# Expiration dates on checks

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/expiration-dates-on-checks/358486>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [May 27, 2006, 9:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/expiration-dates-on-checks/358486 "2006-05-27T21:20:24Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![asrivkin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9d8465/32.png) [@asrivkin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asrivkin)\
**Post date:** [May 27, 2006, 9:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/expiration-dates-on-checks/358486/1 "2006-05-27T21:20:24Z")

</div>

In the course of doing some tidying, I ran across a rebate check from Apple. Unfortunately, it says “Void after 90 days”, and it’s been something like 110 days. :smack:

My question is the following-- what happens if I cash it anyhow? Does it bounce? Does my bank (or a typical bank) charge me some fee for trying it? Is it Apple’s problem? Can they legally deny me that money? I seem to remember a ruling a few years back that gift certificates can’t have expiration dates, but it may be wishful thinking…

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![AskNott](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asknott/32/5790_2.png) [@AskNott](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AskNott)\
**Post date:** [May 27, 2006, 10:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/expiration-dates-on-checks/358486/2 "2006-05-27T22:49:31Z")

</div>

Here’s the deal. Your bank does have the right to refuse it, but they don’t have to. If the teller takes it, the date is the bank’s problem. They’ll send it to Apple’s bank, and if they take it, Apple probably won’t mind. They intended to give you the money in the first place.

Now, if a teller refuses to take it from you, you have the option of taking it to another branch, where another teller might not be so alert.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![SmackFu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/53a042/32.png) [@SmackFu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SmackFu)\
**Post date:** [May 27, 2006, 10:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/expiration-dates-on-checks/358486/3 "2006-05-27T22:55:09Z")

</div>

Often, rebates are funded out of a special bank account which is specific to that rebate, and which is closed after the deadline.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![RCGDC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c4cdca/32.png) [@RCGDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RCGDC)\
**Post date:** [May 28, 2006, 1:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/expiration-dates-on-checks/358486/4 "2006-05-28T01:56:17Z")

</div>

The one thing about banks is if they don’t get paid on the check, they will just take it from you. When I operated my own business, I had checks that were more than 6 months old, suddenly get ripped back out of my account for NSF. I was like “But the check cleared,” the banks said, “Look we didn’t get paid, so you don’t get paid, regardless of the time.”

So even if they cash it, if Apple’s bank won’t pay your bank, your bank will just take the money back from you

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Balthisar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/balthisar/32/2825_2.png) [@Balthisar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Balthisar)\
**Post date:** [May 28, 2006, 1:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/expiration-dates-on-checks/358486/5 "2006-05-28T13:29:02Z")

</div>

It seems that everyone always wants to make deposits with a teller – just put it into the ATM, and teller acceptance isn’t a problem any more. It’s your gamble, though – if the bank takes back the check amount, then you’re even. But they may also take back service fees, resulting in a net loss for you.