In my case, all's well that ends well. But I don't know whether to be annoyed
that the bank honored an unsigned check, or be happy that the check wasn't
returned, making the payment even later than it already was. Or both.

========================================= MODERATOR'S COMMENT:
- given those choices, I'd pick "happy".

--
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In article <Xns9AD274BD1ED31spamtraplexregiacom[at]130.133.1.4> ,
Stuart A. Bronstein <spamtrap[at]lexregia.com> wrote:
- quote -

Good point. It was more like "lack of signature guaranteed", stamped
by the phone company.

I suspect that the bank at most saw there was something on that line
(if they even looked, not likely for a 2-figure check) and let it go
through.

Seth

--
<< ------------------------------------------------------- > << The foregoing was not intended or written to be used, > << nor can it used, for the purpose of avoiding penalties > << that may be imposed upon the taxpayer. > << > << The Charter and the Guidelines for submitting posts > << to this newsgroup as well as our anti-spamming policy > << are at www.asktax.org. > << Copyright (2007) - All rights reserved. > << ------------------------------------------------------- >

sethb[at]panix.com (Seth) wrote:
- quote -

The endorsement is not the same as the signature of the maker. As
someone else mentioned earlier, an unsigned check is technically not
good. A signed check without an an endorsement is good. The issue is
who guarantees the recipient gets paid.

Stu

--
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In article <b958c8aa-44e6-4175-a0b1-379fb817ccfc[at]79g2000hsk.googlegroups.com> ,
<s_pickle2001[at]yahoo.com> wrote:

- quote -

Did the bank stamp that, or the recipient?

I forgot to sign a check, and it went through anyway, with something
like "lack of endorsement guaranteed" stamped on it by the phone
company.

Seth

--
<< ------------------------------------------------------- > << The foregoing was not intended or written to be used, > << nor can it used, for the purpose of avoiding penalties > << that may be imposed upon the taxpayer. > << > << The Charter and the Guidelines for submitting posts > << to this newsgroup as well as our anti-spamming policy > << are at www.asktax.org. > << Copyright (2007) - All rights reserved. > << ------------------------------------------------------- >

On Jul 3, 9:54*pm, "D. Stussy" <s...[at]bde-arc.ampr.org> wrote:
- quote -

Banks don't routinely check the signature on small value checks, it is
cheaper for them to take the occasional hit for mistakes or fraud than
to verify millions of checks each day. That's quite different from a
bank noticing the missing signature, stamping it "refer to drawer"
then still paying it. An unsigned check is not a valid instrument.

--
<< ------------------------------------------------------- > << The foregoing was not intended or written to be used, > << nor can it used, for the purpose of avoiding penalties > << that may be imposed upon the taxpayer. > << > << The Charter and the Guidelines for submitting posts > << to this newsgroup as well as our anti-spamming policy > << are at www.asktax.org. > << Copyright (2007) - All rights reserved. > << ------------------------------------------------------- >

"Seth" <sethb[at]panix.com> wrote in message
news:g4ir27$5pg$1[at]reader1.panix.com...
- quote -

They may even honor the check if the signature doesn't match. I once signed
a check "Mickey Mouse" just to see if it would go through and it did.

--
<< ------------------------------------------------------- > << The foregoing was not intended or written to be used, > << nor can it used, for the purpose of avoiding penalties > << that may be imposed upon the taxpayer. > << > << The Charter and the Guidelines for submitting posts > << to this newsgroup as well as our anti-spamming policy > << are at www.asktax.org. > << Copyright (2007) - All rights reserved. > << ------------------------------------------------------- >

In article <0a2d5900-1546-4d5c-8ccc-5cd77048429f[at]f36g2000hsa.googlegroups.com> ,
<s_pickle2001[at]yahoo.com> wrote:
- quote -

That's up to the bank. The account owner might be able to have it
bounced retroactively, but the bank is certainly allowed to pay it.
(Check the UCC; the relevant section reads "The bank wins.")

