Returned check

Linzrene · September 2016

My husband and I got married at the end of July. We asked our guests to forgo gifts. My family knew I was adamant about this. He was not as clear with his family, I guess. We received checks and cash from most of his side.

When they wrote the checks, they all wrote them out to Linzrene Husband's-last-name. The problem with this is that my bank wouldn't cash the checks until I had a certified copy of my marriage certificate. This means I was not able to cash the checks until the end of August; one month after the wedding.

I received a notice in the mail today that a $100 check was returned because "the account was closed." My bank took $100 from my account and then charged me a "returned check fee." A scanned copy of the check was on the letter, so we know who wrote it.

My etiquette question is should we should say something. We didn't want gifts in the first place, so it's not about money grabbing (although it's not awesome I was charged a fee). I'm just worried about there having been some sort of mistake. Do they realize they are writing checks from a closed account? Is the account supposed to be closed? I realize that in one month they could have made a decision to close the account and didn't realize we hadn't cashed the check yet. But do we say something?

Thoughts?

photokitty · September 2016

Linzrene said:

My husband and I got married at the end of July. We asked our guests to forgo gifts. My family knew I was adamant about this. He was not as clear with his family, I guess. We received checks and cash from most of his side.

When they wrote the checks, they all wrote them out to Linzrene Husband's-last-name. The problem with this is that my bank wouldn't cash the checks until I had a certified copy of my marriage certificate. This means I was not able to cash the checks until the end of August; one month after the wedding.

I received a notice in the mail today that a $100 check was returned because "the account was closed." My bank took $100 from my account and then charged me a "returned check fee." A scanned copy of the check was on the letter, so we know who wrote it.

My etiquette question is should we should say something. We didn't want gifts in the first place, so it's not about money grabbing (although it's not awesome I was charged a fee). I'm just worried about there having been some sort of mistake. Do they realize they are writing checks from a closed account? Is the account supposed to be closed? I realize that in one month they could have made a decision to close the account and didn't realize we hadn't cashed the check yet. But do we say something?

Thoughts?

That is unfortunate, but no you shouldn't say anything. The bank took the $100 gift back and while it stinks you were charged a fee, it is not worth $40, or so, embarrassing your guest. The account could have been closed for any number of reasons. I wouldn't risk further embarrassment over it. Move on. Best wishes.

southernbelle0915 · September 2016

Linzrene said:

My husband and I got married at the end of July. We asked our guests to forgo gifts. My family knew I was adamant about this. He was not as clear with his family, I guess. We received checks and cash from most of his side.

When they wrote the checks, they all wrote them out to Linzrene Husband's-last-name. The problem with this is that my bank wouldn't cash the checks until I had a certified copy of my marriage certificate. This means I was not able to cash the checks until the end of August; one month after the wedding.

I received a notice in the mail today that a $100 check was returned because "the account was closed." My bank took $100 from my account and then charged me a "returned check fee." A scanned copy of the check was on the letter, so we know who wrote it.

My etiquette question is should we should say something. We didn't want gifts in the first place, so it's not about money grabbing (although it's not awesome I was charged a fee). I'm just worried about there having been some sort of mistake. Do they realize they are writing checks from a closed account? Is the account supposed to be closed? I realize that in one month they could have made a decision to close the account and didn't realize we hadn't cashed the check yet. But do we say something?

Thoughts?

What would you say to them? "Hi, so your check just cost us $25. Can you open a new bank account, rewrite the check and give us $25 to cover the fee?"

Best case scenario, it could come off as you're asking them to rewrite the check and pointing out an issue with their finances. Worst case scenario, they may be an embarrassing financial situation right now and you bringing it up will show a big fat spotlight on it. Don't say anything. You got cash and checks for your wedding hat you didn't want or need so hopefully you can weather a $25 fee.

Linzrene · September 2016

I'm not worried about the fee. That's not a concern at all. I was hoping it wasn't necessary to say anything. The last thing I want is for them to feel like we're asking for a new check.
I was only curious in the event that there was an issue with their account they aren't aware of yet, i.e. Stolen identities, etc.

