The Acoustic Guitar Forum

Go Back   The Acoustic Guitar Forum > Other Discussions > Open Mic

Reply
 
Thread Tools
  #1  
Old 01-25-2021, 01:15 PM
Nymuso Nymuso is offline
Charter Member
 
Join Date: Nov 2017
Posts: 2,133
Default PSA: Check Your Teller's Receipt Carefully

Sold a guitar over the weekend for cash, went to the bank's drive in window this morning to deposit it using my ATM card. The teller gave me my card and receipt, I glanced at the deposit amount, which was correct and I drove away, there being a waiting driver behind me.

I got home and wanted to move some money around the accounts, so I went on line and noticed my deposit wasn't there. I looked in the Pending file. Nothing. Looking again at my receipt I noticed that the last four digits of my account number were incorrect. Comparing it with a prior receipt I saw that that number was correct. Uh-oh.

I called the bank and explained it all to the bank manger, who put on the teller who began to accuse me of making some error, that she had dutifully deposited the cash into the account of . . . . someone not me. When I told her this her tone changed and they promised to call me back in a few minutes, which they did. Problem corrected. "A problem with our system." Uh-huh.

I suppose the moral of the story is never to assume that banks don't make mistakes. They can and do. Had I not been curious about the non-matching account numbers it might have been difficult if not impossible to correct the error down the line.

Be careful out there.
__________________
Some Acoustic Videos
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 01-25-2021, 01:47 PM
RP's Avatar
RP RP is offline
Charter Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Charlottesville, VA
Posts: 21,242
Default

I don't usually handle cash any more, but last month I needed to get some for my son's holiday gift. I left the bank, looked at my receipt and then counted the cash, an unusually OCD moment for me. I counted the cash a second time and realized that a mistake had been made in my favor. I'd love to tell you, my dear AGF friends, that I took the moral high road, but alas I didn't...
__________________
Emerald X20
Emerald X20-12
Martin D18
Martin 000-15sm
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 01-25-2021, 03:05 PM
Bob Womack's Avatar
Bob Womack Bob Womack is offline
Guitar Gourmet
 
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: Between Clever and Stupid
Posts: 26,991
Default

My lovely wife and myself got married in New Jersey in 1980. My family and I traveled up to NJ from our home in Knoxville, Tennessee. While my lovely bride and I honeymooned, my parents took a trip up to New England and then traveled down the spine of the Appalachian mountain range back to Knoxville. When they arrived they were greeted with a mailbox full of notices that they had written a string of bad checks stretching from Knoxville to Cape Cod and back, including payment for the rehearsal dinner. When they looked into it they discovered that the check my father had deposited to his account had actually been deposited to the account of my older brother, who shared the same name as my father, with a "Jr." added onto the end, which made it appear on the computer screen above my father's, and the teller... well you get the idea.

Thankfully the branch manager was a friend of my father and he not only took care of the mistake and paid each check and all fees, he personally sent apology letters to each affected business and claimed responsibility on behalf of the bank. You can see how this could have ended very differently had my father and the bank manager not been friends.

Bob
__________________
"It is said, 'Go not to the elves for counsel for they will say both no and yes.' "
Frodo Baggins to Gildor Inglorion, The Fellowship of the Ring

THE MUSICIAN'S ROOM (my website)
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 01-25-2021, 03:07 PM
robj144 robj144 is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Jul 2008
Posts: 10,430
Default

Thanks for the PSA but I visit banks once every two years or so. And, if I do, I just use the ATM.
__________________
Guild CO-2
Guild JF30-12
Guild D55
Goodall Grand Concert Cutaway Walnut/Italian Spruce
Santa Cruz Brazilian VJ
Taylor 8 String Baritone
Blueberry - Grand Concert
Magnum Opus J450
Eastman AJ815
Parker PA-24
Babicz Jumbo Identity
Walden G730
Silvercreek T170
Charvell 150 SC
Takimine G406s
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 01-25-2021, 06:43 PM
FLRon FLRon is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Apr 2017
Location: SW Florida
Posts: 1,090
Default

