue with cashing your check.

Look online for the banks that have zero fee checking, there are usually quite a few. Make sure it's a bank you have no prior relationship with. Take the cash to your new chosen bank or CU and open an account with the minimum they require. If they ask why you're switching, just tell them you are 'tired' of your old bank. Sign up for the debit card at that time but refuse any offers of overdraft protection or credit cards. Be sure to take the last batch of checks from your existing account, and get them to start your new checks with the next series of numbers. You DON'T want checks starting at #101.

Do this BEFORE your file date!! It becomes harder to open accounts after the BK is filed, and you'll need one. Who wants to be paying money order fees and worrying about cashing checks when you can get the Direct Deposit to a new account?

Then use the remaining cash to buy the money orders to pay bills. Soon you'll have checks and a debit card for the new account and can just move your direct deposit to your new bank.

Take one of the starter checks in to your employer to get the direct deposit changed.

All done.

[epiphany]

I thought it was credit unions that are allowed to collaterize if/when an account holder is filing on one of their products.
All the other banks have to live with the automatic stay.

As far as I know, you are correct in saying that only credit Unions can collaterize if/when an account holder is filing on one of their products before the filing.

But my point to the OP was: if one has any returned (bad) checks out there or is in the negative on any checking accounts anywhere, that information will be entered into a database (ChexSystems) and one will be denied from opening another checking account at pretty much any institution until that is cleared up.

If one needs to open another account, best to go to a bank that one has no affliliations with before one has a negative checking account reporting to the database. My comment about the check hold for new accounts does not mean that the funds are "frozen", just that the new financial institution will usually wait about ten days to clear the funds and make them available for use.

[epiphany]

You DON'T want checks starting at #101.

This is a good point but you can usually just tell them what number to start printing your checks at.

ep

[jwbbx]

True, but it never hurts to have the old checks with you to substantiate the new numbering. I've opened accounts where I just asked and it was ok, but I've also asked and had them balk at first.

[ronaldtc]

WOW! You guys are the best! Thank you all so very much. There is a Walmart nearby. I will check on their check cashing services.

Thinking of Walmart, I have another idea. I can always buy one of their Visa cash cards and pay my bills online using that Visa number. I'll probably just start an account at an unrelated bank.

Thanks again!

[epiphany]

True, but it never hurts to have the old checks with you to substantiate the new numbering. I've opened accounts where I just asked and it was ok, but I've also asked and had them balk at first.

I really haven't had to open that many and have never had a problem but it is probably better to be safe than sorry by bringing the old ones with you. And as I already stated, it is a very good point. Harder at some places to write checks with low numbers.

ep

[Cali]

I've always picked the number I wanted to start my checks with.