How do I stop payment on a check?

[Syringer]

So a month ago I got a parking ticket in my school's partking lot because I forgot to put up my permit..and got rewarded for it with a $25 fine. I took it home, wrote up a check, and left it on my desk for me to mail in. Being as dumb as I am, I forget about it for a week or so, and it was sitting on my desk for that whole time. I then finally remember about it, and as I try to look for it to mail..I suddenly can't find it. Then, I honestly cannot remember whether or not I had mailed it. The possibility of me doing so could seriously go either way. Either I lost it somehow, or I had actually mailed it in my sleep or something.

Fast forward to about a week later I get a notice in the mail saying that I have an outstanding parking ticket that needs to be paid..meaning I hadn't paid it yet, or it has yet to be processed. There's a deadline on the ticket saying that I need to pay it by a certain date or it goes up. I don't want to have to risk not having it paid by then, but I have no idea whether my ticket has been paid for or not. Should I just write them up another check and be certain this time that I mailed it in, all the while cancelling my other check (however that is done)?

I just called up their "parking service" number, and there was nothing there that could help me, or any way to verify if my other payment was received.

What to do??

 

[mpitts]

Call your bank. Stop payment fees on checks can sometime be up to $20, depending on your bank.

 

[NutBucket]

Call your bank and ask the status of check #XXXX. Then, if it hasn't been cashed stop payment on it and send another one or pay w/ your CC.

 

[Syringer]

Originally posted by: mpitts
Call your bank. Stop payment fees on checks can sometime be up to $20, depending on your bank.

Eck, that's almost as much as the cost of the ticket. Can I just hope if I send the place two checks they'll send me back the difference?

I'm with BofA btw..

 

[brtspears2]

Since this is a company like, they could probally keep track of debits/credits to your name. If they cash both checks, I guess you could ask for a refund.

 

[mpitts]

It may be a free service. Do you have online access to your account?

 

[Syringer]

Actually just called my bank, and it's free to cancel a check if it was lost..but if someone tries to cash it it's a $20 fee. So basically either it's lost and no one will ever find it, and cancelling it won't make a difference.. or it was mailed and they charge me.