posted on April 16, 2002 12:03:07 PM new
I have had a few occasions when going to an auction for example to carry fairly large amounts of cash. The way the banks treat you here you would think you were holding them up to ask for a check to be cashed. In fact one bank I went to just refuses to cash a check for more than $5,000 if you don't have an account with them. It is especially hard to go to an out of state auction and give them a check. I know I can get traveler's checks but that involves getting a variety of denominations etc.
Point is i have read that a lot of places - for example Houston has police watching the airport and if they find more than a couple hundred bucks on you sieze it as drug money. The chances of you ever getting much back without spending a great deal of it and some serious time are low. They often have a drug sniffing dog bark at it as "proof" it is tainted. I can see the dog on the witness stand - did you ID this money - ARF ARF - Is this the man that was carrying the money? ARF - ARF!!
If I feel I must carry cash my new policy is to record all the bill serial numbers and document where I got them so if that happens I can not only spend the minimum to recover them but also leave room for taking action against the agency that siezed it. If I knew what would remove drug residue for sure I would physically wash it.
posted on April 16, 2002 12:06:48 PM new
I have heard of that happening.
Personally I have nothing to fear...I never have more than $20 in my pocket at any given time.
posted on April 16, 2002 12:18:05 PM new
In Florida, the banks want your fingerprint to cash a check when you don't have an account there - even if the check is drawn on their bank and you show ID!
I started a slight ruckus in the line. You have the right to an informed opinion -Harlan Ellison
posted on April 16, 2002 01:38:32 PM new
]i]"I can see the dog on the witness stand - did you ID this money - ARF ARF - Is this the man that was carrying the money?[/i]
ARF - ARF!!"
posted on April 16, 2002 01:54:21 PM new
I'm glad the banks are very careful about cashing checks. And the ones that have been burned are understandably overly cautious. Why should a bank take on the risk of cashing a large check if you don't have an account there? I sure wouldn't. I wrote a very large check on a bank 130 miles away, and the payee drove there and wanted to cash it. They called me to verify it, and would not have cashed it under any circumstances if they hadn't gotten me. Good. There is a time-tested rule about checks. KNOW THE ENDORSER! Good rule. All-in-all, these apparently silly or unnecessary rules arise for good reasons. Check fraud is rampant.
The OP is correct, be aware of the problems.
[ edited by rgrem on Apr 16, 2002 01:56 PM ]
posted on April 16, 2002 02:03:02 PM new
My view is that they are doing a service for the person that holds the account - not me.
If I have an account with them and I can not give a check to someone and expect they will be able to cash it then why bother to have checks?
It is the banks job to verify the signature.
Calling the account holder may be a good idea but blackmailing the check holder to enter into a permenant relationship is not right.
Cash is not an indication of criminal intent - yet.
posted on April 16, 2002 02:37:30 PM new
Cash and property can be seized under the drug laws. 60 minutes showed a nurseyman who was Mexican American and had $45,000 on him and a one way plane ticket to somewhere in Texas. He was going to buy stock and rent a truck to take it back to wherever he was from.
The cops seized the cash. They don't have to charge or even convict to keep the money or property. You have to file suit to get it back.
I also know a guy that was pulled over for speeding in Tenn., he was from Mich and was driving a Corvette. He had $28,000 cash with him. The cops seized it and gave him a receipt for only $17,000 in case he wanted to file suit to get it back. He was a convicted felon, so he kept his mouth shut and went on his way.
There were a lot of complaints about these seizure laws, especially since no charges need to be filed and no conviction necessary to keep the loot. I haven't heard too much about these laws lately.
posted on April 16, 2002 02:53:48 PM new
rgem, they don't have equipment available to check the fingerprint right then. The system hasn't seemed to slow down check fraud in Fl. If the check writer has an account, and the payee has ID, what's the problem? (I had 2 forms of ID with me). I refuse to be fingerprinted to cash a check made out to me.
<rant>But I am against national ID cards, SSNs on DLs, and other invasions of Privacy! </rant>
You have the right to an informed opinion -Harlan Ellison
posted on April 16, 2002 03:13:36 PM new
It always amazes me about how different parts of the country work. A few years ago (MUST be different now), I ordered fog lights from a company in the Midwest. I offered the CC number and they said they didn't take credit cards, just mail them a check when the box came!
You cannot cash a check here EVEN if it is drawn on the bank you go to unless YOU have an account at the bank. I don't know of any bank that is different. My friend the bank officer says that it's because a check can "bounce" for several months and it is not worth the risk to cash checks from a person who doesn't have a bank account not matter how much ID they have. Most highways have "check-cashing" storefronts that provide the service for a large fee.
I agree with the policy also because if you need a more readily accessible source of funds, don't use checks. Fox had a show on last night where they were buying IRS and SS checks on EVERY street corner for 20%.
posted on April 16, 2002 04:09:17 PM new
When I was in Brownsville, Tx, you could open a checking account and get checks without depositing money. You have the right to an informed opinion -Harlan Ellison
