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Rental Check Experiment

January 6th, 2017 at 12:23 pm

I mentioned a couple months ago that our landlord failed to cash our October rent check. That check was received as I have a text from one of the owners confirming it. It was the first check I sent them through bill pay, rather than writing my own check. She was kind of enough to confirm that it was received as I notified her of the change in advance.

The owners have now cashed November, December and January checks. January was cashed yesterday. December wasn't cashed until the 15th of December. I think November was cashed early in the month. However, October still has not been cashed!

Our rent is $1800. I sure don't mind the extra funds. And I still don't think it is my responsibility to notify them. We saw one of the owners on New Years Day as he was in town and wanted to take pictures of the yard (a whole other issue they have failed to properly address this year). There was no mention of the issue and he had no comments on the home and our care of it.

I'm considering this an experiment now. How long do people really go without cashing checks? I cash them within a day or two of receiving, so I find it quite interesting. And the experiment could land me $1800 in our pocket.

Oh, and I'm not spending that $1800 until we are free and clear out of this home. It is still technically their money. We do owe it and if they bring it to our attention I will have no problem paying it. I just find it amazing that you wouldn't notice that you didn't deposit a rent check!

6 Responses to “Rental Check Experiment”

  1. alice4now Says:
    1483705594

    I don't know what the rules are regarding checks, mine have always been cashed! But I can't imagine neglecting to cash an $1800 check. That's a nice amount of money to budget.

  2. Debt-free by Thir-ty Says:
    1483710390

    I can't imagine missing that check either! It'll be really interesting to see if they ever get around to cashing it.

    I'm actually sitting on two checks totaling $180 that I need to cash. It's even sillier because I have mobile deposit :/

  3. MonkeyMama Says:
    1483713937

    Personally, I would tell them. It is common for banks to accept checks that are YEARS old. I wouldn't want some check hanging out there that may get cashed at some random point in the future. Especially such a large check. They may cash it a year after you move out. Just something to think about.

    {From my line of work, I am convinced that banks don't look at dates or signature lines. Everything gets through any more. Mobile deposits make it worse, because no one even looks at those checks. I accidentally deposited a check to the wrong account, with my phone, and I *knew* that no one would notice. They never did. I just fixed it on my end}.

  4. creditcardfree Says:
    1483714224

    Yes, MM, you told me this on my last post. It's an experiment. I will probably check with my bank at the end of the six months to see how they would handle an 'expired' check. And yes, you have point about them cashing it way later. Knowing how they have handle a lot of things here, I just think they are a bit scattered.

    With mobile deposit, you sign the check and then keep it. So if they come across it now, it may already look like they cashed it if they already signed it. I would think when they go to do their taxes they might notice. Thus the experiment. Smile

  5. Butterscotch Says:
    1483714485

    I really like your blog so I don't want to offend you, but I think withholding information is dishonest. Clearly they think they cashed it and you know that they didn't. Why not tell them?

  6. livingalmostlarge Says:
    1484334044

    Interesting. I am surprised that they didn't catch it accounting wise. I agree bad idea to leave it lying around. If they ever find it and try to cash it, that would suck because the bank probably would cash it.

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