Washington Mutual sent me a check for $40 - I don't know why?
October 10, 2008 4:36 PM   Subscribe

Washington Mutual sent me a check for $40 - I don't know why?

I've had an account with Washington Mutual (Free Checking) for about 5 years now. For most of that time I have not used the account and just carried a $0.98 balance.

Recently, I regained access to the account via online banking. Still $0.98. I haven't done anything with the account except regain access and update all my contact information (address, phone, etc. were wayyy out dated.)

All of a sudden today I received two letter from WaMu. One saying they tried to contact me via e-mail and it bounced back and they would like me to update my e-mail address.

The second was labelled as KJB Financial / Washington Mutual and was a check for exactly $40.00.

Nothing else was included with the check and I have no idea why they sent it. I am concerned about cashing the check. It has my name and current address. I am worried that cashing it would be bind me to some agreement that I don't know about, but I don't see how that could be the case as I would think it was illegal to bind me to an agreement I have never seen. I have no reason to believe that's the case, other than paranoia. So should I just cash the check and be happy for the mystery donation?

Has anyone else received a check like this or have any idea why they would send this to me???
posted by doomtop to Work & Money (8 answers total)

This post was deleted for the following reason: figured out, poster's request. -- jessamyn

 
You could call them and ask.

I'd expect the worst that can happen if you cash it is that if it was sent in error and you have to pay them back the forty bucks.
posted by winston at 4:47 PM on October 10, 2008


Has anyone else received a check like this or have any idea why they would send this to me?

Mistakes happen. A bank sent me a $4,000 check by mistake once. It could be a variety of things, ranging from money they actually do owe you for some reason to a complete mistake.

Call them up right away and ask what the deal is. If they sent it by mistake, most likely someone will figure it out eventually and take it back anyway.
posted by burnmp3s at 5:13 PM on October 10, 2008


Read carefully before signing. I've received items like this and your signing it may enroll you in some type of program. Lots of scams like this in the mail these days.
posted by DieHipsterDie at 5:23 PM on October 10, 2008


Response by poster: You could call them and ask.

Yes, there is a number listed on the check which I intend to call, but they list hours and it is currently outside them and they won't be open until Monday!
posted by doomtop at 5:25 PM on October 10, 2008


Response by poster: Also, I just realized that the check may not be from Washington Mutual. It may be from KJB Financial and drawn on WaMu. I just saw the WaMu and made the connection to the account I recently regained access to. I guess I will have to wait till Monday to have any real idea.
posted by doomtop at 5:26 PM on October 10, 2008


Response by poster: OK. So I'm just an idiot. The check isn't from WaMu at all.

Someone reminded me that it is apparently money I won a while ago playing poker online. I had forgot about it completely. I figured they would have included something that indicated what it was for, but I guess not.

I'll wait a week before posting another dumb question. LOL.
posted by doomtop at 5:34 PM on October 10, 2008


Let this be a reminder to you that google does not index your life and the internet is not all knowing.

It tend to forget that very briefly, on occasion. I think it's a symptom of something.
posted by 517 at 7:35 PM on October 10, 2008 [1 favorite]


poker sites don't send out money on their own, but pay companies like Chexx inc. to handle it for them, for a variety of reasons. I'm surprised a bank as large as WaMu was still issuing gambling-related cheques given recent US legislation.
posted by cmyr at 9:12 PM on October 10, 2008


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