what is the safest way to send a large check through the mail
If you are like millions of people so at some point y'all will probably need to send off a check in the mail (fifty-fifty in 2021).
Unlike cash, sending off a check in the mail service is much safer and acceptable. But that doesn't mean that you should not take sure precautions to ensure that your check arrives safely.
Below are some different tips to help you mail your check safely. I'll also offering some alternatives that yous tin can take instead of sending a check.
Get the check fundamentals down
Sympathise the parts of a check
Because checks are sent so often, it'due south like shooting fish in a barrel to forget the importance that your check contains a lot of your sensitive personal information such every bit your bank account number and address.
Ane worry is that someone could steal your mail and have access to that data just sometimes you may not even desire to share that data with the individual you are sending the check to (I will discuss some ways to get around that below).
So make sure you are versed in what information is displayed on a check before y'all send one out. If you need a refresher on the different parts of a cheque, click hither.
Tip: Utilise WalletFlo for all your credit card needs. It'southward free and will help you optimize your rewards and savings!
Fill out the cheque properly
You lot need to make sure that you properly fill out your check before sending it off.
I know this sounds obvious but if you do not properly make full out certain fields on the check, sending out a check could be as risky every bit sending cash in the mail!
For example, if you wrote out "Pay to the Gild of: Greenbacks," your check could be cashed or deposited by anybody.
It would exist just like sending over a wad of cash in the post.
You likewise desire to take a step to avert your bank check getting "washed" which is when someone alters/removes the ink and changes elements on the check such as the name and amount.
1 like shooting fish in a barrel fashion to do this is to use an indelible pen which is essentially a writing pen that has ink that cannot exist removed.
You can besides increase the security of your check by writing "for deposit only to business relationship of payee" on the back of the check (in the endorsement department).
This volition foreclose the check from being signed over to another private which ways that information technology will just exist one step harder for someone to cash it if they are not the named recipient on the bank check.
That's probably one of the most vital tips for sending a check securely through the mail.
Utilise the right envelope(s)
The all-time practice for sending off a check in the mail service is to use an inconspicuous envelope that does non allow other people to encounter within.
It's not the all-time idea to send a check in an envelope that could easily exist identified equally some sort of special occasion envelope.
For example, let's say yous were sending off a birthday cheque to a family member and you are sending it in a bright orange envelope.
That is going to call extra attention to your mail then you would typically want to avert that.
Yous too want to avoid sparse envelopes where a calorie-free could exist shined through, exposing the contents. A cheap, bones white envelope is typically not a good choice for mailing a cheque.
I would recommend using some sort of business envelope that gives the contents of your postal service a bit of privacy. Yous can find a large pack of these on Amazon for around $20. Yous'll probably want the standard size number ten.
These envelopes come in different types just mostly they have some blazon of security tint on the interior of the envelope that makes it much more difficult to detect what type of documents are inside.
If you want to take the security footstep even farther you could also purchase a thick envelope similar some sort of bubble mailer. These can help make it more difficult to discover what is on the inside and they tin also weatherproof your check.
Wrap up the check
Regardless of the blazon of envelope that you sent off your cheque with, you probably want to consider placing the check inside a folded letter of some sort.
This could be a blank piece of printer paper or it could be something similar a cover letter but it is good practice to not send a check as the but item in an envelope considering it could make information technology easier to detect.
Drop your check off
Anytime you are sending something valuable through the postal service, peculiarly something similar a check, it'due south a skilful idea to drop the cheque off at the postal service role or in a post office collection box.
You could besides use USPS drove boxes that yous notice in various parts of your local town but those may not e'er be as reliable equally the ones located in or at a post part.
If you exercise use 1 of those collection boxes then effort to put your letter in them just before pick upwards and avoid dropping your letter off in the evenings or on weekends when the collection boxes may not be served.
It really is a adept idea to go to the post function if you live in an area where anybody could access your mailbox.
If you lot are worried about someone stealing your postal service and for some reason you were not able to make information technology to the post office, consider waiting for the mailman to go far and walking your post to him/her personally.
Transport via certified mail service
If yous need verification that the recipient received your bank check so you might want to consider sending off your check via certified mail.
Certified mail provides the sender with a mailing receipt and electronic verification that an commodity was delivered or that a delivery attempt was made.
