Landlord not cashing my rent checks...

[ArkiStan]

This is reeeeally annoying. My landlord is a really laid back lady, which is great and a rarity in NYC, but she hasn't cashed a single rent check of mine since I moved in 3 months ago. I feel it is courtesy for you not to put off cashing a check you received from somebody. As a person who lives day to day on a very tight salary, this tends to throw my financing rhythm off cycle. I have to constantly remind myself that thousands of dollars may disappear from my account any day when she eventually does cash the checks all at once.

I must admit. I don't want to remind her, because in the not-so-likely case that she really has just lost the checks and is so disorganized that she doesn't keep track, I wouldn't mind keeping the cash. Buf if she's gonna cash it several months later, it's gonna suck when $10K just goes *poof* all at once. :eye:

I feel like cancelling the checks and telling her, "i gave you that money 3 months ago. If you really want my money you'll have to ask for it again." If she's not gonna need the money right now, I could really use a bit of extra cash for food and stuff. What should I do?

[InfiniteNothing]

Are you sure she's receiving them? That would be my only reason for reminding her. Maybe it's some ploy to collect late fees.

[uncledaddy]

I agree, and if seeing the cash in your account is tempting, perhaps you can create a separate account just for your rent.

It would be a big problem if she decides to cash the checks all at once and they bounce, (if you use the money), then your stuck with overdraft fees and bounced check fees from her.

Once you write the checks those checks are good regardless of how long she keeps them, but I would ask her if she intends to cash them.

Come to think of it, I'm sure she is receiving them, otherwise she would have let you know by now, right?

[ArkiStan]

Are you sure she's receiving them? That would be my only reason for reminding her. Maybe it's some ploy to collect late fees.

Yeah. The first one I knocked on her door and handed it too her personally. After that I've been mailed them to the address she gave me. I'm pretty sure she's receiving them.

[ArkiStan]

I agree, and if seeing the cash in your account is tempting, perhaps you can create a separate account just for your rent.

Good idea. I'll have to do that.


It would be a big problem if she decides to cash the checks all at once and they bounce, (if you use the money), then your stuck with overdraft fees and bounced check fees from her.

What if I cancel/block the checks? Will I still get charged any fees if she tries to cash them?

[uncledaddy]

Good idea. I'll have to do that.


What if I cancel/block the checks? Will I still get charged any fees if she tries to cash them?

If you cancel the checks you won't be hit with fees from your bank, just the "Stop Payment" charges. Your landlady may hit you with late fees, though, and depending on your lease or rental agreement, she may get angry and evict.

Of course, I don't know how she is, but that may be something to think about.

[ArkiStan]

I guess I really have no option other than to suck it up and watch my expenses.

[InfiniteNothing]

Or ask her about it. I can't see how that would hurt.

[uncledaddy]

I guess I really have no option other than to suck it up and watch my expenses.

Yeah, pretty much unfortunately. But hey, look at the bright side. One day after you graduate, (I think I read that you were still in college), you'll look back and laugh at the sacrifices that you had to make. :D

[mcs328]

Be careful if this continues. I read an article where the landlord would collect rent, cash them in later and not use the money to actually pay the mortgage off. Suddenly the bank comes in tosses all your stuff out in the street because the place has gone into foreclosure.

This may not apply in your case but a good read.

http://consumerist.com/5030133/citibank-sorry-we-illegally-ruined-everything-you-own-because-your-landlord-was-in-foreclosure

[Daedalus]

That's rent skimming (illegal in CA, not sure where else). This would seem to be something else entirely. Maybe she shows up at your door one day looking for "favors." :P
The ouch factor is that you can't prove you mailed them or even handed it to her. She could press for late fees, though it sounds like she's just being lazy.

If you cancel the checks you won't be hit with fees from your bank, just the "Stop Payment" charges. Your landlady may hit you with late fees, though
She can also charge bounced check fees too, I think. Most businesses do. Makes sense, since the bank charges you if someone else writes you a bad check.

