A check can be voided for a variety of reasons. Maybe the person who wrote it doesn't have the money in their account, or it was an accidental duplicate. Whatever the reason, you'll need to follow these steps to void a check.
Step 1: Get Input from Your Bank
Your first step is to contact your bank. They'll tell you if it's possible to void a check or if you need to fill out a form at the bank. The situation will also determine how soon you need to act after receiving the check.
If the payment is for an immediate bill, the check must be voided as soon as possible. On the other hand, if it's for something like tax preparation services, you can wait a few months before taking action on the invalid check.
If your bank can void a check, they may ask you to ensure that there are enough funds in the account to cover it. This is a good policy because it helps prevent others from accepting a check that won't be funded.
Check with your bank on their policies and procedures for making deposits into your account or transferring funds from another account. You may need to provide written permission for the bank to make those transactions.
Another critical question you should ask is whether the void in the check will show up on your bank statements. Depending on who issues your statements and how they report information, they might not. Your banking representative should be able to answer this question, and they can also tell you how long it would take for the void to show up in their reports. This is often different depending on what kind of statement you receive and which institution issued it.
One of the most important things you need to determine before contacting your bank is whether the person who cashed your check will be able to find out about it. If it's for something like a loan, you might need to give them notice before the check is voided.
If your bank can't void a check, you'll need to fill out a form. Contact the Financial Institution Section of your state attorney general's office and ask about their form for voiding checks. They'll send you the form and instructions, and they may also help you fill out any other forms or documents required.
Step 2: Contact the Fraud Victim
Once you've decided which option to take and contacted your bank, it's time to contact the person who cashed your check. Make a note of their name and address and the mailing address where they can mail in their check. You'll also need to find out when they received the check, if they know what it was for if they remember anything about it, and if they can sign a consent form. These details will help determine what needs to happen next.
If the person who cashed your check is willing to fill out a form or sign a consent form, record this or have someone make a written record of these details. You may also need to call a telephone number and pretend to be them to make sure they understand what's going on. You'll also need to provide them with written assistance from your financial institution and any other required documentation.
If the person who cashed your check won't reveal their information, you'll need to contact your local police department for assistance. Wait until the authorities arrive before talking about the check or mentioning anything about money. During this time, keep all essential documents in a safe place so that you don't lose any of this information when you have to start over with a new form.
If the authorities can track down the person, they may be able to get your check back. However, you'll still need to complete the form and send it yourself. Your bank will also need some sort of documentation that you've tried to cash the check before it can be voided.
You could get stuck paying for the check if you don't follow these steps carefully. If the person who cashed your check doesn't have enough funds in their account or they're not there when authorities try to serve them, you may have no choice but to pay for it yourself if your bank can't void it.
Step 3: Void the Check
Once the authorities have determined that they can't get your check back, they'll take action. If you have everything in order, your bank probably won't need much more than a date on the form to void the check. The process can also be done online or by phone.
When you're in this situation, follow every step in the process, even if you don't think it's necessary. You may not get that chance next time, and there's no telling when or if you'll ever actually use it. It's best to be safe than sorry.
If you need to extend the time your bank has to act, you'll need to do so in the form you received from the state attorney general's office. You'll also need to download a blank version of form 468 and fill it out to void the check.
Step 4: Wait for Action on Voiding
After all this, it's time to wait. It can take several days or weeks before all of this is done. In fact, it's common to hear that this process takes longer than a month because people cannot contact the person who cashed their check.
When all of this happens, the person who cashed your check may be completely unaware that you're trying to get your money back. The thieves could also hide the check in their home for a long time before contacting authorities so that it can't be tracked down.
If everything goes smoothly and there's no evidence that the check was cashed, you'll likely never hear anything more about it. However, if something goes wrong or the authorities cannot track down the person who cashed your check, you may have to deal with a very irate notification friend or family member.