This is a very smart option whenever yous are dealing with something similar a deadline because you lot can verify when the check was delivered/received.
Tip: If you combine sending off a letter certified with bubble mailer and a security envelope along with the measures higher up such every bit indelible ink and additional endorsement data, you will be sending a check off about as securely as you tin.
You may not need to do that for every check you send off just if the check is particularly important or you are extra nervous those tin can exist skillful steps to take.
If the bank check never arrives
If for some reason your cheque never arrives so you will need to contact your bank and make a terminate payment on the bank check.
Simply explain to the banking company that yous sent a check in the postal service and that it never was received past the recipient and the bank should be able to handle the residual.
Sometimes these type of situations can drag out and then be prepared to devote some time to resolving information technology if you run into trouble.
Yous need to keep in mind that your bank check has your banking concern account number on it so if a check ever goes missing, then somebody out there may have your bank account details.
This ways that you will desire to proactively monitor your depository financial institution account and any other associated accounts to ensure that cypher is happening.
If you are truly worried most someone hacking into your business relationship so you might be able to talk to your bank about getting a new account number based on the fact that your banking concern number was potentially exposed.
Alternatives
While sending a check in the mail service is not that risky especially if you lot take the steps above, you lot still might want to consider other payment methods that offer better privacy and security.
Money orders
Money orders are oft a solid alternative to sending a check.
Typically, yous have to pay a small fee to go them issued but that is generally around $1.fifty so it's not a huge inconvenience.
You can buy money orders from the mail office merely you can also purchase them from other places such as grocery stores or even Walmart.
Money orders require identification to exist cashed but money orders have an advantage over checks in that they volition not accept all of your personal information.
So even if someone did steal your mail service containing a money guild, they would not take access to your bank account number. In addition, it's possible to rail the money society to ensure that it has been cashed.
Cashier'due south Checks
Cashiers checks are very similar to coin orders but in that location are some fundamental differences.
Money orders usually are for smaller amounts while cashier'south checks can be for much bigger amounts. (Someone once purchased a vehicle from me with a cashiers check for $20,000.) Some people might even close on a domicile with a cashiers' check.
Cashier'southward checks are also issued by a bank. So if you lot were to send one, your banking company will either hold or remove the funds from your account and dorsum the bank check.
And because they are issued by a bank that means yous volition demand to have a bank account.
Cashier's checks will as well price more than money although you lot can yet get them for only a few dollars.
Ultimately, cashier'south checks will frequently be needed when the recipient of the funds desires an actress level of guarantee or security. But they can be a keen mode to transact with large amounts of money without having to walk around with a lot of cash.
Consider electronic payments
Nowadays, information technology is easier than always to send money electronically. At that place are then many different apps you lot tin choose to use like PayPal, Venmo, Greenbacks App, etc.
If you lot desire to send money to a friend or family member I would highly suggest yous look into one of the electronic options.
Also, if you want to send a payment through the mail in the class of a check but would like to use a credit carte du jour to authorize that payment in guild to earn valuable credit menu points, consider using a service like Plastiq.
Finally, if you are sending a large sum of coin then you might want to consider doing a wire transfer. At that place will usually be a fee to make a wire transfer but sometimes the fee is waived if yous are sending over a certain threshold such equally $5,000.
FAQ
Can you transport a check in the mail?
Yes, it is perfectly acceptable to send a bank check in the mail but you should try to practise and so securely.
How can I transport a bank check in the mail securely?
– Employ an indelible pen
– Write "for deposit only to account of payee" on the back of the check
– Utilize an envelope with security tint on the interior and/or bubble mailers
– Drop the check off at the post office and send information technology via certified post
Should I transport a check UPS or FedEx?
You can transport your bank check via UPS or FedEx only it volition be a little bit more than costly than it would if y'all sent a check with USPS.
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Daniel Gillaspia is the Founder of UponArriving.com and creator of the credit card app, WalletFlo. He is a one-time attorney turned total-fourth dimension credit carte rewards/travel expert and has earned and redeemed millions of miles to travel the globe. Since 2014, his content has been featured in major publications such as National Geographic, Smithsonian Mag, Forbes, CNBC, Usa News, and Business Insider. Discover his full bio hither.
Source: https://www.uponarriving.com/mail-check-safely/
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