How To Void A Check?: A Comprehensive Guide

People need to understand that sharing a blank check is risky, whether it is shared with someone known or unknown. You should always share a void check to send your account details to others. Considering the fraudulent and scam activities in the modern world, trusting anybody with your documents is not an ideal thing to do. There have been cases where scammers asked for blank checks for payroll processing on different types of pay schedules to steal money.

Therefore, we have come up with this guide to spread awareness on what a voided check is, how to void a check, its uses, alternatives, and many more.

What is a Voided Check, and Why is it Needed?

A check marked void is no longer useful for making payments. It is done when the word “void” is written across the check, often in big letters. It is generally used to share the bank details of account holders and avoid the misuse of checks by scammers. These details include the routing number, account number, and check number.

A voided check is necessary for Automated Clearing House (ACH) transfers, direct deposits, and electronic bill payments. 

How To Void a Check?

First, people need to understand that they should never share a blank check with anyone, whether known or unknown. This could lead to scams and fraudulent withdrawals from bank accounts. Therefore, everyone should know how to void a check.

• Use either a blue or black permanent pen for writing, as they are easily noticeable and leave marks behind when tried to remove intentionally. 
• Write “VOID” in big capital letters across the face of the check. Make sure to write in such a way that it covers the majority of the check. Or, you can write void in the date, payee line, amount, and signature line separately. 
• When writing void in big letters across the face of the check, make sure to not conceal the routing number and the bank account number, as these are the requested bank information by employers.
• Before sharing the void check, make sure to hold a copy of the void check. The word “void” should be clearly visible on the copy of the check.

Moreover, you can prepare a record of the voided checks in a notebook, keeping a record of the check number and date to know which is given to whom. 

Uses of Voided Check 

Voided checks are used to share bank account information for the following purposes: 

• Direct Deposit: A voided che is necessary for setting a direct deposit payment. It ensures that the payment is made from the correct bank account.
• Electronic Bill Payments: To make an electronic automated payment, you need to provide your bank account details via a voided check. 
• Automated Clearing House Transfers: These are the payments made using the ACH network to transfer money from one bank account to another. Void checks are necessary to make such payments to share the account details of account holders.

Alternatives of Voided Check

Due to reasons like lack of checks and no willingness to sacrifice checks, you can go with the following alternative ways to share your bank credentials:

• Photocopy of the Check: A copy of the check works fine for all bank purposes. Just ensure that all the necessary information is distinctly visible in the photocopy. 
• Voided Counter Check: A counter check is a check similar to one that you receive when you open an account. But the only difference between a check and a counter-check is that counter-checks are usable for a temporary period, whereas checks are not. A voided counter-check can also be used to share the account details with others. 
• Direct Deposit Authorization Form: You can also use direct deposit authorization forms to share your bank details with others. Just make sure to correctly write your routing number, account number, and check number. 
• Deposit Slip: You can also use the deposit slips stacked with the checkbook provided by the bank. All the necessary details of the account holder’s account are preprinted on this slip. 

Most Common Mistakes While Voiding A Check

While voiding a check, people usually neglect the following, which can lead to major issues: 

• Not Destroying the Voided Check: Make sure to always destroy a void check after using it, as it can land on a scammer’s or fraudster’s hand and can be used to access the authority of the account. Therefore, always destroy voided checks after using them. 
• Partially Voiding Check: There have been some cases where account holders don’t write “Void” appropriately across the checks, leading to fraudsters using chemicals to wash the pen ink on the checks. Make sure to write void across the whole check face, only leaving over the required information. 
• Not Keeping a Record of the Voided Checks: Always keep a record of all your checks, whether voided or non-voided. It helps to track which check is given to whom and balance the status of bank statements. 

Disposing of a Voided Check

Voiding a check is still not enough to secure you from fraudulent activities. A void check holds your crucial bank account details, like your routing number and bank account number, that can be used to access your bank account. Therefore, it is important to dispose of a voided check once it has served its purpose. The following are some ways to get rid of a voided check:

• Burning: One of the best ways to dispose of checks is by burning them and turning them into ashes. 
• Shredding: Another great way of disposing of a check is to use a cross-cutting shredder or tear the check into multiple small pieces so that it can’t be fixed to get your bank account details. 
• Secure Trash Service: Start using a secure trash service that assures the safety and security of destroying documents.

How to Cancel a Check After Sending It?

Once a check is sent for processing, you cannot void it. You have to go with canceling the check, which requires a certain amount of money. But make sure you have the following information for canceling a check:

• Check number.
• The amount is written on the check.
• The date is written on the check.
• The name of the payee.
• And a valid reason for canceling the check. 

With the aforementioned information, bank account holders must go with the following ways to cancel their already-sent checks.

Nowadays, almost all banks provide online banking services to their account holders. You can cancel an already-sent check through this service, but apply quickly, as the payment can be processed anytime. 

The following are the steps for canceling an already-sent check online:

• Log in to the online banking website.
• Go to the menu and search for additional services.
• Select cancel check and fill in all the required information. 

Remember that these steps might not be the same for all banking apps, as different banking apps have different user interfaces. 

If the payment is processed, there is no way to cancel the check except by reaching out to the bank and using a “Stop Payment Order.” It is a chargeable service provided by banks to cancel a processed check. 

Some financial institutions have also started providing this service in their online banking services. You just have to go to the stop payment order and fill out the aforementioned information to cancel the check.

Conclusion 

A void check is a check that is no longer usable due to being marked as void. A normal check can be considered void only when written with a black or blue pen in big letters across the face, or void written in all the elements of a check. The only use of voided checks is to share the necessary account details for processing transactions like direct deposit, electronic bill payments, and automated clearing house transfers.  

Make sure to always destroy void checks after using them, and use a photocopy of the check, counter check, DD authorization form, and deposit slip in case you are out of checks.