How to retrieve lost cheques?
April 5, 2008 6:09 AM   Subscribe

How to retrieve lost cheques?

Dropped off a couple of old cheques at the bank for a friend who due to mental illness hasn't been able to keep track of certain things the last few years. For one of them he received a dishonour notice because the "instrument [was] reported lost or stolen". The notice also said they'd forward it if subsequently received. And lo and behold, a few days later he received a new cheque for the original amount. I imagine the receiving bank had to check with the issuing bank since the cheque was issued more than two years ago. But how does all this work? My friend claims to have received a cheque from the ATO (Australian Tax Office) one or two years ago, but there are no indications he ever cashed it. And I have not been able to find it amongst his piles of paperwork. If he lost "this instrument" too, how can I help him reclaiming whatever he was owed?
posted by anonymous to Work & Money (2 answers total)
 
In the US, money from uncashed checks eventually makes it's way to individual states where it is held until the person files a claim. It looks like Australia has a similar program, this is the link for the Dept of Treasury site which gives links to individual Australian State Govt sites.

Companies I've worked for send money to the government after just one year for payroll checks, a little longer for other payments. They'll put stop payments on the original check, so that it can no longer be cashed. And then the person who should have received the money has to file a claim with the state. Federal payments probably work differently, but I think the above link should help you find how to file a claim for the ATO check.
posted by saffry at 9:31 AM on April 5, 2008


Maybe you'll get more answers if you re-explain your question. I've been to law school 'n' everything, and I don't get it. If you dropped the old cheques at the bank, then you had them in your possession, so in what sense are they "lost"?

You set out several occurrences but I can't tell whether they are in the distant past, before your involvement, or happened after you became involved. Maybe set out the timeline better?

Saffry's information is correct of course, but I feel we may not have answered your question.
posted by JimN2TAW at 3:49 PM on April 5, 2008


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