Arizona Tribune - Can You Cancel a Paper Check After It's in the Mail?

How to cancel a paper check

Canceling a paper check that's been mailed is similar to canceling any other paper check. You can't cancel a check that's already been cashed, so you'll need to take action quickly to protect your checking account from unwanted charges.

1. Gather the relevant information
To attempt to cancel a check, you'll need to have certain details, such as:

• Check number

• Amount of the check

• Payee's name

• Date on the check

• Your account number

Knowing the date you mailed the check and the address on the envelope will also be helpful.

2. Find out whether the check has cleared

Consider taking a look at your online banking account to find out the status of the check.
You could also call the person or business you mailed the check to and ask whether they've received or cashed it yet.

3. Contact your bank and file a request to stop payment order
A stop payment order is a request to your bank not to process a check. You can only request one for a check that hasn't been cashed. The process to request one may vary between banks. You may need to call the bank or fill out a form to provide written consent.

Depending on your bank, making the request may be free, or you may need to pay a fee. In many cases, this fee may be more affordable than allowing an incorrect or unwanted check transaction to process.

4. Follow up in writing
Even if your bank does not require a written stop payment order, it can still be beneficial to submit one, because stop payment orders can expire. A verbal request for a stop payment order typically expires within 14 days, while a written one can last for six months.

Although many banks won't cash a check that's more than six months old, your bank may allow you to renew the stop payment order once it expires.

Alternatives to requesting a stop payment order

If you want to avoid the time and cost of requesting a stop payment order from your bank, you might consider reaching out directly to the person or company you sent the check to. Simply explaining the situation and asking them not to cash the check could resolve the situation.

However, this approach can be risky. For example, if your check is lost in the mail, someone else might receive it and attempt to cash it fraudulently. There's also a possibility that the intended recipient will cash your check anyway.

Canceling a check won't cancel your debt

Depending on the purpose of the check, you might still have an outstanding balance after canceling it.

For example, if the check was intended to pay your mortgage, you'll still owe your monthly payment. Similarly, you may still be legally required to pay for goods or services that you've received in exchange for the now-canceled check.

In some situations, being proactive may help you avoid potential late fees or stay in good standing with lenders. If you're not sure whether you owe anything, you can always reach out to the company to explain what happened and find out what you can do to settle your account.

Special considerations for canceling a check that's been lost in the mail
Successfully requesting a stop payment order prevents unintended recipients from cashing a check that's lost in the mail - but it won't stop them from viewing your account and routing number. With this in mind, you may want to take additional steps to protect your financial well-being if your intended recipient never receives your check in the mail.

You might choose to monitor your account more closely than usual so you can identify - and report - any signs of check-related fraud as soon as possible. In the following months, you may also consider monitoring your credit report for suspicious activity.

Disclaimer: Article content is intended for information only. It may not reflect the publisher nor employees' views. Consult a financial professional before making financial decisions. Publishers or platforms may be compensated for access to third party websites.

CONTACT:

Sonakshi Murze
Manager
[email protected]

SOURCE: iQuanti

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