My friend does not have a bank account and does not want one. She received her tax refund check and now cannot cash it. Is it legal for them to not cash it and where could she go?
Check cashing services are available. Your friend will need a valid ID that will match her refund check. These services charge a fee that will likely be based on the amount of the check.
We always recommend opening a basic bank account for reasons such as this. If your friend searches, he/she may find a bank that offers a no fee account, as long as $20 or $50 is kept in the account. The amounts vary, so call several banks. Perhaps the tax refund can be used to open such an account. If the check is sizable, leave some of those funds on deposit. It is safer than holding cash. A debit card provides ready access to the money.
An alternative is to put the cash into a prepaid debit card. This can be done with or without a bank account, but is safer than carrying cash.
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Check cashing services are available. Your friend will need a valid ID that will match her refund check. These services charge a 