| How To Write A Check |
| By Credit Federal |
Published
05/27/2008
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Financial Tips
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How to Write a Check and Prevent it from being Changed
Lets look at an example of how to write a check from your personal bank checking account, and review tips for preventing fraud.
Date: Simply write in the current date. WARNING: Even if you "post date" a personal check, many banks will still allow the recipient (payee) to cash or deposit it. Hence, post-dating is not a guarantee that the check won't be processed prior to the post date.
Payee (or Pay To): Write the recipient's name or, in the case of a business, the company name. Many companies have a stamp they use to place their business name on this line. WARNING: Do not give anyone a check without first filling in this line, even for a business that says they will stamp it. Make the business stamp the check there in your presence before you sign it, otherwise, the clerk could simply write in his/her name after you leave. Also, it's not wise to to write "Cash", as it does not prove who received and cashed the check.
Amount: You have two places to enter the amount.
- The first, smaller line is where you enter the amount in numeric form (using numbers and a decimal). If; for example, your payment is for one hundred and five dollars and thirty-five cents, you should enter $105.35. ANTI-FRAUD TIP: When you’re filling in the dollar amount, make sure you print the value in a way that scammers can’t add numbers to it. Do this by starting at the far left edge of the space, and draw a line after the last digit. For example, if your check is for $425, put the 4 as far to the left as possible. Then draw a line from the right side of the 5 to the end of the space. To be extra careful, you can also draw a line through any excess space in the small box with your payment amount.
- On the second, longer line, write out the amount of your payment using words instead of numerals (except for any cents). As in the example of a payment of 105.35, you would write out "One hundred and five dollars and 35/100". Since the word "dollars" is already written on your check, you don't need to write it again. Write any cents using a fraction, as in the example for 35 cents: 35/100. Immediately after the written amount, draw a line all the way over to the word "DOLLARS". This makes it harder for anybody to write something else in that space.
Memo: Although not necessary, it's highly recommended to write a memo on the memo (or for) line. Many courts will allow the Memo entry to be used as evidence which can help prove you made the payment for a specific debt.
Signature: Sign your check legibly, and use the same signature that your bank has on file for your account.
Prevent Scams - More Anti-Fraud Tips:
- Use all CAPITAL letters, because capitals are harder to alter.
- Use carbon copy checkbooks: Researching payments is easier if you have automatic carbon copies of all checks.
- Sign the same way: Each time you sign a check (or any document), use the same signature. This way your bank will have an easier time identifying fraudulent checks.
- Don't sign checks prematurely: Never sign blank checks.
- Never Pay To 'Cash': Even if you just want some cash from your checking account, still don't make the check out to 'Cash'. If this check gets lost anybody can cash it. Instead, make the check payable to yourself or the institution that is cashing your check.
- Write with ink: When you write a check, use a permanent ink pen. If you write a check in pencil, somebody can change what you've written, including the amount.
- Use online bill pay checking accounts: Payments go directly from your account to the payee. It may pass through the mail, but the process is fairly controlled. You don’t need as many blank checks lying around, and you can see your history online.
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