Client doesn't fill out legal line on check.
- Thread starter UzZx32QU
- Start date
I've had older customers, have me fill out everything on their check except the signature, and it always went through OK. My uneducated but experienced guess would be.......yes.
You could also try calling your bank, and get perhaps a more professional opinion.
John
You could also try calling your bank, and get perhaps a more professional opinion.
John
B. Newman
SGF, Supreme Grumble Framer
I thought the only real "legal line" was the signature. Often stores offer to fill out the check for customers, especially grocery stores for elderly customers who don't see too well.
I have had customers mail me a signed check to finish filling out, then send them the amount to log in.
How come they didn't fill it out to start with?
Betty
I have had customers mail me a signed check to finish filling out, then send them the amount to log in.
How come they didn't fill it out to start with?
Betty
Just guessing, framer, but I think if you call the bank, they'll tell you that - officially - the customer must do it.
I mailed a mortgage check a while back that I forgot to sign. When it didn't come back, I though maybe I really HAD signed it.
I thought that right up until my statement arrived and my unsigned check had cleared without a hitch.
I've also had checks that were written in my shop but to a non-existent business (e.g. The Total Frame) and I didn't notice until later. Those, too, cleared the bank.
I think the only REAL requirement is that there should be some money in the account the check is written on.
I mailed a mortgage check a while back that I forgot to sign. When it didn't come back, I though maybe I really HAD signed it.
I thought that right up until my statement arrived and my unsigned check had cleared without a hitch.
I've also had checks that were written in my shop but to a non-existent business (e.g. The Total Frame) and I didn't notice until later. Those, too, cleared the bank.
I think the only REAL requirement is that there should be some money in the account the check is written on.
Sounding like an old gritch, doesn't that scare the wits out of you? If they'd cash a check without your signature, what else could happen? Used to be when I walked ten miles to school in the snow, banks balanced at the end of the day. Not now: if you don't know what you put in and have proof, you could be out the difference. (Although they were just as sloppy and cavalier about crediting us the missing amount as they were about missing it in the first place.) 
rosetl
CGF II, Certified Grumble Framer Level 2
What are you referring to as the legal line on a check?
I write checks for Mama and my uncle all the time. If, for instance, you put $24.00 in the box for the number, and then write out 'Twenty and 00/00' on the legal line, the bank is bound, by law, or used to be, to cash the check for the amount on the legal line.
That doesn't answer framers question, though. My best guess would be that, legally, as long as the client SIGNED the check, and it was someone you knew and trusted, it'd be ok.
I wouldn't do it for a stranger, as sue-happy as people are today. They could always clain you quoted one price, and made the check out for a greater one.
That doesn't answer framers question, though. My best guess would be that, legally, as long as the client SIGNED the check, and it was someone you knew and trusted, it'd be ok.
I wouldn't do it for a stranger, as sue-happy as people are today. They could always clain you quoted one price, and made the check out for a greater one.
lindas3
True Grumbler
My partner and I really have two separate businesses together in one location. We deposit each others checks into our accounts all the time and nothing is ever said and they all go through.
I think there may be something you can write or stamp on the back of the check to invalidate the requirement for signature. I've seen this on the back of returned checks before, when dealing with large companies. It basically says that payment is guaranteed and recipient takes responsibility.
After looking through my past 2 months of returned checks, I don't see one with this on the back - but I'm sure i've seen it before. Several years ago I forgot to sign a check, and it went through fine.
I dunno :0
Mike
After looking through my past 2 months of returned checks, I don't see one with this on the back - but I'm sure i've seen it before. Several years ago I forgot to sign a check, and it went through fine.
I dunno :0
Mike
Framerguy
PFG, Picture Framing God
Getting back to Framer's original question, sure you can! Why not? If the customer's signature is there and the amount is correct and matches whatever the customer is under the impression they had to pay, go ahead and fill it out.
My guess is the customer simply forgot it.
If the banks are returning checks now for non-compatibility of handwriting analysis, I am going back to using the ol' shoebox!!
Framerguy
My guess is the customer simply forgot it.
If the banks are returning checks now for non-compatibility of handwriting analysis, I am going back to using the ol' shoebox!!
Framerguy
C
Cliff Wilson
Guest
Today the checks are process by machine. The only time a human looks at it is if it "fails." When that happens a human is shown the failure and asked for an interpretation. This usually results in the attached extension you often see on the bottom of your returned check.
I often joke with the customer that asks who they should make it out to, because it really doesn't matter. We've tried "Mickey Mouse," "Frame," "Framed," "Framed In Tatnuck," "Picture Frames" and a host of others. It always goes through.
Now, ... an after the fact suit or complaint is a different question. There I think it comes down to what "back up" material you have like invoices and such. Of course I'm not a lawyer and you don't want to argue with a customer anyway.
Having written all that it dawns on me to ask ... Is this question because they asked you to fill it out or because they forgot? If they forgot, as long as the amount is somewhere, you probably can fill it in or not and it will still go through.
I often joke with the customer that asks who they should make it out to, because it really doesn't matter. We've tried "Mickey Mouse," "Frame," "Framed," "Framed In Tatnuck," "Picture Frames" and a host of others. It always goes through.
Now, ... an after the fact suit or complaint is a different question. There I think it comes down to what "back up" material you have like invoices and such. Of course I'm not a lawyer and you don't want to argue with a customer anyway.
Having written all that it dawns on me to ask ... Is this question because they asked you to fill it out or because they forgot? If they forgot, as long as the amount is somewhere, you probably can fill it in or not and it will still go through.
Brian Lehr
CGF, Certified Grumble Framer
Out here, most of the grocery stores and Costco stores have a machine that fills in the whole check, except the signature, for you. Just sign it and they hand you a receipt. So it doesn't seem critical that it be in the drawers handwriting.
B.
B.
Martycip
Grumbler
A little off the subject, but just recently we had a customer that owed us $306.79. He wrote 306.79 in the number box but thirty six and 79/100 in the written line. We didn't notice it and deposited the check as 306.79. A few days later our bank sent us a corrected deposit with the check credited as 36.79. And to make a bad story worse, a few days after that we got a notice that the 36.79 check had bounced! It pays to look at everything.