How do you deposit checks mailed to you when you're not around?

[fuzzybabybunny]

I plan on working remotely and travelling around a lot next year. Unfortunately for whatever reason, many of my clients refuse to make payments online and instead mail out checks. Obviously, I won't be around to receive those checks, much less deposit them. What are my options for depositing checks when I'm not available to receive them?

 

[l0cke]

Obligatory send them to me.

 

[Dr. Detroit]

get your Special Forces GF or other family member a ATM card.

They sign and deposit in the local ATM.

Only other way I could think about is setting up a lockbox with your bank and having all checks deposited for you. Lock Box fees aint cheap though.

 

[Doppel]

Have someone deposit for you. Or, if you use various banks (e.g. Penfed), they will let you deposit a check by uploading images of its scan.

 

[arcenite]

Have someone deposit for you. Or, if you use various banks (e.g. Penfed), they will let you deposit a check by uploading images of its scan.

Not a bad idea. See if they will meet you in the middle by taking off their tinfoil hats and scan their checks to you.

 

[MixMasterTang]

My bank will deposit a check if it says 'For deposit only' in the endorsement section. I've done that quite a few times when I was out of town.

 

[LiuKangBakinPie]

Do checks still exist?

 

[Capt Caveman]

Running from bankruptcy creditors and the crazy gf that has your baby?

 

[Elganja]

Schwab online banking has a mobile app that will allow you to deposit checks. It takes pictures of both sides of the check and uploads it... I love it, uber simple...

I heard ING is working on a similar capability which will be awesome

Edit: misunderstood... but still good info to pass along

 

[fuzzybabybunny]

Schwab online banking has a mobile app that will allow you to deposit checks. It takes pictures of both sides of the check and uploads it... I love it, uber simple...

I heard ING is working on a similar capability which will be awesome

Uhhh.. I won't even be around to see *any* checks. Taking photos = impossible.

 

[fuzzybabybunny]

My bank will deposit a check if it says 'For deposit only' in the endorsement section. I've done that quite a few times when I was out of town.

That's what I was thinking. I bank with Chase, so wouldn't it make sense to just tell my clients to mail the checks to a Chase branch?

 

[Elganja]

Uhhh.. I won't even be around to see *any* checks. Taking photos = impossible.

Yeah I misunderstood... my bad

 

[LikeLinus]

I plan on working remotely and travelling around a lot next year. Unfortunately for whatever reason, many of my clients refuse to make payments online and instead mail out checks. Obviously, I won't be around to receive those checks, much less deposit them. What are my options for depositing checks when I'm not available to receive them?

Does your bank offer deposit by mail in your state??

http://www.bankofamerica.com/deposi...ontext=&statecheck=CA&cd_bag=&sa_bag=&ch_bag=

Not sure where you live or where you bank, but banks like BOA offer a deposit by mail solution. It may be something where you have the customer mail the check to BOA.

I'd talk to your local branch and see what services they offer. It may be that you can have it mailed there and they will deposit for you.

 

[Doppel]

Uhhh.. I won't even be around to see *any* checks. Taking photos = impossible.

Have them to sent to somebody who can scan them for you.

 

[LiuKangBakinPie]

I plan on working remotely and travelling around a lot next year. Unfortunately for whatever reason, many of my clients refuse to make payments online and instead mail out checks. Obviously, I won't be around to receive those checks, much less deposit them. What are my options for depositing checks when I'm not available to receive them?

Why not ask them to pay the check in your account? I notice you say clients. So you basically spoiled them by accepting mailed checks. Why not make it policy to pay the checks into a account where each client got its own reference number. That way proof of deposit is handled on both sides.

 

[kami333]

That's what I was thinking. I bank with Chase, so wouldn't it make sense to just tell my clients to mail the checks to a Chase branch?

Chase takes deposit by mail at their national center in Louisville, KY. Don't remember if it was something you have to specifically sign up for since it's been a couple years since I used it, but I used it when I was living abroad for ~2years and took about 30 payments that way, no problems.

 

[IGemini]

Deposit by mail with my current bank.

I've been debating switching to USAA in future. Their smartphone app allows for direct deposit by just taking a snapshot of the check.

 

[fuzzybabybunny]

Chase takes deposit by mail at their national center in Louisville, KY. Don't remember if it was something you have to specifically sign up for since it's been a couple years since I used it, but I used it when I was living abroad for ~2years and took about 30 payments that way, no problems.

Nice! I'll look into it. I'm sick and tired of personally dealing with checks.

Do you remember what they charged for the service?

 

[WhoBeDaPlaya]

Do checks still exist?

I still pay my utility bill using checks (they charge for CCs with a limit of $300) and receive rebates by checks.

 

[fuzzybabybunny]

*sigh*

I looked into Chase Deposit by Mail and it is a little cumbersome.

I have to GIVE my clients my bank account number. They have to write it on the check in the memo section and then mail it to Kentucky, and then it takes 2 weeks to process the checks.

Is there a better way of doing this short of hiring someone specifically to receive and deposit checks for me?

Isn't it very insecure to be giving anyone your bank account number anyway?

 

[EagleKeeper]

If you have a decent relationship with the local branch, have the checks sent there. If you have a business agent, send checks there. They will then deposit for you.

 

[nageov3t]

your only options seems like involving a third party (friend, family member) to deposit the checks for you or forward them to whatever your current address is.

 

[palswim]

Do checks still exist?

I still pay my utility bill using checks (they charge for CCs with a limit of $300) and receive rebates by checks.

You still receive rebates by check? I only wish!

 

[manlymatt83]

I plan on working remotely and travelling around a lot next year. Unfortunately for whatever reason, many of my clients refuse to make payments online and instead mail out checks. Obviously, I won't be around to receive those checks, much less deposit them. What are my options for depositing checks when I'm not available to receive them?

earthclassmail.com

 

[palswim]

Get a personal mailbox (PMB) which provides a mail scanning service.

Examples (you can find many fairly easily online):

• Dockside Solutions
• Earth Class Mail

You can couple this with the PenFed image deposits. If you can circumvent the photo requirement for the other banks (i.e. present the image as a photo somehow), then you can use them as well.