Depositing a check made out to just my first name, USA

tbloxham

Here is a quick question, if I have recieved a check in the post from someone for something but they have written just

John (my hypothetical first name)

rather than

John Smith (my hypothetical full name on the account)

can I still deposit that check? Or should I ask the person to send me another.

Demerdar

I'm not sure. Go to the bank and see if they'll take it?

noir_blood

If it's a handwritten check, couldn't you just add your last name to it?

lunasea

noir_blood wrote: »

If it's a handwritten check, couldn't you just add your last name to it?

Isn't that fraud...? Honestly, I would just ask for another check but if that's too much of a hassle then I guess you could try the bank.

RUNN1NGMAN

I'd just write your last name in with the same color ink. It's not like you're altering it or anything.

Best solution would be to ask the person to give you another check with your whole name.

Raneados

it's not really fraud if you're supposed to be getting the money anyway

tbloxham

RUNN1NGMAN wrote: »

I'd just write your last name in with the same color ink. It's not like you're altering it or anything.

Best solution would be to ask the person to give you another check with your whole name.

This is what I have decided to do. On checking in a bit more detail it can be fraud to edit a check, and I don't really know the person who gave it to me that well. So I think doing everything by the book is best.

inlemur

I had this exact problem last week, check made out to "Brian". No problems depositing it.

RNEMESiS42

lunasea wrote: »

noir_blood wrote: »

If it's a handwritten check, couldn't you just add your last name to it?

Isn't that fraud...? Honestly, I would just ask for another check but if that's too much of a hassle then I guess you could try the bank.

My room mate signs blank checks and lets me fill out all the details each month for rent, and it's never been a problem in the years we've done this.

Smug Duckling

RNEMESiS42 wrote: »

lunasea wrote: »

noir_blood wrote: »

If it's a handwritten check, couldn't you just add your last name to it?

Isn't that fraud...? Honestly, I would just ask for another check but if that's too much of a hassle then I guess you could try the bank.

My room mate signs blank checks and lets me fill out all the details each month for rent, and it's never been a problem in the years we've done this.

So in the last month are you planning to take all his money?

On topic, banks are pretty lenient about names on cheques I've found (though I'm in Canada). I've had misspellings and just first names go through fine.

VThornheart

If the people at the bank know you, you should be okay. It seems that most problems with being unable to deposit/cash checks are when the tellers don't know who you are AND something unusual happens like the missing last name or such.

If you don't know your tellers, come in looking clean shaven and generally not terrorist-like. I'll spare the details of my personal anecdote, but apparently having a beard that vaguely resembles Osama Bin Laden's qualifies you for having your checks scrutinized with much greater detail than your average John Q. Public.

RNEMESiS42

Also, depositing checks by ATM avoids human contact all together, although these checks may be put under more scrutiny. I've never been denied approval from an ATM deposit with my room mate's checks. Even one that he forgot to sign recently o_O

Lewisham

inlemur wrote: »

I had this exact problem last week, check made out to "Brian". No problems depositing it.

Why the hell are people dumb enough to do this?

Daenris

RNEMESiS42 wrote: »

Also, depositing checks by ATM avoids human contact all together, although these checks may be put under more scrutiny. I've never been denied approval from an ATM deposit with my room mate's checks. Even one that he forgot to sign recently o_O

If he forgot to sign it and the bank honored it anyway, you have a terrible bank.

MichaelLC

Daenris wrote: »

RNEMESiS42 wrote: »

Also, depositing checks by ATM avoids human contact all together, although these checks may be put under more scrutiny. I've never been denied approval from an ATM deposit with my room mate's checks. Even one that he forgot to sign recently o_O

If he forgot to sign it and the bank honored it anyway, you have a terrible bank.

The name thing should be fine, though. My salonist (stylist sounds too frilly) just writes in her name when I pay for my haircut.