NCJ Number
68740
Date Published
1976
Length
8 pages
Annotation
THIS PAMPHLET FOR SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS SUGGESTS WAYS TO SPOT BAD CHECKS AND SO LIMIT THE NUMBER OF BAD CHECKS RECEIVED, INCLUDING CAREFULLY INSPECTING ALL CHECKS PRESENTED AND INSISTING ON PROPER IDENTIFICATION.
Abstract
TYPES OF CHECKS ENCOUNTERED BY SMALL BUSINESSES INCLUDE PERSONAL, TWO-PARTY, PAYROLL, GOVERNMENT, TRAVELERS', BLANK, OR COUNTER CHECKS, AS WELL AS MONEY ORDERS. BEFORE THEY CASH A CHECK, SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS OR THEIR EMPLOYEES SHOULD USE EXTRA CARE IF THE CHECK IS DRAWN ON A NONLOCAL BANK; CHECK THE DATE, REFUSING ANY CHECK OLDER THAN 30 DAYS; ENSURE THAT THE CHECK IDENTIFIES IT IS DRAWN; ENSURE THAT THE NUMERICAL AMOUNT AGREES WITH THE WRITTEN AMOUNT; AND CAREFULLY SCRUTINIZE TWO-PARTY CHECKS, THOSE IN THE $25 TO $35 RANGE, OR LOW SEQUENCE NUMBER CHECKS. ALTHOUGH REQUIRING PROPER IDENTIFICATION OF THE CHECK PASSER IS ALSO EXTREMELY IMPORTANT, NO IDENTIFICATION IS FOOLPROOF. IDENTIFICATION SHOULD ALLOW THE STORE TO CONTACT THE PRESENTER IF THE CHECK IS RETURNED. GOOD TYPES OF IDENTIFICATION INCLUDE CURRENT AUTOMOBILE OPERATORS' LICENSES AND VEHICLE REGISTRATIONS, CREDIT CARDS, AND GOVERNMENT PASSES. HOWEVER, STORES SHOULD AVOID ACCEPTING SOCIAL SECURITY CARDS, BIRTH CERTIFICATES, VOTER REGISTRATION CARDS, AND OTHER CARDS AS IDENTIFICATION. STORES MAY DETER BAD CHECK PASSERS BY PHOTOGRAPHING ALL PERSONS PASSING CHECKS OR VERIFYING THEIR ADDRESSES IN THE TELEPHONE BOOK. OWNERS SHOULD ALSO EXAMINE SIGNATURES, SET A CHECK-CASHING POLICY FOR ALL EMPLOYEES TO FOLLOW, AND SCRUTINIZE CUSTOMER BEHAVIOR. ADVICE IS ALSO GIVEN ON THE HANDLING OF CHECKS RETURNED FOR INSUFFICIENT FUNDS, AND NO ACCOUNT OR CLOSED ACCOUNTS.