do you put your address on your personal cheques?
By seagoddess28
@seagoddess28 (873)
Canada
December 20, 2007 2:14pm CST
I had to order new cheques for my account and ordered by phone. The customer service lady pulled up my profile and proceeded with the order (I always get the ones that have duplicates--you press hard and the details of the cheque are there for you to refer to when your memory fails, LOL!). Anyway, she advised me to only put my initials and last name, and not to give my address or phone number on the face of the cheque. She told me that this is one way to deter identity theft. What do you think about this, fellow myLotters? Is this going too far, or do you agree that safeguarding our accounts from potential evil identity thieves is a good thing? Please share....
2 people like this
5 responses
@lilybug (21107)
• United States
20 Dec 07
Where I live you pretty much have to have that stuff on your checks or places will not take them. I know a lot of places will make you write in your phone number and drivers license number on your check in addition to your address and full name.
2 people like this
@seagoddess28 (873)
• Canada
21 Dec 07
I know that if you tried to pay by cheque in places like Highland Farms (a supermarket here in Toronto) or Zellers (a department store similar to Wal-Mart) they ask you to write your telephone number on the cheque.
1 person likes this
@seagoddess28 (873)
• Canada
21 Dec 07
That is the reason why I readily agreed with the suggestion of the bank's customer service lady. Her reasoning certainly sounded plausible. Hugs back at you and the Elf.
1 person likes this
@paidreader (5143)
• United States
20 Dec 07
Hello seagoddess28. I must say I've never had someone suggest that before and I worked at a check printing company several years ago. While it may be helpful for preventing identity theft, it will also cause potential problems when you try to pay by check as most places need an address on the check to accept it. Cashiers know that if the check comes back NSF, they have to have the details in case they have to notify you or if they have to press charges if the check isn't covered. While I may not put my phone number on my checks, I do have the important details on there so I don't have to write it in when I try to pay by check.
1 person likes this
@seagoddess28 (873)
• Canada
21 Dec 07
Hmmm. Good point! I really did not even think about the things you mention now. I wonder if it would cause me problems later? But why would the customer service lady even make the suggestion? I guess we'll just have to wait and see.....
1 person likes this
@bellaofchaos (11538)
• United States
7 Jan 08
Where I live if you don't have you name and address on the check they won't take them because they consider them to be starter checks, also where I live some businesses won't accept a check if it's under the number 500. It's hard in the area I live to do what has been suggested to you. But Seagoddess you must do what you feel most comfortable with. Have a nice day.
1 person likes this
@mrsjbelle (1640)
• United States
4 Jan 08
In the US we have to put our address on the checks or no retailer will take it. There is so much fraud that they have to be really careful.
1 person likes this
@seagoddess28 (873)
• Canada
4 Jan 08
when I had to pay by cheque and only my initials were on the face of it, I had to produce my driver's licence and leave my phone number, and the cashier accepted the cheque. I understand what you mean about being careful with fraud and identity theft, it's really bad up here.
