Is this a scam? (Dodge, repair, message, bank)

[Not Z]

I recently bought a car out of town and I paid with a check. I got a call from the dealer saying that what I wrote in the number portion of the check doesn't match up with what I wrote in the word portion of the check. No, I wasn't trying to pull a scam myself. Consider it a moment of dyslexia, I guess.

I assume they're going to want another check, but what can I do to make sure they don't cash both of them? Would it be fair for me to ask them to mail me the old one first?

I don't have much reason not to trust them, but mailing another check seems like a pretty stupid thing to do, doesn't it? I'll have to call them tomorrow. I'm just going off of a message they left on my machine yesterday.

Edit: I should also mention that I checked my bank account and the check hasn't been cashed, but that wouldn't stop them from doing it on Tuesday if I mailed a check Monday.

[GTOlover]

go to the bank put a stop payment on the cheque and get it voided then write them a new cheque with the proper info.
haha I am canadian so we spell check like cheque but the process is the same

[silverfox]

Just be aware that putting a stop payment on a check is not forever. Check with your bank to see how long they will honor it.
I would demand you get your old check back at some point to make sure there is no Hanky Panky.
Did you use a Gel Pen to write the check ???
If not that could be a problem if they keep it.
Also you should not write checks without a Gel pen these days.

[tgbwc]

Originally Posted by silverfox

Just be aware that putting a stop payment on a check is not forever. Check with your bank to see how long they will honor it.
I would demand you get your old check back at some point to make sure there is no Hanky Panky.
Did you use a Gel Pen to write the check ???
If not that could be a problem if they keep it.
Also you should not write checks without a Gel pen these days.

How does a gel pen help? Just curious.

[KoobleKar]

If you have access to a fax machine, have them fax you the wrongly written check to show they're legitimate.

[rbohm]

depending on how far away the dealer is, i would go back and retrieve the original check, and write them a new one on the spot.

and when i got the original check in my hand, the first thing i would do is write void in big letters across the face of the check.

[Grandpa Pipes]

Originally Posted by Not Z

I recently bought a car out of town and I paid with a check. I got a call from the dealer saying that what I wrote in the number portion of the check doesn't match up with what I wrote in the word portion of the check. No, I wasn't trying to pull a scam myself. Consider it a moment of dyslexia, I guess.

I assume they're going to want another check, but what can I do to make sure they don't cash both of them? Would it be fair for me to ask them to mail me the old one first?

I don't have much reason not to trust them, but mailing another check seems like a pretty stupid thing to do, doesn't it? I'll have to call them tomorrow. I'm just going off of a message they left on my machine yesterday.

Edit: I should also mention that I checked my bank account and the check hasn't been cashed, but that wouldn't stop them from doing it on Tuesday if I mailed a check Monday.

Well duh! Get in your car and take the corrected check to the dealer and pick up the incorrect check.

How hard can this be for crying out loud!

[ferretkona]

Back in 1986 I bought a new car, 6 months later B of A called wanting to know where the down payment was. The check that had been cashed had never been applied to the loan. This had obliviously been written up wrong, it should have been a loan value of only the loan as the down was made to dealership. I provided check routing #, account # and check # and B of A cleared it up. Only write a new check in exchange of the said bad check.

Dealerships will pull some crooked stuff. A friend was a manager for a Dodge dealer. He told me how they will knowingly write up repair tickets on cars they know have recall notices on. They will take your check, turn around and charge manufacture for it again.

[jtur88]

Ask the dealer to email you a photo of the check torn in half with the word VOID written across the face.

[ferretkona]

Originally Posted by jtur88

Ask the dealer to email you a photo of the check torn in half with the word VOID written across the face.

Photoshop could do that. Just simply exchange checks!