If you’ve got been using your credit or debit cards for many of the financial transactions, you in all probability don’t know however how to fill out a check. It may well sound a fairly straightforward job for you particularly for anyone who is confident that you simply have sufficient funds inside your bank account. But mind you, it isn’t just the funds that could trigger your checks to bounce. How you may have filled out your checks might also be an extremely big element.
You are upset! I know exactly how you feel. It’s amazing that this vital information is not taught in our schools. Our parents and teachers should realize we need to know how to write a check.
A check (cheque) is simply an order, in writing to your bank, to take your money and pay it to the person or company you choose.
In most cases, you will be offered pre printed checks from your bank. There are other places to order your checks, but for your first batch just go with what your bank offers.
Nobody needs a formal training to write a check (if you don’t, you can check out a lot of visual examples online or you can check out video instructions online). But the question should probably be: do you know how to write a check safely?
Writing a check the proper and safe way will not only deter identity theft criminals from tapping into your account, but it can also lessen the chances of these criminals creating mayhem in your life.
If you want to decrease your chances of being prey to scammers and identity thieves, follow the techniques below:
1. Capitalize. When you write your checks, try to use ALL CAPITAL LETTERS. Words written in all caps are harder to alter than lowercase letters and they are less prone to being changed by identity theft criminals.
2. Fill in all spaces. It is important that when you fill in the space for the dollar amount, you leave no spaces for scammers to fill out. This is pretty easy. Either you expand your handwriting to cover all the spaces or simply draw a line after the last digit. For instance, if you are writing a check worth five hundred dollars ($500), write 5 on the farthest left as possible. After writing the last digit, which is zero, write a line after this last digit and into the end of the space. This way, scammers or identity theft criminals will not be able to add additional digits to your check. Your $500 check may end up with a $5000 or $2500 amount.
3. Carbon-ize your checks. Monitoring your payment history will be a lot easier if you use carbon copies with your checks. It may sound a bit old fashioned and conventional but you know, we never had identity theft problems before (because everything then was done manually thus documented properly). You can always try to scout for banks that provide free checking accounts and carbon copies.
4. Use the same signature. Consistent signatures can be another strategy that you can use to deter identity theft. Using the same signature for every document and checks that you sign will enable the bank to easily recognize your signature and identify fraudulent checks. If they check on your file and they notice that you are not pretty consistent with your signature, then they might let a couple of check slips through and you will not know about it immediately.
5. Carry a pen. Do not be too eager to sign blank checks. The reason for this is pretty obvious. When you sign blank checks and bring it in your purse, it can certainly increase your chances of being victimized by identity theft criminals. Supposing your purse is stolen, the criminal who gets hold of this blank check can simply put in his or her desired amount and before you know it, your bank account has been drained of funds. Bring your pen with you-it’s safer.
Here are the required entries you will have to make to have a properly written check. Make certain that you use an ink pen.
1. Today’s date: This is usually the first line or box into which you will be asked to enter information. The date format 10-23-09 is acceptable, and is short and sweet.
2. Who you are paying: This is the line that begins with “Pay to” or “Pay to the Order of”. It is a good idea to always write out the person’s name you are paying. Never leave this blank or made out to “Cash”.
3. The amount you are paying, written in numbers: There is usually a line or box that begins with a “$”. Simply write the amount you are paying, for example “100.00” or “25.47”, to the right of the “$” sign leaving no space between the “$” and the first number.
4. The amount you are paying written in words: You will find a line below the “Pay to” line. It will usually end with the word “Dollars”. Starting at the far left-hand end of the line, print the amount you are paying in words. It is important that this amount agree with the amount you entered in step three. For example, “One Hundred” or “Twenty Five and 47/100”. Be careful to completely fill the line with writing or a line so that the amount cannot be changed.
5. Your signature: There is a signature line in the lower right hand corner of your check. When you sign here, you legally authorize your bank to perform the transaction. It is a good idea to sign your check the same way each time. Your signature will be compared to that on the signature card you executed when you opened your checking account.
Now you know the basics for creating a check. There are additional things that you need to know about keeping your personal financial records organized. These are habits that will last you a lifetime.
