Are check numbers once-only?

September 14, 2007 11:42 AM

Can I use the same check numbers twice?

About a year and a half ago I ordered new checks. I got two boxes. Now that I open the second box, I discover it is the same sequence of numbers as in the first one. I assume it is too late to return it for errors. So can I just start using the same numbers again? This would start with numbers from a year and a half ago, so it is not like the same number will show up on the same statement. Or do banks have a system of checking numbers and cancelling them as they come through?

posted by dances_with_sneetches to work & money (10 comments total)

yes, its just for you to keep track of your checks. has no impact on anything else.
posted by alkupe at 11:49 AM on September 14, 2007

Some banks will warn you in various ways if check numbers are out of sequence or used twice, but I don't think they stop the check.
posted by jeffamaphone at 12:07 PM on September 14, 2007

Yeah, doesn't matter.
posted by Medieval Maven at 12:17 PM on September 14, 2007

Same thing happened to me. I used 'em - no problems.
posted by infinityjinx at 12:31 PM on September 14, 2007

I may be wrong, but you could probably append a number to the end of each one, if you wanted. (Perhaps someone can say if this will work.) That way, you could have cheque 1002, 1012, 1022, etc.
posted by acoutu at 12:46 PM on September 14, 2007

My guess is... It'll probably depend on the bank, but you'll most likely be able to do it.

I once got new checks where the account number was wrong in the routing info at the bottom. I didn't notice, but my bank (a credit union) still managed to just pull the money from my account no problem (meaning someone must have noticed the mistake). It wasn't pointed out to me that my checks were wrong until I tried to sign up for direct deposit and the company's accountant pointed out that the MICR didn't match what I wrote down.
posted by drezdn at 1:26 PM on September 14, 2007

Not only don't you need a check number, but more than once I've had a branch print me out a spare check (which was numberless) to use when the regular ones didn't arrive quickly enough. A branch manager explained that numbers are strictly for the convenient reference of you and your payees. So as long as it won't inconvenience you, go for it.
posted by nakedcodemonkey at 3:30 PM on September 14, 2007

@acoutu: "I may be wrong, but you could probably append a number to the end of each one, if you wanted. (Perhaps someone can say if this will work.)"

Won't work, but only for a technical reason. They're read by computers, but they're not read with OCR, they're read magnetically, so you'd need magnetic ink. And then come the difficulties of printing the new number in precisely the same font, size, and location.
posted by CrayDrygu at 6:58 PM on September 14, 2007

Thank you.
posted by dances_with_sneetches at 7:03 PM on September 14, 2007

Good point, CrayDrygu. But it would be handy for later verifying cancelled cheques -- if there's a chance you would confuse the cheques with your previous series. Of course, you'd think the amount, date and payee info would help. :)
posted by acoutu at 10:11 PM on September 14, 2007