Among Friends

[Group 5 minus 1]

I just had another weird thought. We no longer carry our checkbook w/us.

[Alsace Gal]

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@Group 5 minus 1 wrote:

I am still surprised about Costco. I thought the policy was very strict. As my Mom would say she had a lot of crust asking to use your card and lying about having one. Really this whole magilla is Costco's fault- I thought it was strictly not allowed to use anothers card.

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It's true about not using another member's card. I made the mistake of giving my members card to the cashier, thinking neighbor was going to give me cash.

I've done this twice, both times with the same neighbor.

I won't do it again.

[Desert Lily]

@Alsace Gal   I don't understand why you would incur any charge if her check has insufficient funds. It's her account that would incur the charge since she's drawing from it.

Your bank won't credit your account for a couple days, until her check clears. If you don't draw down your account to the level where her potentially questionable funds are included, there should be no problem for you.

If she has insufficient funds, your bank would notify you that her check could not be credited.

Idk of any bank that would give out their customers' balance to anyone.

[Lakelife62]

If the bank tells you the check is not good to cash, call your neighbor and ask her for the cash. If she refuses, you will have to deposit that check into your account to have proof the check is bad. The check will be presented to her bank twice (this happens automatically) and if her bank refuses it twice, you will get the check back marked "ins or insufficient or account closed" or whatever reason the bank is refusing payment. Only then will you have proof. That also means that your bank is going to charge you a "returned deposited item fee" each time the check is returned.

You could give the,check to the local police and they might pay her a visit or you can go to your district attorney. Usually, for such a small amount, you will be advised to take the case through small claims court.

If these are remedies you don't want to pursue, you could just chalk it up to "living and learning" and be thankful it was only a couple hundred dollars. 

I'm hoping you get the money tomorrow. You are not a doormat for trying to help your neighbor. You have a kind heart.

[Alsace Gal]

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@Desert Lily wrote:

@Alsace Gal   I don't understand why you would incur any charge if her check has insufficient funds. It's her account that would incur the charge since she's drawing from it.

Your bank won't credit your account for a couple days, until her check clears. If you don't draw down your account to the level where her potentially questionable funds are included, there should be no problem for you.

If she has insufficient funds, your bank would notify you that her check could not be credited.

Idk of any bank that would give out their customers' balance to anyone.

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When I had my own business, if a customer's check bounced, after a day or so I would go to their bank and ask if there was funds to honor the check, it was yes or no, if yes I wouldI would  instruct my bank to cash /push the check through. Of course, this was years ago.

[spumoni99]

I find it very worrisome that you can't answer your phone because every since your sister died everyone tries to take advantage of you?  You need to take a look at the kind of people you socialize with for one thing and another thing you need to toughen up for your own protection, you may think that is unkind but nobody will take care of you if you lose your money and are in need.  Put yourself first!

[spumoni99]

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@elated wrote:

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@Group 5 minus 1 wrote:

Actually "just say no" wasn't a commercial,it was a service announcement about drugs.

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I know that is what it referred to. It just came to mind as a good reinforcement.

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Actually @elated you were correct, this was an ad campaign in the 80's with many commercials.

[bikerbabe]

You most certainly can incur a fee if you deposit a check that has insufficient funds.

I am a property manager and I deal with checks all the time and if someone gives me a rent check that bounces, I get charged a fee by my bank. It’s a return deposited item fee with a statement that says “insufficient funds.”

It can sometimes take a week after depositing for the bank to come back to you saying there were insufficient funds.

The originator of the bounced check will also get charged a fee by their bank.

[LuvSoCal]

@Alsace Gal  I hope when she wrote you the check you reminded her to add on what she owed you for her previous purchase. I don't understand the nerve of some people. Definitely check with her bank...will they cash it for you instead of having to go to your bank?

[Venezia]

I agree with the suggestion of taking it to her bank and cashing it.  That will tell you immediately, if she has the funds to cover it.

If you deposit it to your account and it bounces, you'll be charged a fee.

And Costco is cracking down on people abusing their membership cards (this neighbor, not you).

Tell her she either gets her own membership or you're done being her chaffeur and financier.  Oh, and remind her that she still owes you for the previous trip there!