Seth

--
<< ------------------------------------------------------- > << The foregoing was not intended or written to be used, > << nor can it used, for the purpose of avoiding penalties > << that may be imposed upon the taxpayer. > << > << The Charter and the Guidelines for submitting posts > << to this newsgroup as well as our anti-spamming policy > << are at www.asktax.org. > << Copyright (2007) - All rights reserved. > << ------------------------------------------------------- >

On Jun 30, 4:23*pm, VSLA...[at]weizmann.ac.il (Larry Israel) wrote:
- quote -

If the bank noticed the missing signature, it should not have been
honoured.

--
<< ------------------------------------------------------- > << The foregoing was not intended or written to be used, > << nor can it used, for the purpose of avoiding penalties > << that may be imposed upon the taxpayer. > << > << The Charter and the Guidelines for submitting posts > << to this newsgroup as well as our anti-spamming policy > << are at www.asktax.org. > << Copyright (2007) - All rights reserved. > << ------------------------------------------------------- >

In article <avrum223-EFD442.20264930062008[at]news.verizon.net> ,
Avrum Lapin <avrum223[at]verizon.net> wrote:

- quote -

Which would probably have cost you a lot more, because you'd still
have had to pay the utilities and doctor, and they'd have added
charges for sending them bad checks.

Seth

--
<< ------------------------------------------------------- > << The foregoing was not intended or written to be used, > << nor can it used, for the purpose of avoiding penalties > << that may be imposed upon the taxpayer. > << > << The Charter and the Guidelines for submitting posts > << to this newsgroup as well as our anti-spamming policy > << are at www.asktax.org. > << Copyright (2007) - All rights reserved. > << ------------------------------------------------------- >

Bill lentz wrote:
- quote -


But I forget that just maybe that check was on a joint account. could
have been.

ChEAr$,
Harlan Lunsford, EA n LA

--
<< ------------------------------------------------------- > << The foregoing was not intended or written to be used, > << nor can it used, for the purpose of avoiding penalties > << that may be imposed upon the taxpayer. > << > << The Charter and the Guidelines for submitting posts > << to this newsgroup as well as our anti-spamming policy > << are at www.asktax.org. > << Copyright (2007) - All rights reserved. > << ------------------------------------------------------- >

Stuart A. Bronstein wrote:
- quote -

There was no problem of course. I brought check back to office with me
and called her. I knew she would be embarrassed and she was.
Moral of the story: I check all checks before making out deposit slip.

ChEAr$,
Harlan

--
<< ------------------------------------------------------- > << The foregoing was not intended or written to be used, > << nor can it used, for the purpose of avoiding penalties > << that may be imposed upon the taxpayer. > << > << The Charter and the Guidelines for submitting posts > << to this newsgroup as well as our anti-spamming policy > << are at www.asktax.org. > << Copyright (2007) - All rights reserved. > << ------------------------------------------------------- >

On Mon, 30 Jun 2008 23:27:54 EDT, Avrum Lapin <avrum223[at]verizon.netwrote:

- quote -


Back in the late '70's I was reconciling my bank statement, and when I
came to a check I had written to American Express, the signature line
bore the words "wife says ok"

--
<< ------------------------------------------------------- > << The foregoing was not intended or written to be used, > << nor can it used, for the purpose of avoiding penalties > << that may be imposed upon the taxpayer. > << > << The Charter and the Guidelines for submitting posts > << to this newsgroup as well as our anti-spamming policy > << are at www.asktax.org. > << Copyright (2007) - All rights reserved. > << ------------------------------------------------------- >

In article <1FF6F604S86.VSLARRY[at]weizmann.ac.il> ,
VSLARRY[at]weizmann.ac.il (Larry Israel) wrote:

- quote -

I've had unsigned checks to utilities and a doctor paid by my bank. In
theory I could have forced my bank to back the check out but since they
once called to ask what they should do with an accidental NSF check I
forgave them.