This is why in our home every receipt, deposit, withdraw, CC statement, and bank statement is gone over with a fine tooth comb. It's a pain and it is time consuming, but I've learned that it's up to me to dutifully look after me.
__________________
It won’t always be like this.
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 01-25-2021, 07:52 PM
emtsteve emtsteve is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Illinois (reluctantly)
Posts: 1,744
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by RP View Post
I don't usually handle cash any more, but last month I needed to get some for my son's holiday gift. I left the bank, looked at my receipt and then counted the cash, an unusually OCD moment for me. I counted the cash a second time and realized that a mistake had been made in my favor. I'd love to tell you, my dear AGF friends, that I took the moral high road, but alas I didn't...
Similar story when I was much younger (like 19) - cashed a paycheck at the bank drive-in and just put the little envelope in my console. When I got home I took out the cash and it was immediately obvious this was not my cash. There was like $1000 too much. While I was sitting there listening to the angel and devil on either shoulder, the phone rang. It was the bank, saying they gave me the wrong envelope and could I bring the cash back please. I said "Oh I hadn't looked yet, let me see - oh yes, that's too much." Off I went to return the brief windfall. I like to think I would have returned it anyway. As an older, wiser man I know I would return it now.
__________________
EMTSteve
a couple guitars too many
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old 01-25-2021, 08:36 PM
H165 H165 is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: The Woods; OC, CA
Posts: 3,055
Default

It's not just cash....

When I was 22 (49 years ago) I bought my girlfriend a friendship ring for Christmas, and she got me one as well. We selected her ring together; a nice gold and diamond-chip design. We'd already agreed it would be gift-wrapped right there in the store and then she'd open it on Christmas day.

We both did a double-take Christmas morning when she opened the box and we saw a custom made traditional '20s style sapphire/diamond/emerald cocktail ring; stones set in platinum.

We had a bit of fun with it (pictures and all) for the two days the store was closed for Christmas. Needless to say, they were relieved to hear from us. I'd paid cash, so they just had my name and no other contact info for me. What they did have was a screaming customer holding up his receipt and our little ring right in their faces
Reply With Quote
  #8  
Old 01-26-2021, 07:03 AM
difalkner difalkner is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: NW Louisiana
Posts: 1,187
Default

My Dad taught me to always go into the bank so they'll get to know you, never use the drive through. So I go in every few weeks and the tellers and managers all call me by name (some woodworking customers still pay by check).

Anyway, about 10 years ago I deposited a check for $700 and walked out of the bank. When I got home and left the deposit slip for Sandy to file away I noticed an extra 0 - the cashier had deposited $7,000 in our account.

I called the bank and told them I would split it with them but they preferred to do it the right way. They did point out they would have caught it in the teller audit when they closed but it was still an interesting day at the bank.

David
__________________
David

My Woodworking YouTube channel - David Falkner Woodworking --------------------------------------------
Martin, Gallagher, Guild, Takamine, Falkner
Reply With Quote
  #9  
Old 01-26-2021, 07:13 AM
Nymuso Nymuso is offline
Charter Member
 
Join Date: Nov 2017
Posts: 2,133
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by difalkner View Post
My Dad taught me to always go into the bank so they'll get to know you, never use the drive through.
My preference as well. However this bank in particular requires, in this COVID environment, that one make an appointment to enter the bank, which would have been my first choice for depositing cash.
__________________
Some Acoustic Videos
Reply With Quote
  #10  
Old 01-26-2021, 07:18 AM
RedJoker RedJoker is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Jan 2014
Posts: 4,013
Default

As a side note, they seem to keep building more and more banks around us yet I know of fewer and fewer people that actually go to them anymore. I think it's been years since I've stepped into a bank or used a drive-through but obviously a lot of people still prefer them. They wouldn't be built otherwise.
__________________
Original music here: Spotify Artist Page
Reply With Quote
  #11  
Old 01-26-2021, 07:54 AM
SMan SMan is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: Latte Land
Posts: 3,180
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by difalkner View Post
My Dad taught me to always go into the bank so they'll get to know you, never use the drive through.

