posted on March 12, 2004 05:28:36 PM new
Just got a check in the mail for an item. The weird thing is that it has the person's name in the upper right as usual, but no address. And it has a bank name in the usual place (Fleet Bank), but no address for the bank. The design picture for the check is the logo for "Checks in the Mail"--this is a business that you can buy checks through, and their url is in the bottom margin of the check. The check does have the usualrouting number/acct. number across the bottom.
So--has anyone ever gotten a check like this? Any problems, if so? I haven't heard back from the buyer yet.
posted on March 12, 2004 05:50:42 PM new
Yes, it sounds legitimate. I've got a check right now from a buyer with just the name, no address.
Sometimes these are older people with multiple addresses (summer in Montana, winter in Arizona). Or that spend months at their childrens' homes. I have some customers like that. One lady is staying with a daughter in CA but insists that I cannot charge her CA sales tax because she is a Nevada resident. Since she buys a lot at one time, I've given up arguing with her. I have noticed, however, that she's been at her daughter's house an awful long time already.
Banks these days are sometimes not including physical addresses on their checks. And phone numbers? Fuhgeddaboutit!
For a frame of reference, I get probably two hundred checks a week.
posted on March 12, 2004 06:04:28 PM new
Thanksfor the info. The check isn't for verymuch,so I'll give it a go. Just hadn't ever seen one likeit before...
******
Censorship, like charity, should begin at home; but unlike charity, it should end there --Clare Booth Luce
posted on March 12, 2004 06:21:17 PM new
u can always show it to any banker and ask if this is a legi check
-sig file -------the lobster in the boiling pot of water who tries to prevent the others from climbing out.
posted on March 12, 2004 07:04:27 PM new
Or you could hold it until it clears.
___________________________________
Have you noticed since everyone has a Camcorder these days no one talks
about seeing UFOs like they used to?
posted on March 12, 2004 07:11:31 PM new
I have a fleet credit card and every once in a qhile they send checks to use and then it goes on their credit card. I don't have any around because I throw them away when I get them but some people use them and sometimes they offer lower interest rates when you use those checks.
It sure is difficult to operate with one eye. I wonder how they do it soon I will have two again thank goodness.
[ edited by Libra63 on Mar 12, 2004 07:13 PM ]
posted on March 12, 2004 07:13:09 PM new
People are geting more and more paranoid with their personal info. There are so many news stories and TV commercials about identity theft that many folks must really taking it to heart. On the other end of the spectrum, I have received some personal checks with tons of info including social security numbers on them.
-------------- sig file ----------- *There is no conclusive evidence that life is serious*
posted on March 12, 2004 09:22:16 PM newOne lady is staying with a daughter in CA but insists that I cannot charge her CA sales tax because she is a Nevada resident.
Fluffy, you better pray that you don't have an audit. It doesn't matter where the person lives, it is where you ship it to that dictates if you need to charge tax. Sounds like you are in CA too. Then you should be charging tax when shipping within your state. They are only tax exempt one of two ways. They are purchasing to resell the item and have a valid state tax ID number or they are not a resident of your state and receive the item other than your home state. The quirk in the tax system is that you must charge sales tax to anyone within your state (except above) irregardless of where they live.
posted on March 12, 2004 10:36:47 PM new
Stonecold, tsk tsk. You are dead wrong.
Think outside the box, dear boy. As a holder of a California Seller's Permit, I am not required to collect sales tax on sales to California residents.
(How can that be?!?)
I am, however, required to REMIT sales tax on sales to California residents. There is no legal requirement for me to collect that tax from my customers.
I have simply decided it's easier for me to pay the tax than to argue with this lady. She buys 30-40 items at a time. She's getting an 8% discount. Seems fair to me.
posted on March 12, 2004 10:48:15 PM new
There are several major nationwide chain stores that will occasionally have a promotional sale here in California that advertises"No sales tax on any item purchased during this event". These sales usually take place around April 15th when most people are being bit by Uncle Sam. Fluffy is right, the state could care less if you charge a customer sales tax, as long as the seller remits the proper amount. They don't care where it comes from, as long as it winds up in their sticky hands.