MesmrEwe · September 2016

...or there was an issue of stolen identities and that's why the account number changed even though the check was still out, or they grabbed the wrong book of checks and don't know it (It happens!). Read the situation would be my advice. I'd contact them on it just because in a non-judgmental apologetic way that you aren't concerned about the money, just so they know that check their register because you're family, you're not going to go after them, but if they wrote one out to a business, it could be a criminal situation with writing bad checks (in the "community service PSA kind of way/tone not including that last part which isn't BS - my husband had to deal with that at his previous job, NOT fun!)...

DrillSergeantCat · September 2016

I don't think I would say anything. It would just feel really awkward to tell someone that their check was returned. I have to do it at work and I always hate it.

pegasuskat · September 2016

They will know this happened, they will get something in the mail from their bank. I would say nothing.

PrettyGirlLost · September 2016

Linzrene said:

My husband and I got married at the end of July. We asked our guests to forgo gifts. My family knew I was adamant about this. He was not as clear with his family, I guess. We received checks and cash from most of his side.

When they wrote the checks, they all wrote them out to Linzrene Husband's-last-name. The problem with this is that my bank wouldn't cash the checks until I had a certified copy of my marriage certificate. This means I was not able to cash the checks until the end of August; one month after the wedding.

I received a notice in the mail today that a $100 check was returned because "the account was closed." My bank took $100 from my account and then charged me a "returned check fee." A scanned copy of the check was on the letter, so we know who wrote it.

My etiquette question is should we should say something. We didn't want gifts in the first place, so it's not about money grabbing (although it's not awesome I was charged a fee). I'm just worried about there having been some sort of mistake. Do they realize they are writing checks from a closed account? Is the account supposed to be closed? I realize that in one month they could have made a decision to close the account and didn't realize we hadn't cashed the check yet. But do we say something?

Thoughts?

I find this banking practice absolutely asinine. Linzrene's bank should go after the guest's bank to recoup the $100, not Linzrene personally.

I hate banks and their asshole policies and fees ><

banana468 · September 2016

PrettyGirlLost said:

Linzrene said:

My husband and I got married at the end of July. We asked our guests to forgo gifts. My family knew I was adamant about this. He was not as clear with his family, I guess. We received checks and cash from most of his side.

When they wrote the checks, they all wrote them out to Linzrene Husband's-last-name. The problem with this is that my bank wouldn't cash the checks until I had a certified copy of my marriage certificate. This means I was not able to cash the checks until the end of August; one month after the wedding.

I received a notice in the mail today that a $100 check was returned because "the account was closed." My bank took $100 from my account and then charged me a "returned check fee." A scanned copy of the check was on the letter, so we know who wrote it.

My etiquette question is should we should say something. We didn't want gifts in the first place, so it's not about money grabbing (although it's not awesome I was charged a fee). I'm just worried about there having been some sort of mistake. Do they realize they are writing checks from a closed account? Is the account supposed to be closed? I realize that in one month they could have made a decision to close the account and didn't realize we hadn't cashed the check yet. But do we say something?

Thoughts?

I find this banking practice absolutely asinine. Linzrene's bank should go after the guest's bank to recoup the $100, not Linzrene personally.

I hate banks and their asshole policies and fees ><

Yup. This.

I hate that the recipient is the person penalized. The recipient is also penalized with a return check fee for insufficient funds AND the other person gets the bounced check fee.

The double billing is awful.

CMGragain · September 2016

The bank did not take $100 from Lizrene's bank account. They added the $100 when they accepted the check, and then subtracted the same amount when no funds were forthcoming. The penalty fee stinks, but so it goes.
We recently had to cancel a large check we had written because the business had gone bankrupt. It cost us $60, but it was worth it for peace of mind.

banana468 · September 2016

CMGragain said:

The bank did not take $100 from Lizrene's bank account. They added the $100 when they accepted the check, and then subtracted the same amount when no funds were forthcoming. The penalty fee stinks, but so it goes.
We recently had to cancel a large check we had written because the business had gone bankrupt. It cost us $60, but it was worth it for peace of mind.

