Tax refund story, odd as hell..thoughts?

[Libertytree]

Ok, I got my tax refund check and I went with k-os to the CU to sign it and get it cashed. No can do says the lady at the window, says it's a Patriot Act thing, sorry.

Now, I'm thinking about those check cashing places and how bad I'm gonna get raped, again, by having to use their services. I'm pissed but what can ya do? get over it and suck it up. I get home, sit down at the computer and look for a local check cashing joint to find out how much I'm gonna take it up the kazoo but much to my surprise there's someone that will cash my check for $6! Walmart! It was going to cost me over $100 at the check place.

It never dawned on me at the moment but later on it struck me....A bank can't/ won't cash a .gov check, citing the PA but wally world will and can!? WTF?

[midnight rambler]

Surely you get it by now that in the corporate state of things mega-corps do whatever the fuck they want to.

[big country]

Lots of smaller mom-n-pop Grocery stores will cash them for you (IGA type..or similar)
When I was in High School I worked at an IGA and their rule was they would cash for free if you spent 10% of the check while you were cashing it. No fee, but you would have to buy groceries...not that they are ever a waste.

Something to "check" into anyways if you wanna bypass the fees.

[Libertytree]

We'd cash them at a couple of the liquor stores I've worked at with a purchase. $6 is fine with me and I don't want a bank account.

I get it MR but the story just doesn't follow logic or jibe.

[big country]

So the CU wouldn't cash it b/c you didn't have an account there?
If you had an account they would have cashed it?

Where does .gov want you to get these things cashed at?

(Mine was Direct Deposit into my account so I didn't have any trouble. Had the money since Feb 15th)

[Libertytree]

So the CU wouldn't cash it b/c you didn't have an account there?
If you had an account they would have cashed it?

Where does .gov want you to get these things cashed at?

(Mine was Direct Deposit into my account so I didn't have any trouble. Had the money since Feb 15th)

I'll have to ask to make sure that their policy is any countersigned checks are prohibitive and their policy of having to have an acct in my name?

It used to be that if you went to any bank/CU and had ID and a .gov check it was a done deal, no prob. I could have had it direct depo'd into my prepaid card but I want friggin cash!

[beefsteak]

News Flash...Wally World received a bank charter in the not too distant past.

They are a quick, drive through window to China as far as sucking govt money from US Treasury and "we, the people...."

Regards to K-os and thanks for your anecdote.

D

[mamboni]

Ok, I got my tax refund check and I went with k-os to the CU to sign it and get it cashed. No can do says the lady at the window, says it's a Patriot Act thing, sorry.

Now, I'm thinking about those check cashing places and how bad I'm gonna get raped, again, by having to use their services. I'm pissed but what can ya do? get over it and suck it up. I get home, sit down at the computer and look for a local check cashing joint to find out how much I'm gonna take it up the kazoo but much to my surprise there's someone that will cash my check for $6! Walmart! It was going to cost me over $100 at the check place.

It never dawned on me at the moment but later on it struck me....A bank can't/ won't cash a .gov check, citing the PA but wally world will and can!? WTF?

It's because the bank has no cash. If you have a $5000 refund, they have to cough up $50,000 in net deposits and they have to order the cash from the FED. They don't have the cash.

[chad]

what mamboni said. my bank refused to cash my $12,000 tax return check once (i know, i know, but it was from unplanned for bonuses).

[Libertytree]

Hell, Wallymart will cash up to $7,500.

[Serpo]

Or the bank could of said....what do you think we are ...a supermarket

[madfranks]

A bank can't/ won't cash a .gov check, citing the PA but wally world will and can!? WTF?

It's because when all the Patriot Act banking regulations were made, they applied to banks. Nobody thinks Walmart when they think banks, so these regulations were applied to banks, but not Walmart, a non-bank.

[Grog]

Just because they say it is related to the 'patriot' act, doesn't mean it is. Many businesses are using the 'patriot' act as an excuse to do some shady things.

Example, when we bought my wife's truck, we pre-approved a loan at a good price beforehand. One, to make sure we knew exactly how much we could spend, and two, to get the best price.

After we spent time to find the right truck, we discussed financing. We told the salesman that we had a loan already but he came out with loan paperwork and said, "Manager says that we can't do it wihout this paperwork, due to the Patriot Act." I looked the paperwork over and it was a loan app/credit check. They wanted to push their credit department, nothing related to the Patriot Act.

I pointed at the manager, and told the salesman, "Tell your manager, that we aren't filling this out. It has nothing to do with the Pariot Act, and if we don't proceed directly to the actual sales portion of this deal, I'm going somewhere else. I neither want nor need your financing."

We were done in about 15 mintues.

Grog

[Golden]

A great learning experience in leverage and what is money.

[osoab]

Did you cash it at Wally World's bank or at the service desk?

[Libertytree]

Did you cash it at Wally World's bank or at the service desk?

You cash it in the checkout lane.

[Bigjon]

I wonder if the Post Office would take uncle Sam's check, in exchange for Postal Money Orders.


Domestic & International Money Orders


A safe and cost-effective way to pay—from any Post Office™.

Money Order Features

Postal Money Orders are…
Always valid—they never expire.
Available in values up to $1,000 each if sending within the United States and $700 each if sending abroad.
Cashable in 29 countries.
Which countries?
Can also be cashed or negotiated at your bank and other financial institutions.
May be replaceable if damaged, lost, or stolen. Just hold on to your purchase receipt.

What do money orders cost?

$0.01 to $500.00 .......................$1.15
$500.01 to $1,000.00 ................$1.55
Postal Military Money Orders…..$0.30 (issued by military facilities)
International Money Orders…… $4.45

What do you need to buy one?

Cash, debit card, or traveler's check for payment.

More Info:

Accepting Money Orders ›

Replacing Money Orders ›

Or maybe the bank would be willing to sell you travelers checks instead of cash?

A cheaper safer alternative to having a bank account.

[dys]

You think that's bad? Where I live banks won't cash payroll checks...even on the bank that the check is drawn from, unless you pay them for the luxury of doing so or open an account with them.

dys

[Golden]

You think that's bad? Where I live banks won't cash payroll checks...even on the bank that the check is drawn from, unless you pay them for the luxury of doing so or open an account with them.

dys

Same here.

Choose your creditor wisely. Because of their business practices I would not bank with Wally world.

[Golden]

I've an account for technical purposes that was deactivated. The teller suggests I make a deposit to activate the account. I request a withdrawal and in coin. Bank error in my favor. Can you guess the type? Hint: Kyle Bass

[k-os]

I'll have to ask to make sure that their policy is any countersigned checks are prohibitive and their policy of having to have an acct in my name?

It used to be that if you went to any bank/CU and had ID and a .gov check it was a done deal, no prob. I could have had it direct depo'd into my prepaid card but I want friggin cash!

I remember her saying that (because of the Patriot Act, supposedly), that the CU could not cash a check unless they have a "relationship" with the person cashing the check. Basically, you've got to have an account.