Does anybody happen to know if it is still necessary to write out the dollar amount in words on checks?
My 85 year old FIL has never written a check and I am trying to teach him how to do it.
But he is having a lot of trouble figuring out how to write out the words: $1,365 (one thousand three hundred sixty five).
And I got to thinking that I wonder if that is even necessary to do anymore. Can he just write $1,365 on that line instead of the words? Would the bank reject a check written without the dollar amount written out in words?
1|1|The "legal amount' is the written portion...|couponshelmd|couponshel@comcast.net|12:13:30|11/14/2009|
For example if the "numbers" say $150.00 but the written part says "one hundred dollars"... the bank can only honor it for $100.00... the legal negotiation of the check is the written/words.
Hope that helps :)
Shel 2|1|Shel is correct...|brainyblonde|brainyblonde@prodigy.net|12:19:46|11/14/2009|
The written amount is the legal amount.
Debbie 3|2|darn, that's not the answer I was hoping for....|KellyJef|burke3536@yahoo.com|12:28:25|11/14/2009|
I don't think he'll ever be able to write out a check if he has to write out the amount in words :(
I wonder why words were ever required in the first place? I'm sure a lot of people have trouble writing out checks for that reason. 4|3|Much harder to alter the words|brainyblonde|brainyblonde@prodigy.net|12:35:50|11/14/2009|
Debbie 5|3|It's kind of a security feature......|maraj|maraj64@hotmail.com|12:42:03|11/14/2009|
So that the handwriting of the written dollar amount matches the handwriting of the signature & the place/person it's written out to in the Pay To The Order Of part, lest someone were to try to alter it. Anyone can print names & numbers that are similar to how someone else prints but handwriting is a little more difficult to copy/forge. HTH. :)
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6|4|maybe call the bank and see what they say|LindaOh|Martinl3@roadrunner.com|12:47:30|11/14/2009|
also lots of banks not have service that take out bills and such automatically maybe something to look into Linda 7|4|but checks don't have to be written in cursive...|KellyJef|burke3536@yahoo.com|12:50:19|11/14/2009|
I have friends who are tellers and they've confirmed that you can print on checks -- they do not have to be written in cursive.
Are you saying they are giving me wrong information?
Personally, I have always printed on checks -- not written in cursive. And I am 62 so I've been writing out checks for over 40 years - LOL. And I have never had a problem.
I wonder who to go to to find out once and for all? 8|5|You can print on a check, I switch back and forth sometimes between cursive and printing (I dont know why, I just do, lol).....I would suggest you call your bank and ask them for any literature they may have for first-time checking acct holders on how to properly write a check....or you could ask someone familiar in accts recievable/payable, they would know as well. :)|saint6811|waylan@comcast.net|13:31:45|11/14/2009|
A government big enough to give you everything you want, is strong enough to take everything you have.
--Thomas Jefferson--
You cannot build character and courage by taking away people's initiative and independence.
You cannot help people permanently by doing for them, what they could and should do for themselves.
~Abraham Lincoln
9|5|You could check w/a security place, maybe some place that deals w/identity theft prevention or fraud/forgery prevention....|maraj|maraj64@hotmail.com|13:33:06|11/14/2009|
I would think any bank or Soc. Security Admin. would have info on ways to safeguard your info & prevent fraud, forgery &/or id theft....
But I learned way back in elementary school that your handwriting &/or written (NOT printed) signature is your own personal id, like a fingerprint, which is difficult to duplicate.
My dad, bless his soul, had handwriting that was awful, bordering on illegible. LOL We used to tease him about his "chicken scratch". LOL But we were told on numerous occasions that his "chicken scratch" would be next to impossible to copy or forge due to its uniqueness.
This is likely the reason why a doctor's handwriting is so uniquely terrible. ;)
We live in the Land of the Free only because of the Brave!
Please identify yourself in 1st email w/name/username. Due to recent problem trades, if I haven't traded w/you before, I will probably require you send your end 1st or I'll need LEGIT trade references/feedback. I will be happy to provide the same. IF you plan to hold your end til you've received mine, I will need to know that IMMEDIATELY, BEFORE trade is finalized.
10|1|why don't you write out the numbers? (M)|pussecat|pu55ecat@aol.com|14:12:28|11/14/2009|
When granny was here that's what I did. She'd write the amount in the box and sign it and I'd write everyting else and I was not on her account. We never had a problem. Also now that she lives with hubby's sister she does the same thing. no problems. hth :)
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11|2|You can print, just need "signature" that is cursive...|couponshelmd|couponshel@comcast.net|14:43:02|11/14/2009|
I can see why he might have problems, I have had people ask ME to write out their check in the past when I was a bank teller... it is very difficult for some people to think of "numbers" as "words" like the word "FORTY" is not spelled "FOUR-TY"
I can see that this would be an issue though for him. If he is shopping on his own and you are not there, he would have to write it out himself. Some stores do have the option to insert it into the register to print directly on the check but not all stores.