I have had a check bounce before. Actually, it happened a few times in my twenties. It was not fun at all. This is because of the embrassment and stress dealing with my bank punishing me for it. Oh yeah, this is what happens when a check bounces. Some banks punish you for it.
You see, I do this thing where I pay myself about 35% of my monthly paycheck. Then, I deposit it in another bank for savings. So naturally, I got tired of driving to my other bank for cash deposit and decided to use checks. The checks I wrote bounced a few times.
A check bounces as a result of many issues. In my early twenties, mine bounced because I either did not write my check well or had no sufficient balance by the time the check clears. Thinking about it now, I had to learn proper check writing after my bank punished me for it a few times.
This is because other necessary monthly expenses were pending before the check was deposited.
Oh, this is another thing I feel like I need to make sure. When you write someone a check, please be sure there are no pending transactions on your bank statement before doing it. Or else, whoever is trying to cash the check will not be able to do it.
Now, let us talk about rubber checks. Oh, rubber checks are bounced checks. I know- it bounces back to the person writing it. Get the joke?
What Is A Bounced Check?
I want you to think about a bounced check as a check which will not get you paid. When you try to cash it, it does not go through after the check verification process. Would this happen immediately you try to deposit the check, my good reader?
In my case, it took three business days. Oh yeah, three business days of waiting to get my money only to be charged a fee for depositing a bad check. Some banks will do that to you.
Speaking of bad checks, there are many factors which can make a check bounce.
I know because it has happened to me more than once. Listen, when you are a young working class adult, things like this may happen due to not knowing better. Not because you are intentionally depositing bad checks, but due to the following reasons below.
- No endorsement of the check. This is very important, because whoever endorses the check gets to cash it. If not done correctly, the check cannot be cashed. This is especially, when you are trying to endorse a check for mobile deposit. I have had a check bounced, because I forgot to endorse the back of the check before mobile depositing it.
- Details on check not clearly written. For example, I have had a check bounced because I made a mistake writing the amount properly in words.
- Blurry picture of the check when doing mobile deposit. A check of mine deposited by mobile once got returned because of the background was not black enough for the bank.
- Fraudulent activity
- Insufficient balance
The last one is usually the majority of reasons why a check gets bounced by a bank. I know, because it has happened to me. Some pending transactions can decrease the available balance, when it is time for the check to go through. It is embarrassing.
How Long Does It Take For A Check To Bounce?
A check does not bounce immediately. Unless your bank processes check deposit the same day, and makes the funds available. There are some instant mobile check deposit apps which do it. But, I doubt all banks have the luxury of making funds available the same day.
This is because it takes about one to three business days for a bank to make your check funds available. Sometimes, it takes up to five business days. So, how long does it take for a check to bounce?
It takes one to three business days for a check to bounce. It is the same time it takes for your bank or the check cashing app you use to deposit a check to clear the check for processing. Simply put, it depends on the processing time.
Personally, one of my banks – Schwab, can bounce a check within a few hours of depositing it. This is especially when I use its instant mobile check deposit feature. Your bank will let you know, when it returns your check for some odd reasons.
Who Gets In Trouble For A Bounced Check?
What happens if I write a check to someone and it bounces, my good reader?
I noticed the banks I work with, had different reactions to a bounced check. When I was younger and did not make much in a year, my first bank would charge me a non-sufficent fund fee. This is also known as NSF fee, in case you ever come across it.
The same bank would place a lock on my account. I have had one of my banks be so dramatic, as to freeze my bank account for a few days. The same bank threatened to take the account from me.
It did not have to tell me twice. I already knew I was beginning to look like the kind of customer it does not want. Hence, why I had to go learn proper check writing. You could not blame me though.
This all happened, when I was in my early twenties. I was still figuring out how to properly write a check. You may not believe it, but I did not learn proper check writing until I was around 24 years old or so.
It is crazy, is it not?
Yeah, they do not exactly teach that in senior high schools. You just have to stumble around, until you either pick it up or come across a platform like WeeklyBagel. Otherwise, you will certainly get in trouble for a bounced check.
What Fees Come With Bounced Checks?
While my first bank made me learn good check writing by threatening to take away my bank account, there are banks out there who could do worse. Oh, trust me on that one. By worse things, I mean they will charge you fees which will make you bitter each time you glance at your bank statement.
Let us have a look at some of the fees which were charged to me during my early twenties of bad check writing. Some of the fees which come with bounced checks include:
- Non-sufficient fund
- Overdraft fee
- Returned check fee
The above three are what my first bank would charge me, each time my check bounced in my early twenties. The first one gets charged because you do not have sufficient balance. Some banks cover you and charge you overdraft protection fee. Others will return the check and charge you a returned check fee.
Besides the above three fees, whoever you write the check to may charge you a fee too. This is especially when you are dealing with a merchant. You can get charged merchant fee. It is at least a $25 fee.
As you can see, these are fees which will make you feel bitter every single time. There are other things that happen when you deposit a bad check. Hence, why I recommend young working class adults to practice good check writing.
On the whole, this is what happens when a check bounces. At least, this is my experience with bounced checks. A bank will always dishonor cashing a check, if it is not well written. Or worse, you do not have sufficient balance for the check to be drawn.
Your check will bounce and there may be consequences. Please try to avoid these things, because you may risk account closure. Lastly, it will cost you money too.
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