When Writing A Check, Use Black or Blue Ink, Not a Red Marker.

[Paladin1950]

Back in the late 1970's, there was day that I went to my bank at West 72nd Street & Broadway, in Manhattan. I was standing in line waiting my turn. A woman at the front of the line, was trying to cash a check. She represented some charity. She had a check from actor Van Johnson. He was a big star in the 40's & 50's. The teller, also a woman, told the lady that she couldn't cash the check. When asked why, she explained to the confused customer, that they can only cash checks that are written in black or blue ink, not in marker.

She told the teller, "It's made out by Van Johnson, the actor!" The teller informed her that it didn't matter. She held up the check and I could see his large swirly signature. She demanded to see the manager. Someone got the bank manager, also a woman. The bank manager took one look at the check and said, "No, we can't cash it." Once again the lady explained that the check was from Van Johnson, the actor. Once again, she was informed, that it didn't matter who wrote the check.

I'm standing in line laughing my butt off as the totally disappointed woman turned around and had a look on her face like she was thinking, "Well, what do I do now?"

Now in the 1970's, Van Johnson wasn't as big a star like he was a few decades earlier. So maybe his bank account was much smaller. I found myself thinking about maybe he did that (signing a check with a red marker) knowing full well that, no bank would ever cash the check.

Below is a photo of Van Johnson. Doesn't he look a little mischievous to you?

 

[Gaer]

Yes, He does look mischievous. So do I. I am now thinking of buying a red pen for writing checks. hahaha!

 

[NorthernLight]

Not me. I lived in a country where writing a name in red meant death. The aversion to signing my name in red stayed with me.

 

[Blessed]

I had posted in another thread that I worked in the printing industry. A great deal of that was printing checks for companies, cities and counties. There are so many ways to prevent fraud these days, go look at at our own personal checks. Almost all are printed these days on special safety paper, they have many built in safeguards, most of those features are printed on the face of the check and also on the back where you sign your endorsement. Most bank fraud is caused by careless bank employees that do not look closely at to make sure everything is in order..Banks have the responsibility to provide due diligence to their clients, if they see a check that does not have the normal safety features. they must contact the customer to have the checks updated. If they pass a bad check for payment then the bank is responsible.

If things seem to take a little longer at the bank, please know that your bank is taking the time to make sure the check you received is good. It is for your protection and theirs!!