Check cashed for higher amount than it was made out for...

[RBisDebtFree]

I could not believe this and am really upset with my bank for allowing this to happen... I have two checking accounts, one where I store money for operational expenses and one separate account that has funds for all my checks written out, so whenever all checks I have written out are cashed that account's balance will be 0.

So I got a bill for $19.57, made out and mailed a check for that amount to the billing company. A week later, I look at my account and I see that the checks was actually cashed for $19.59 for 2 cents more than it was made out for. I looked at the check image and it just had $19.59 written on above $19.57. Good thing that I had more checks that haven't been cashed and the account did not go overdraft.

To be honest, I am pretty mad this happened... is it normal practice? Who do I talk to about this now? What do I do? I really wanted to speak with the decision make for this decision and possibly to their supervisor, I just won't want this go through. If it was an error, I'll let it go, that's understandable (although if it would make my account overdraft, I wouldn't let it go). Just really, really upset... please share your opinion. Thanks!

[NHC]

The error was most likely made by the teller at the bank when the check was deposited...I can see how it would be very easy to hit a 7 instead of a 9 if you're using a 10 key pad....and especially if the teller is running 20 or more checks in a row....2 cents is nothing to worry about....I would let it slide. Now, a bigger mistake.... Say they typed in 29.57? yeah, I would go talk to somebody....

[RBisDebtFree]

Well, I don't think it was the teller, the amount on the check was $19.57 and then somebody hand-wrote $19.59 above that $19.57. And the teller took that, that's the problem!

[nc73]

maybe your bill was actually 2 cents higher so someone corrected your check? not that it makes much of a difference...

[RBisDebtFree]

The bill was $19.57. But still, is it normal practice for the depositor to correct the amount deposited?

[NoMoreCards]

The spot where you hand write out the amount of the check, overrides the number in the dollar field. So double check what you wrote out. Because if that number can "appear" to be a 9 instead of a 7, it would be understandable why it was cashed at the 9 level.

If the written part is CLEARLY a 7, you need to call the company that the check was made out to. Changing the dollar amount is not legal.

I work at a bank, and this is what I have been taught.

[RBisDebtFree]

You are right, I did make a mistake and put "fifty nine cents" in the hand-written part. But in the dollar field it was a clear 7. So I made a mistake, that's good to know, thanks.

So what was the right thing to happen with such a check?

[NoMoreCards]

Because you wrote 59 in the write out field, the check was handled correctly.

That spot always overrides the number field.

The check legally can only be cashed for the number written in the write out field. If there is a large discrepancy, the check is usually returned. Then however you could face "late fees" by your creditor.

[RBisDebtFree]

I see. Thanks a lot for the information! I guess I need to be paying a lot of attention to what I put in the write-out field too, I was only double-checking the dollar field. Thanks a lot once again!

[NoMoreCards]

You'd be surprised how many people think the number field is the important one. I did too, before I got my job. :-)

Glad I could help.

[RBisDebtFree]

I'd definitely share this with my family, friends and coworkers in our conversations...

[nc73]

good one. What if they can't read what was written down? My hand writing is horrible.

[BobMango]

I wrote a check to AmEx once for $1,700 and they tried to cash it for $7,000! My bank called and asked if it was legit, but wouldn't tell me who was trying to cash the check.

I wrote out the amount as "seventeen hundred" instead of "one thousand seven hundred" and I guess they just ran with the seven in the front. Took AmEx a long time to get the account straightened out.

[RBisDebtFree]

Yes, that's worse than 2 cents difference

[WhatMoney]

It's considered good form to spell out the amount at each comma break in a dollar amount to avoid confusion. But you better use a business size check when you write out: $33,333.33.