[uncledaddy]

She can also charge bounced check fees too, I think. Most businesses do. Makes sense, since the bank charges you if someone else writes you a bad check.

Yeah, I forgot about that one. Best to just confront her about holding the checks.

[InfiniteNothing]

That's rent skimming (illegal in CA, not sure where else). This would seem to be something else entirely.
This is better because she gets to collect the checks and she looks poor when she's audited. Then she cashes the checks.

[ArkiStan]

Man before I thought she was just lazy/disorganized. Now you guys have me thinking she's a total con artist. LOL.

[The Happy Squirrel]

always pay her in person ask for a recipet, persaonl checks are void <staledated > after 6 months, so if you ahve a recipet and she doesnt cash it 6 months later she is out the money,

also create a seperate account for just your rent payments, that way you pay the money into that account write the check and not worry about it.

just some ideas

[Napoleon54]

I have the same issue. Landlord seems to save up my checks and cash them 2 or 3 at a time. The rent checks dated 6/26 and 7/28 still have not been cashed, and it's now time to write them another. It annoys me to no end 'cause my statement shows all that rent money still in my account and I gotta constantly remind myself that those checks are outstanding.

[MrGreg]

You could use a money order or cashier's check. Then the money is already out of your account. I'd definitely make a copy and get a receipt, though.

[wung]

I agree, and if seeing the cash in your account is tempting, perhaps you can create a separate account just for your rent.
Good idea. I'll have to do that.

What if I cancel/block the checks? Will I still get charged any fees if she tries to cash them?

If you do go this route, why not open an ING Orange checking account and earn interest while she leaves her money in your account!

[cheapie]

exactly what i'd recommend!

[InfiniteNothing]

The problem with that is I don't think you can write checks from a savings account.

I think HSBC has a nice interest bearing checking account though.

[Thesifer]

The problem with that is I don't think you can write checks from a savings account.

I think HSBC has a nice interest bearing checking account though.


That's why he said the Orange Checking.. Which they do have, and has decent interest rates, last I checked.
:borg:

[Napoleon54]

The problem with that is I don't think you can write checks from a savings account.

I think HSBC has a nice interest bearing checking account though.
http://www.raymondkwan.com/uploader2/files/1258/comprehension.jpg

[Cheesypuff]

as far as i remember from my Business law class, checks are good up to 180 days from the date of on the check. though, banks rarely catch that. So it would be best to put a stop payment on them after 180 days.

[Airencracken]

http://www.raymondkwan.com/uploader2/files/1258/comprehension.jpg

I wonder if IN is going to post a going away thread now... :hihi:

[InfiniteNothing]

I wonder if IN is going to post a going away thread now... :hihi:
We'll do it live! **** it! We'll do it live! I'll write it and we'll do it live! ****ing thing sucks!

No but really, you caught me skimming. It happens.

[Cheesypuff]

We'll do it live! **** it! We'll do it live! I'll write it and we'll do it live! ****ing thing sucks!

No but really, you caught me skimming. It happens.


nice quote infinite =) billO really does know how to please a crowd lolol

[guiseppewv]

always pay her in person ask for a recipet, persaonl checks are void <staledated > after 6 months, so if you ahve a recipet and she doesnt cash it 6 months later she is out the money,

:stupid:

The check will become stale it is only a matter of time. I would start sending the checks in early in hopes that she will forget and a check will become stale. When it becomes stale it is voided.


If you do go this route, why not open an ING Orange checking account and earn interest while she leaves her money in your account!

:stupid:

[ArkiStan]

Does it become stale automatically once 6 months passes, or is something I have to request?

I'm looking into the high-yield checking accounts! Quick question for those using the ING Orange checking account, have you tried using the "Send Paper Check" feature? Is it really a 100% free service? This is really cool.

[InfiniteNothing]

Most "send paper check" type features from banks are really free. The catch (I think) is that they deduct the amount from your account when the check is sent and not when the recipient deposits the check. So if you're in it for the interest, you might not want to use that feature. But, it does solve you're current situation of having the money sit there so you might want to see if your current bank offers this; many do.

