The check was written for how much!

iVillage Member
Registered: 07-11-2001
The check was written for how much!
3
Fri, 10-14-2005 - 1:54pm

I don't know if the icon should be a LOL or a Let's Calm Down!

Every month I make a payment of $75 for one of my medical bills. I have been paying this amount for over a year.

I also check my checking account online everyday, and last week noticed I had an NSF for $20. It didn't make sense. I had more than enough money and then some in my account to cover all my pending checks and payments. I saw the check # that caused the NSF and was even more confused.

I called my credit union, and found out the check had been coded not for $75 but for $7500 - can you believe it!

The crazy thing is I have some monies remaining from my refinance this year, and I was just short of that amount. They literally were almost able to clear me out of my savings and leave me with nothing.

The situation arose from the other financial institution not reading the written line, and not paying attention to the period between the 5 and the 00's.

My financial institution said it was clearly written as $75 and returned my NSF fee. I called the medical billing dept, and let hem know what happened. They then had to contact their bank. Their bank is now meant to recode the check and send it back to mine. So now I haven't paid my medical bill for the month, and when I spoke the billing dept yesterday they said their financial institution mentioned it was 'deceivingly written'. Don't you just love the way banks blame everyone but themselves. LOL

I spoke to the billing dept, and they are still having that rectified by the bank. The request was only made on 10-5, so I guess 10 days isn't enough time for them to solve anything. I will now call and pay over the phone. There is no charge.

The good news though is I have paid off 2 of my 4 medical bills. I was going to snowflake to the medical bills, but they have 0% interest so will instead send the snowflake to my credit card which is at 9.99%.

iVillage Member
Registered: 12-05-2004
Fri, 10-14-2005 - 6:00pm
LOL! "Deceitfully written"?? From now on, I'd make some pretty big periods between the dollar and change amounts on your checks. At least when they're going to the people who process your medical payments. LOL!
iVillage Member
Registered: 08-08-2003
Fri, 10-14-2005 - 7:00pm
The place where you write the numerical amount at the top is kind of a courtesy spot for quick reference. The legal amount of a check is what's written out on the amount line. I don't see what's so deceiving about 'Seventy Five dollars and no/100.' Hehe. They should be more on top of it than that at the bank.



Avatar for cl_beckymk
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-19-2003
Sat, 10-15-2005 - 2:06pm

Yep and they WILL go by the written amount no matter what.