I have made a deposit from a "questionable" client into my account and doubt if the check is actually legitimate. This deposit was made thirty days ago. It has been credited to my account, but how long should I have to wait to see if the check was actually good?
My bank initially advised waiting two weeks. Then a teller told me that the check could be returned for up to three months. I wrote the bank a letter to which they replied that the check had already been credited to my account.
I sure need some help here . . . it was a significant amount of money to my business. How long can I be held legally liable for this check?
Once your bank has learned that a check you have deposited has been returned, the bank has until midnight of the next business day to notify you. That notice can be by telephone or by mail, and it's considered given (if mailed) when placed in the mail.
The bank learns of the return of such a check either be receiving the check in a "return letter," or by receiving a notice that the check has been dishonored. If your bank receives a notice and not the actual check, it may decide to delay charging the check back to your account until the actual check is received. However, it not obliged to wait; it can charge your account based on the notice it received alone.
It's possible for the return of the check to the bank to be delayed. For example, checks occasionally are misrouted on their way to or from the bank on which they are drawn. Your bank is not usually not responsible for such a delay.
It's also possible that the bank on which the check is drawn may delay its decision to return the check. In such a case, your bank should refuse to accept the charge-back of the check, based on the paying bank's delay.
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Once your bank has learned that a check you have deposited has been returned, the bank has until midnight of the next business day to notify you. That notice can be by telephone or by mail, and it's considered given (if mailed) when placed in the mail.