I found an uncashed check.....what would you do?

[WTMindy]

The other day we discovered a check written almost 10 years ago for some tutoring I'd done. It is for $80. (It has fallen down into the couch and tucked into a strange place. Dh thinks I should call them (I don't really know them very well) and explain. I'd rather just take the loss at this point. I would be way too embarrassed to call. Would you call or just ignore it?

[Amy in NH]

I would ignore it. They've probably forgotten all about it. And I wouldn't expect them to write another check, which they might think you are wanting if you call them.

[Mom2legomaniacs]

Honestly, I would let it go. That's way too long. It wouldn't be good anyway (I don't think -- don't they "expire" if not cashed within a certain time frame?).

[Pam "SFSOM" in TN]

The other day we discovered a check written almost 10 years ago for some tutoring I'd done. It is for $80. (It has fallen down into the couch and tucked into a strange place. Dh thinks I should call them (I don't really know them very well) and explain. I'd rather just take the loss at this point. I would be way too embarrassed to call. Would you call or just ignore it?

Ignore. They paid. It was on you to capture the money at that point. Who knows what their situation is right now? I would have written off that check Loooong ago!

[FloridaLisa]

10 years ago? I would figure I'd lived 10 years without it and I wouldn't ask it to be rewritten at this point. Kindof a bummer, though.

Lisa

[Doran]

Ooh, have I ever been there!! Unless I knew the people well enough to figure they wouldn't bad mouth my lack of financial organization after I'd called, I'd just take the loss. It was not worth the embarrassment in my book.

Ugh. Sorry.

Doran

[Karen sn]

Consider it free tutoring years ago.

[Whisperlily]

Ten weeks? I'd probably call. Ten months, maybe. Ten years? No way.

[Tammy]

how the check got on the couch in the first place, LOL!

Ten years is a bit too long to call about it....not unless you see this person on a regular basis.

Tammy

[mcconnellboys]

I don't think I would ask for the money at this point,

Regena

[Janet in WA]

The other day we discovered a check written almost 10 years ago for some tutoring I'd done. It is for $80. (It has fallen down into the couch and tucked into a strange place. Dh thinks I should call them (I don't really know them very well) and explain. I'd rather just take the loss at this point. I would be way too embarrassed to call. Would you call or just ignore it?I'd ignore it. I can't imagine bringing this up to these people after all these years -- unless they were close friends or family who might enjoy a laugh over it. Your dh isn't thinking of trying to get the money now, is he?

[Crissy]

You do recall what happened to Jerry's grandmother when he was coerced into cashing her birthday check after a significant amount of time, don't you? :p

[WTMindy]

You do recall what happened to Jerry's grandmother when he was coerced into cashing her birthday check after a significant amount of time, don't you? :p

I forgot about that one! I'm glad you all agree.

[Tracey in TX]

I think there is a time limit, maybe 18 months? I'd frame it for future laughter. btw, I once found a $4000 check and freaked!! Called the woman asap, who reminded me I lost it and she reissued. (She was correct; bank verified.)

[WTMindy]

how the check got on the couch in the first place, LOL!

Ten years is a bit too long to call about it....not unless you see this person on a regular basis.

Tammy
The funny thing is that my parents found about 10 thank-you notes for wedding presents (that obviously never were sent) in their couch about 10 years after my wedding. Apparently, I like to sit on the couch while I work and I'm not good about keeping my stuff from sliding down the edges. Apparently we all only clean out our couch once every ten years.

Some of the people I knew, and I went to them and told them the story and apologized for not sending a thank-you note, but there were a couple that I no longer had contact with. Oops!

[Karen sn]

I can't remember!!!! Help me!

[*anj*]

I don't remember that Seinfeld either. Tell, tell!

Oh, and just for the record, I'm joining the http://smileys.on-my-web.com/repository/Holidays_and_Party/bees-111.gif (http://www.welltrainedmind.com/forums/%5BIMG%5Dhttp://smileys.on-my-web.com/repository/Holidays_and_Party/bees-111.gif%5B/IMG%5D)
Mindy. Too much, too little, too late. ;)

[Patty Joanna]

If you look around on today's posts. you will see that Heather's three year old likes to color uncashed checks. Maybe you could send it to her? grin

[j.griff]

I would shred it, so as to dispose of their checking account info and personal info in a respectful manner. :)

[Crissy]

I don't remember that Seinfeld either. Tell, tell!

Oh, and just for the record, I'm joining the http://smileys.on-my-web.com/repository/Holidays_and_Party/bees-111.gif (http://www.welltrainedmind.com/forums/%5BIMG%5Dhttp://smileys.on-my-web.com/repository/Holidays_and_Party/bees-111.gif%5B/IMG%5D)
Mindy. Too much, too little, too late. ;)

Kramer convinced Jerry to cash some old checks his Nana had written to him as birthday gifts.
Nana's bank account is overdrawn when he deposits the checks and Jerry's family thinks he is having financial problems.

[*anj*]

Kramer convinced Jerry to cash some old checks his Nana had written to him as birthday gifts.
Nana's bank account is overdrawn when he deposits the checks and Jerry's family thinks he is having financial problems.

Aha! It's "The Pledge Drive"! Thanks!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Pledge_Drive_%28Seinfeld_episode%29

[HeatherH]

Aha! It's "The Pledge Drive"! Thanks!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Pledge_Drive_%28Seinfeld_episode%29

Seinfeld episodes are on Wikipedia? What will future generations think. . .

Now I've seen it all. :)

[Tonia]

I'm surprised they never called and asked you why you hadn't cashed it. But I like to keep my bank account balanced :rolleyes: I'm weird that way.

[Kelli in TN]

My daughter's ballet teacher never cashes checks. It has become a class joke. There is one family that got a whole year of ballet for free because she never cashed their checks. When they asked for the checks to be returned in exchange for cash, she did not know where the checks were!

We all pay in cash only, now. Once I commented to another mom that I was not prepared for an unexpected recital expense and she just laughed and said, "oh, just write a check and don't worrry about it!"

In fact, I made my own invoice system for my payments, since I know she does not keep up with our payments either.

Wonderful ballet teacher-terrible record keeper!

Anyway, if I were you I would just destroy the check and stop doing my work on the couch.

[sdWTMer]

I agree. 10 years is way long. Bummer.

[Cadam]

checks expire after 6 months. Sorry for the loss but even if it was someone I knew well I wouldn't call. No way - call it a loss and move on.

[nancypants]

The other day we discovered a check written almost 10 years ago for some tutoring I'd done. It is for $80. (It has fallen down into the couch and tucked into a strange place. Dh thinks I should call them (I don't really know them very well) and explain. I'd rather just take the loss at this point. I would be way too embarrassed to call. Would you call or just ignore it?

I would throw it away (well, shred it first). I know I wouldn't like a ten year old $80 check being cashed without my knowledge. Honestly, I sort of wonder if the bank would even do it. :confused: I say take the loss. :)