--
<< ------------------------------------------------------- > << The foregoing was not intended or written to be used, > << nor can it used, for the purpose of avoiding penalties > << that may be imposed upon the taxpayer. > << > << The Charter and the Guidelines for submitting posts > << to this newsgroup as well as our anti-spamming policy > << are at www.asktax.org. > << Copyright (2007) - All rights reserved. > << ------------------------------------------------------- >

Harlan Lunsford <hlunsford[at]bellsouth.net> wrote:

- quote -

Since the words describing the amount on a check by law supercede the
numerals, I hope you got paid what she actually owed.

Stu

--
<< ------------------------------------------------------- > << The foregoing was not intended or written to be used, > << nor can it used, for the purpose of avoiding penalties > << that may be imposed upon the taxpayer. > << > << The Charter and the Guidelines for submitting posts > << to this newsgroup as well as our anti-spamming policy > << are at www.asktax.org. > << Copyright (2007) - All rights reserved. > << ------------------------------------------------------- >

On Jun 30, 8:27*am, kam...[at]panix.com (Arthur Kamlet) wrote:
- quote -

Actually, it seems the IRS has a streamlined procedure for handling
this. A couple of years ago I sent in an unsigned return. This was
accepted (it was a payment due return), and in a couple weeks I just
got a letter that described the return and just asked for a signature
on the letter verifying the correctness of the return. The return
itself was not sent back, and as far as I could tell there was no
indication that the return was not considered as timely filed.

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Kurt Ullman wrote:
- quote -

it, and what do they see; or not see.

But if one of my clients writes the wrong amount on that line and it's
not what's in the numeric box above and to the write on a check, all
tellers at my bank will catch it immediately.
Like the one lady who wrote in $100 correctly, but absentmindedly on the
next line wrote out "One and 00/100------"!

ChEAr$,
Harlan Lunsford, EA n LA

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<< ------------------------------------------------------- > << The foregoing was not intended or written to be used, > << nor can it used, for the purpose of avoiding penalties > << that may be imposed upon the taxpayer. > << > << The Charter and the Guidelines for submitting posts > << to this newsgroup as well as our anti-spamming policy > << are at www.asktax.org. > << Copyright (2007) - All rights reserved. > << ------------------------------------------------------- >

In article <1FF6F604S86.VSLARRY[at]weizmann.ac.il> ,
VSLARRY[at]weizmann.ac.il (Larry Israel) wrote:

- quote -

Interesting. The IRS sent mine back for signature this year.

--
<< ------------------------------------------------------- > << The foregoing was not intended or written to be used, > << nor can it used, for the purpose of avoiding penalties > << that may be imposed upon the taxpayer. > << > << The Charter and the Guidelines for submitting posts > << to this newsgroup as well as our anti-spamming policy > << are at www.asktax.org. > << Copyright (2007) - All rights reserved. > << ------------------------------------------------------- >

In article <1FF6F604S86.VSLARRY[at]weizmann.ac.il> ,
Larry Israel <VSLARRY[at]weizmann.ac.il> wrote:
- quote -




Good thing you signed your tax return, or that probably would have been
sent to you and treated as not filed.
--


ArtKamlet at a o l dot c o m Columbus OH K2PZH

--
<< ------------------------------------------------------- > << The foregoing was not intended or written to be used, > << nor can it used, for the purpose of avoiding penalties > << that may be imposed upon the taxpayer. > << > << The Charter and the Guidelines for submitting posts > << to this newsgroup as well as our anti-spamming policy > << are at www.asktax.org. > << Copyright (2007) - All rights reserved. > << ------------------------------------------------------- >

A while back I asked what to do if I forgot to sign a check to the IRS. I was
told that it probably would be honored anyway. That was correct. On my unsigned
check was stamped: Kindly Refer to
Drawer for Signature

--
<< ------------------------------------------------------- > << The foregoing was not intended or written to be used, > << nor can it used, for the purpose of avoiding penalties > << that may be imposed upon the taxpayer. > << > << The Charter and the Guidelines for submitting posts > << to this newsgroup as well as our anti-spamming policy > << are at www.asktax.org. > << Copyright (2007) - All rights reserved. > << ------------------------------------------------------- >