Once you’ve got gotten your check, take note with the truth that the signature field must generally be the last to be filled out. Never ever leave a blank check signed unless you are giving any one the freedom to withdraw just any quantity from your bank account. This all you need to know on how to write a check.
You are upset! I know exactly how you feel. It’s amazing that this vital information is not taught in our schools. Our parents and teachers should realize we need to know how to write a check.
Learn How to Write a Check Safely:
A check (cheque) is simply an order, in writing to your bank, to take your money and pay it to the person or company you choose.
In most cases, you will be offered pre printed checks from your bank. There are other places to order your checks, but for your first batch just go with what your bank offers.
Nobody needs a formal training to write a check (if you don’t, you can check out a lot of visual examples online or you can check out video instructions online). But the question should probably be: do you know how to write a check safely?
Writing a check the proper and safe way will not only deter identity theft criminals from tapping into your account, but it can also lessen the chances of these criminals creating mayhem in your life.
If you want to decrease your chances of being prey to scammers and identity thieves, follow the techniques below:
1. Capitalize. When you write your checks, try to use ALL CAPITAL LETTERS. Words written in all caps are harder to alter than lowercase letters and they are less prone to being changed by identity theft criminals.
2. Fill in all spaces. It is important that when you fill in the space for the dollar amount, you leave no spaces for scammers to fill out. This is pretty easy. Either you expand your handwriting to cover all the spaces or simply draw a line after the last digit. For instance, if you are writing a check worth five hundred dollars ($500), write 5 on the farthest left as possible. After writing the last digit, which is zero, write a line after this last digit and into the end of the space. This way, scammers or identity theft criminals will not be able to add additional digits to your check. Your $500 check may end up with a $5000 or $2500 amount.
3. Carbon-ize your checks. Monitoring your payment history will be a lot easier if you use carbon copies with your checks. It may sound a bit old fashioned and conventional but you know, we never had identity theft problems before (because everything then was done manually thus documented properly). You can always try to scout for banks that provide free checking accounts and carbon copies.
4. Use the same signature. Consistent signatures can be another strategy that you can use to deter identity theft. Using the same signature for every document and checks that you sign will enable the bank to easily recognize your signature and identify fraudulent checks. If they check on your file and they notice that you are not pretty consistent with your signature, then they might let a couple of check slips through and you will not know about it immediately.
5. Carry a pen. Do not be too eager to sign blank checks. The reason for this is pretty obvious. When you sign blank checks and bring it in your purse, it can certainly increase your chances of being victimized by identity theft criminals. Supposing your purse is stolen, the criminal who gets hold of this blank check can simply put in his or her desired amount and before you know it, your bank account has been drained of funds. Bring your pen with you-it’s safer.
Here are the required entries you will have to make to have a properly written check. Make certain that you use an ink pen.
1. Today’s date: This is usually the first line or box into which you will be asked to enter information. The date format 10-23-09 is acceptable, and is short and sweet.
2. Who you are paying: This is the line that begins with “Pay to” or “Pay to the Order of”. It is a good idea to always write out the person’s name you are paying. Never leave this blank or made out to “Cash”.
3. The amount you are paying, written in numbers: There is usually a line or box that begins with a “$”. Simply write the amount you are paying, for example “100.00” or “25.47”, to the right of the “$” sign leaving no space between the “$” and the first number.
4. The amount you are paying written in words: You will find a line below the “Pay to” line. It will usually end with the word “Dollars”. Starting at the far left-hand end of the line, print the amount you are paying in words. It is important that this amount agree with the amount you entered in step three. For example, “One Hundred” or “Twenty Five and 47/100”. Be careful to completely fill the line with writing or a line so that the amount cannot be changed.
5. Your signature: There is a signature line in the lower right hand corner of your check. When you sign here, you legally authorize your bank to perform the transaction. It is a good idea to sign your check the same way each time. Your signature will be compared to that on the signature card you executed when you opened your checking account.
Now you know the basics for creating a check. There are additional things that you need to know about keeping your personal financial records organized. These are habits that will last you a lifetime.
Once you’ve got gotten your check, take note with the truth that the signature field must generally be the last to be filled out. Never ever leave a blank check signed unless you are giving any one the freedom to withdraw just any quantity from your bank account. This all you need to know on how to write a check.
0 Comments