If you need to contact the check writer, you should see their contact information here. Sometimes, a phone number appears here, but not all checks provide phone numbers. You might also find handwritten personal information in this area. (A cashier might require a phone number or driver’s license number in order to accept a check.) However, you’ll only actually receive those funds if the check is legitimate and the check writer has sufficient funds available. However, if a check is post-dated, there’s probably a reason for that, so it’s a good idea to communicate with the check writer and find out what’s going on. It’s also important to verify that a check isn’t too old—look for wording like “Void after 90 days” or an issue date that was more than six months ago. In some cases (if you’re reviewing transactions in your account, for example), you’ll see checks that don’t have a signature, but instead include a message saying “No Signature Required.” Those items are probably payments that you approved online or over the phone. But contact your bank immediately if you don’t recognize a payment. If you receive multiple payments from the same check writer, it might be helpful to note the check number in your records. Likewise, it’s a good idea to make a record of every check you write (including the check number) in your check register. Low check numbers (such as 101) suggest that a checking account is new, so use caution when accepting these checks.