You're correct about the $100. But if I write a check to you and it bounces, we're both penalized. That's absolute BS.

DrillSergeantCat · September 2016

Overdraft fees are a huge source of revenue for the banks.

"According to the CFPB, the 594 banks subject to the new reporting requirement the entire year, on average, received 8% of their revenue from overdraft fees."

thisismynickname2 · September 2016

DrillSergeantCat said:

Overdraft fees are a huge source of revenue for the banks.

"According to the CFPB, the 594 banks subject to the new reporting requirement the entire year, on average, received 8% of their revenue from overdraft fees."

Advice to the OP- agree with the above, say nothing. Send a thank-you card too (though I currently struggle with how exactly to write it- the thought counts? Ouch!)

My bank account was recently hacked. It overdrafted my account, I got the overdraft fee, and 7 additional overdraft fees until I noticed the fraud. Thanks to this, I actually turned off "overdraft protection." Protection! What a crock! I'd rather have my debit card declined trying to buy Jimmy John's than be charged $34 a pop for the "courtesy" of not declining my card.

(I got everything fixed, by the way, no worries.)

short+sassy · September 2016

thisismynickname said:

DrillSergeantCat said:

Overdraft fees are a huge source of revenue for the banks.

"According to the CFPB, the 594 banks subject to the new reporting requirement the entire year, on average, received 8% of their revenue from overdraft fees."

Advice to the OP- agree with the above, say nothing. Send a thank-you card too (though I currently struggle with how exactly to write it- the thought counts? Ouch!)

My bank account was recently hacked. It overdrafted my account, I got the overdraft fee, and 7 additional overdraft fees until I noticed the fraud. Thanks to this, I actually turned off "overdraft protection." Protection! What a crock! I'd rather have my debit card declined trying to buy Jimmy John's than be charged $34 a pop for the "courtesy" of not declining my card.

(I got everything fixed, by the way, no worries.)

I had an incident like that happen to me...except it was my fault. I had 7 transactions happen the same banking day. I had just miscalculated and was less than $100 short (total). Except they put the largest transaction (by far) through first and then proceeded to bounce the next 6 at $29/pop. I also didn't know what had happened for a few days and proceeded to make little, piddly purchases with my debit card. None of them declined. They all went through...along with their $29 fee. I. WAS. FURIOUS.

Ever since then, I actually make it a point when I've opened a checking account that a manager sets it up to NOT allow transactions to go through if there aren't enough funds in the account.

PrettyGirlLost · September 2016

CMGragain said:

The bank did not take $100 from Lizrene's bank account. They added the $100 when they accepted the check, and then subtracted the same amount when no funds were forthcoming. The penalty fee stinks, but so it goes.
We recently had to cancel a large check we had written because the business had gone bankrupt. It cost us $60, but it was worth it for peace of mind.

Not necessarily. When I cash checks or deposit checks with my bank. . .can't recall which bc I never get checks anymore. . .they actually do debit against my account until the check clears with the other account. If it does not, I not only loose the amount the check was written for but I also get a fee.

DrillSergeantCat · September 2016

thisismynickname said:
Advice to the OP- agree with the above, say nothing. Send a thank-you card too (though I currently struggle with how exactly to write it- the thought counts? Ouch!)

My bank account was recently hacked. It overdrafted my account, I got the overdraft fee, and 7 additional overdraft fees until I noticed the fraud. Thanks to this, I actually turned off "overdraft protection." Protection! What a crock! I'd rather have my debit card declined trying to buy Jimmy John's than be charged $34 a pop for the "courtesy" of not declining my card.

(I got everything fixed, by the way, no worries.)

That's the best thing you can do. In the days when we wrote checks for everything that overdraft protection was a good idea but now that the majority of spending is done online or with a debit card, that protection only allows us to overdraft when we would all prefer it decline.

Returned check

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