I got a little tired of having to spend 75 cents each time I needed a money order to send off for a coin. My checking account is free, but they charge $17 a box for checks. So I went online and spent around $12 and got a box through Carousel Checks. Thing is, how many dealers take checks? I specified the starting number at 1992 (and yes, it's perfectly fine to do this) in order to not scare anyone.
It may help in accounting, but there is no legal requirement for a check to be numbered. There is no connection between a good/bad check and its number. I'm sure that, because of Coin Talk, many coin dealers across the nation, and around the world, know of you, Tim, and wouldn't take a check from you whether numbered 101 or 456789123, or any number in between.
Every dealer I've ever bought from, whether I had ever been in their shop or not, has accepted checks. Many won't do plastic because of the fees though.
Anybody can be selective taking cheques. My local B&M takes mine and a few others, but nobody else's because he knows we have the dosh and has known us a long time.
Are they local dealers? Use a credit card. If on line, use Pay Pal, credit card , but on a secured sight, with the lock area showing. Use a secured way, only use a postal money order as the last resort. Almost, never send cash in the mail. As for checks, the higher the number on the check, the more a dealer or company feels that you have a history with the bank or account holder, and not have just opened an account to hang them. Would you take a check with the numbers lower than 10?
Got an Amscot near you? Free money orders. As many as you like. Did you not get a debit card when you opened the checking account? They aren't as safe as credit cards when used online, but these days if you're under 21 you have to have mommy or daddy co-sign to get a credit card. You might be able to get a secured credit card without a co-signer; I'm not 100% sure.
But Tim has ZERO credit and has been banned by PayPal. I have opened checking accounts and had the checks printed with numbers starting at 3501. What is my history with that account?
A lot of dealers take checks, from a lot of people. And a lot of other dealers won't take checks, from a lot of people. You want to know if a dealer will take a check from you (and I mean anybody not just Tim) - ask him.
Indeed, he is an elite example of someone who actually succeeded in screwing PayPal, when the norm is to be screwed by PayPal. That really is no minimalist accomplishment.
History. People look at the numbers on the checks to see if it's a new account. When you first get a new checking account any any bank, they give you some temporary check that you manually fill out, till you get your new regular printed check with your name and address on them. Any low numbers stand out and some will call a bank and have it checked out to see if good, now it's done electronically.
There is no definitive answer to this question. It is up to the individual merchant to decide whether or not to accept a personal check. By the statement "send off for coins" I'm assuming you're either ordering on-line, or through a print medium such as a magazine ad or Littleton catalog . As such, there should be a clearly stated policy as to what the retailer accepts as payment. Be careful, this may be in the "fine print" many gloss over or don't read, but it should be somewhere on the site or in the ad. If there isn't a clearly stated payment option, go to another vendor. If you're talking B&M stores, that would be up to the proprietor. There is no legal obligation to accept a check. Many larger retailers can scan the check and instantly determine whether or not it is good. If they don't have a policy posted, just ask. I used to deal with place that would gladly take cash, and started to accept my checks after getting to know me. They did not, however, accept credit cards. As far as check numbers, most retailers are onto this and don't rely on the number to determine validity of the check. Like I said, they can scan it and verify on the spot if they have the right service, like TeleCheck.
I don't know that he really screwed PayPal more than he screwed himself. His credit report will show the PayPal thing for at least 11 years. If that debt were to somehow be re-affirmed after 10 years, it could appear on his credit report for another 11 years. Add to that the cell phone company he screwed. I'm sure there are others. Based on his credit report, most banks will refuse him a checking account and a debit card, and none will issue him a credit card, not even a secured credit card. Edit to add: It seems as though it's just fine for Detecto to screw others, but it's not fine for others to screw (real or perceived) Detecto.
A lot of local businesses where I live have little lists of names around the cash register area of people they are NOT to accept cheques from. I am sure that Tim G. aka "Detecto" will soon be appearing on little post it notes on cash registers in his 'Burg soon.
He did bilk PayPal out of money. I don't know of anyone else that has succeeded in doing that. Besides, credit is over-rated when all your basic needs are met by your mums and daddems. All your dosh from your snotty, sickening experience as a cashier at a failing American retailer seem to go towards your hobby - instead of life needs - so why worry?
All of you - that will be enough bashing of Detecto. One more word - and you shall take an unwanted vacation.
ok not directed at detecto or anyone else how is it possible to screw paypal? are not their accounts linked to bank accounts and credit cards so how can anyone possibly screw them? just curious
The only time I have had a dealer decline to take my check was one that was going through a divorce and was hiding money from his wife, so he only wanted cash. I've had a couple at shows that were a bit iffy about it but I just told them I would add a little more to it and for them to ship me the coin after the check cleared they had no problem with it. And they didn't even take me up on the later shipping. If I was willing to trust them to ship me the coin, then they figured the check was probably good. So they just took the check and let me have the coin. Also helps that I can name a dozen or so dealers at the show that I have done business with and who will vouch for me.