David
Now you need an appointment to go in the bank now due to Covid. That is a minor inconvenience. I always go in. As for going over receipts I do that each month as well as balancing the check book. Yes I still have a checking account too. Don't find it hard at all. Just a habit like cleaning my guitar regularly.
__________________
Steve

Reply With Quote
  #12  
Old 01-26-2021, 08:03 AM
Mr. Jelly's Avatar
Mr. Jelly Mr. Jelly is offline
Charter Member
 
Join Date: May 2016
Location: Sioux City, Iowa
Posts: 7,848
Default

I love banking online as I can see everything that has occurred with our account at any time. It is prudent to check it from time to time.
__________________
Waterloo WL-S, K & K mini
Waterloo WL-S Deluxe, K & K mini
Iris OG, 12 fret, slot head, K & K mini

Follow The Yellow Brick Road
Reply With Quote
  #13  
Old 01-26-2021, 09:12 AM
hairpuller hairpuller is offline
Guest
 
Join Date: Oct 2017
Location: Sonoma County, CA
Posts: 3,012
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by RP View Post
I don't usually handle cash any more, but last month I needed to get some for my son's holiday gift. I left the bank, looked at my receipt and then counted the cash, an unusually OCD moment for me. I counted the cash a second time and realized that a mistake had been made in my favor. I'd love to tell you, my dear AGF friends, that I took the moral high road, but alas I didn't...
You may have cost that teller her/his job. Hope it was worth it.

scott
Reply With Quote
  #14  
Old 01-26-2021, 10:17 AM
RP's Avatar
RP RP is offline
Charter Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Charlottesville, VA
Posts: 21,242
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by hairpuller View Post
You may have cost that teller her/his job. Hope it was worth it.

scott
While I willingly accept responsibility for my own actions and any consequences that may arise from them, at the age of 70 I refuse to accept either the consequences of mistakes that others make or your attempted guilt trip. If that teller routinely makes mistakes on the order of 25% discrepancies then maybe she shouldn't be handling other peoples' money...
__________________
Emerald X20
Emerald X20-12
Martin D18
Martin 000-15sm

Last edited by RP; 01-26-2021 at 01:43 PM.
Reply With Quote
  #15  
Old 01-26-2021, 12:58 PM
seeker seeker is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Chicago suburbs
Posts: 852
Default

Long story in a similar vein:

In 1981, having just moved to Las Vegas, I deposited my paycheck through the new-to-me automatic teller machine. Pocketing the slip the machine produced, I went about my business without thinking any further about the transaction. The slip, after all, showed the deposit being made, and my friends had been using that automatic teller machine for months without incident. I went ahead and wrote several checks against that deposit (rent, water bill, electric bill, etc.).

Two days later I found an eviction notice on my apartment door. My rent check, along with all the other checks I wrote against that deposit, had bounced. The personal banker told me their system had not acknowledged my deposit and the amount had never been posted to my account. I showed her my receipt from the machine and she pointed to the tiny words "Not a legal document" on the receipt. In other words, the bank did not consider their own receipt to be proof of anything. She also told me the automatic teller machine had been vandalized recently.

Fortunately, they gave me credit for the deposit anyway, but the experience cost me several bounced check fees, money order fees, and a whole day off work as I ran around making things right. I haven't deposited money through an automatic teller machine since.
__________________
Martin HD-28, Guild JF30, Yamaha FG720S, Yamaha CPX700-12, old Alvarez (?) nylon string

"May you stay forever young."-Dylan
Reply With Quote
Reply

  The Acoustic Guitar Forum > Other Discussions > Open Mic

Thread Tools





All times are GMT -6. The time now is 11:34 PM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions Inc.
Copyright ©2000 - 2022, The Acoustic Guitar Forum
vB Ad Management by =RedTyger=