The light at the end of the tunnel will turn out to be an oncoming train.
posted on March 13, 2004 06:35:28 AM new
To return to the check without address question at the start of this thread... I read an article on ways to save money on bank charges and according to this article (I can not vouch for its accuracy) a bank is required to supply you with checks for your account but can charge for checks with your address. This article suggested only using your personalized checks with your address when you are payed in person and using the free generic checks when you mail payments. I never investigated because it seemed like too small a savings to be worth while. Or does "checks by mail" offer a cheaper check with their logo and less personalization?
-----o----o----o----o----o----o----o----o
“The illiterate of the future will be the person ignorant of the use of the camera as well as of the pen.”
Maholy-Nagy, Vision in Motion, 1947
posted on March 13, 2004 06:38:41 AM new
folks who live in NYC often have their goods shipped to their friends in new jersey to avoid nyc city tax.
-sig file -------the lobster in the boiling pot of water who tries to prevent the others from climbing out.
posted on March 13, 2004 08:00:25 AM new
When I was doing craft fairs and held a state sellers license, we had to put our licenses up and show we had one but that didn't mean we had to add the tax to the item. If you had a sign that said tax included then the tax was in the payment for the goods. I filed every 4 months. I never had a problem. I have very few sales to the state I live in, in fact in 4 years I think I have sold 5 items in 4 years. I don't have a sellers permit now. I pay the tax when I buy it and report everything on my income tax. Right now items, jewelry, that I am selling is mostly mine that I have boughten over the years, 25 to be exact. I had a very extensive collection of which I wore all of it. Every once in a while I stop at estate sales but very few as I am BURNT OUT!!!!!!!I hate the crowds.
posted on March 13, 2004 02:44:26 PM new
Fluff, You are right on all counts. I do not collect sales tax on CA customers. I don't have that many, so it isn't a big thing.
posted on March 13, 2004 10:09:39 PM new
Fluffy,
Your spin about the tax is correct. Your in-state sales are taxible. If you do not collect it from your customer, then you are responsible to pay it.
I am not required to collect sales tax on sales to California residentsREMIT
For tax purposes and technically, those are the same. However, if you do have an audit, for any transaction that you did not collect the tax, you must be able to show that you did actually pay it. Also it does not make sense not to collect sales tax as it simply cuts into your profits.
posted on March 14, 2004 03:18:56 AM newAlso it does not make sense not to collect sales tax as it simply cuts into your profits.
Well, if you don't get the dual concepts of a volume discount and the wisdom of sharing cost savings with your customer, I'm not sure I can explain it. But I will try, briefly.
Let's say Elaine has won 30 of my auctions over the last week. She sends me one check. (No PayPal.) I cash the check, print one label from my database, pick, pack and ship her jewelry.
Now let's say 30 different people each won one of my auctions over the last week. I get 30 checks and money orders. I cash the checks, enter 30 addresses in my database, print labels, pick, pack and ship 30 packages.
Will I give someone an 8% discount to avoid the work of processing 29 additional customers? The answer would be: Uh, YEAH!
Especially if it means she keeps bidding and buying. Not all her bids will be successful, so she is helping to run prices up on items sold to other people.
Look, folks. There are very few things we sell on eBay that people absolutely have to have in order to keep breathing. It's all discretionary, whimsical spending. Proven repeat customers are pure gold. If you're smart, you coddle and cherish them and provide them fresh amusement each day.
(Note I said "proven". A customer has to qualify herself as golden by paying promptly, conducting business in a rational and businesslike manner, and complying with the terms of service.)
posted on March 14, 2004 06:30:59 AM new
stonecold,
your personal moron just logged on with a fresh cup of coffee this morning.
please enlighten me how not collecting sales tax cuts into one's profit??
sincerely,
moron me!
-sig file -------the lobster in the boiling pot of water who tries to prevent the others from climbing out.
posted on March 14, 2004 03:24:04 PM new
Item sells for $10.00 The tax here would be 65 cents.
If you collect it, you still have $10.00.
If you don't, you still owe 65 cents, giving you a net of $9.35.
Pretty simple Stop.