[uncledaddy]

Hmm. I learned something new here as well. Stale checks? never knew. I'm always lucky enough to have my checks cashed soon after writing. :D

[guiseppewv]

Does it become stale automatically once 6 months passes, or is something I have to request?

I'm looking into the high-yield checking accounts! Quick question for those using the ING Orange checking account, have you tried using the "Send Paper Check" feature? Is it really a 100% free service? This is really cool.

I would not use the send paper check feature either because it defeats what you are trying to accomplish.

FYI - personal checks automatically become stale 6 months after they are written - you don't need to do anything.

[Jcranmer]

FYI - personal checks automatically become stale 6 months after they are written - you don't need to do anything.

Is that a federal or state thing? I had always heard it was one year.

[brainsmile]

can I live there?

[ski]

It depends on your current life situation. If I paid 12 personal checks to my landlord over the year, and he didn't cash any of them till the end, it wouldn't change a thing. I'm technically single (although my gf leeches $ out of me!), and I live my life as though the $1100/mo has been taken out, every month, whether it has or not.

For a single guy, it wouldn't matter if they waited to cash it or not (unless it was one of the aforementioned "scams"). But I realize this isn't the majority of situations.

[guiseppewv]

Is that a federal or state thing? I had always heard it was one year.

I believe it is a state law but it is followed pretty much by every state.

Anyone have more info on this? I know we have to have someone in the banking industry on this site. :)

[Jcranmer]

Ok so I was curious enough to Google it. From the way I read most of the hits, 6 months is customary, but a bank can choose to accept a check for as long as they want.

Here is section 4-404 of the Uniform Commercial Code:

http://www.law.cornell.edu/ucc/4/article4.htm#s4-404

Oh and this doesn't apply to certified checks. It sounds like a bank MUST accept them regardless of the date they were written.

[ArkiStan]

It depends on your current life situation. If I paid 12 personal checks to my landlord over the year, and he didn't cash any of them till the end, it wouldn't change a thing. I'm technically single (although my gf leeches $ out of me!), and I live my life as though the $1100/mo has been taken out, every month, whether it has or not.

For a single guy, it wouldn't matter if they waited to cash it or not (unless it was one of the aforementioned "scams"). But I realize this isn't the majority of situations.

In a perfect world where you have a good amount of savings to back yourself up, your case would be ideal, but sadly I'm currently living month to month barely paying rent and living expenses with my salary. So having my rent deducted from my regular checking account meant that every time i looked at my checking account balance I'd have to do math and figure out how much of that money I can't touch. That's why i've just registered for the ING checking account. I'll leave my rent money in there instead of my regular checking account. less math to do that way. Problem solved. ;)

[DaFunkyUnit]

blah blah blah

why don't you use the balance books that the bank provides you? Usually theres that one column where you put check marks, meaning that the transaction has been... whats the word?... ah, reconciled. :)

[mcs328]

Now that I think about it I don't think checks expire. Remember when Jerry cashed in all those checks for his birthday from his nana. Hi Uncle Leo was none too please. Nana was on a fixed income.

[Pinkgirl36]

That's why he said the Orange Checking.. Which they do have, and has decent interest rates, last I checked.


:stupid:

That's what we do....we are the 1st each month to pay our rent, so my husband gets interest on it while we are waiting for the check to clear.

[attgig]

and I live my life as though the $1100/mo has been taken out, every month, whether it has or not.

OUCH!

can I be your landlord?

[wung]

Now that I think about it I don't think checks expire. Remember when Jerry cashed in all those checks for his birthday from his nana. Hi Uncle Leo was none too please. Nana was on a fixed income.

haha, i remember that episode!

[WhiskeyPapa]

So having my rent deducted from my regular checking account meant that every time i looked at my checking account balance I'd have to do math and figure out how much of that money I can't touch.Maybe you should do it correctly and balance your checkbook. Don't rely on your bank's website to tell you how much money you have. That's a sure way to guarantee an overdraft.

I'd suggest using Quicken. You'll always know exactly how much money you really have.