Comments on: Use Billpay To Get A Voided Check

By: vlad

vlad — Tue, 26 Apr 2011 18:29:11 +0000

That’s an awesome idea. Thanks so much!!!

By: PJ

PJ — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 17:28:47 +0000

I usually just fill out my routing and account numbers and don’t bother giving them a check, since that’s already all the information they need. I’ll bet if they *had* to have a real check you could scan *any* check and photoshop your info onto it, though. >:-) My bank (ING Direct) lets you print out a voided check online just to accommodate these backwards companies that think everyone with a checking account has access to paper checks.

By: Jim

Jim — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 05:08:39 +0000

I’ve done that in the past too, but it still means you need a check.

By: Don

Don — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 04:44:41 +0000

You can also just photocopy a blank check and write void over the copy. Works like a charm.

By: in the know

in the know — Sun, 04 Oct 2009 14:57:53 +0000

Okay.. Jim…I don’t know who you talked to at Bank of America, but you may have gotten bad information.

Bank of America uses Checkfree (a division of Fiserv) for their online bill pay. The bill pay department sends out payments three ways: electronic (to big companies with electronic service agreements) and two types of checks.

One check type a laser draft check is drawn off of your (the customer’s) checking account, this check would have your routing number and checking account number; however the bill pay department also sends out checks drawn off of Checkfree’s corporate account. This check would NOT include your personal banking information, and if you missed the difference this could have your direct deposit directed to Checkfree’s corporate account.

If you send yourself a bill pay check to set up direct deposit, make sure you check the MICR line.

Also please note Checkfree processed bill pay for hundreds of banks, so the same information applies to other banks, not just Bank of America.

By: daemondust

daemondust — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 23:09:21 +0000

I needed a canceled check (ING Direct’s “check” worked well enough) for setting up my original direct deposit at work, but every change after that has only needed routing and account numbers

By: Andrew

Andrew — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 21:44:20 +0000

I would think that the incentive for writing these numbers down clearly and correctly would be high, since failure to do so would delay your paycheck or worse, pay it into someone else’s account.

By: eric

eric — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 01:53:14 +0000

hey good idea! i wonder if citi has something like this.

By: MichaelM

MichaelM — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 19:05:02 +0000

ING does this as well.

By: JimmyDaGeek

JimmyDaGeek — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 19:04:49 +0000

So does ING Direct.

By: nickel

nickel — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 17:54:11 +0000

That’s brilliant! Of course, when you open an account, you also (usually) get some starter checks. While these don’t have your name and address, they do have your routing and acct # information.

By: Michele

Michele — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 17:33:23 +0000

I work in a payroll department and the only reason we would need to have a “voided” check is to have an accurate copy of the Routing and Account numbers. (Sometimes people do not write them down correctly) Most banks will provide this information just for asking. Most online banks have a form that you can just print out that provides that information.

By: Korwin

Korwin — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 15:52:46 +0000

When I was a banker for a large bank, I never had anyone come in with issues caused by direct deposit. However, there were plenty of times that we had to figure out how their deposited pay check didn’t get processed correctly. If you carry your paycheck to the bank, be sure to photo copy the check and deposit slip before hand so you have proof is an issue comes about and never throw away bank receipts!

By: dilbert69

dilbert69 — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 15:42:18 +0000

My company makes this very easy. I simply log on to the payroll site, enter the bank routing number and account number, and problem solved. No voided check, no form to fax, nothing. BTW, you can buy blank check forms and print them on your laser printer. There is customized software (VersaCheck comes to mind) to make this very easy, but if you’re patient, you can probably design a template in Word. If anyone’s interested, I can send you a sheet of three blank business-sized checks (in blue) at no charge). I bought 500 (I thought) recently, which would be more than a lifetime supply, but instead they sent me 500 sheets (1,500 checks), so apparently I’m going to live to be 300.

By: Daisy

Daisy — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 14:20:47 +0000

I bank with Chase Bank and their online bill pay sends cashier’s checks thereby providing extra security of not handing out your account number to vendors you do business with.

But they also print out a direct deposit form with a voided check printed on it if you go into a branch.