# Is this legit? Credit card refund.
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-legit-credit-card-refund/525629
**Category:** Factual Questions
**Created:** [January 19, 2010, 11:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-legit-credit-card-refund/525629 "2010-01-19T23:20:13Z")
**Posts on this page:** 16
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@Shawn1767](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shawn1767)
#### Post date: [January 19, 2010, 11:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-legit-credit-card-refund/525629/1 "2010-01-19T23:20:13Z")
I turn to the SDMB for an answer to a question about a letter my wife got today. It’s from a bank that she used to have a credit card from. In it was a check and the explanation that: “The enclosed check is being sent to you because you are either a current or former holder of a credit card issued by “bank” The enclosed check represents the application to your account of a refund of an overlimit fee that was previously charged to your account, plus interest. The bank has agreed to make this payment to you as part of a settlement with the FDIC.”
The question is this, should we cash the check or is this some convoluted way to get her back to using this credit card. It seems legit to me at first glance. Does anyone have any experience with receiving this type of check or letter?
Basically we want to know that if we cash this check are we free and clear from any further obligation? Or is this a scam?
Thanks.
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### Author:  [@drachillix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drachillix)
#### Post date: [January 19, 2010, 11:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-legit-credit-card-refund/525629/2 "2010-01-19T23:26:01Z")
> [@Shawn1767](#):
>
> Basically we want to know that if we cash this check are we free and clear from any further obligation? Or is this a scam?
>
> Thanks.
Does the bank have brick&mortar branches? If it does…go cash it, no backtrail to your account.
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### Author:  [@Hari\_Seldon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hari_Seldon)
#### Post date: [January 19, 2010, 11:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-legit-credit-card-refund/525629/3 "2010-01-19T23:26:32Z")
I don’t know about this settlement, but if I get a check from a bank I cash it. No one can force me to use a credit card if I don’t want to.
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### Author:  [@MPB\_in\_Salt\_Lake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MPB_in_Salt_Lake)
#### Post date: [January 19, 2010, 11:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-legit-credit-card-refund/525629/4 "2010-01-19T23:43:56Z")
> [@drachillix](#):
>
> Does the bank have brick&mortar branches? If it does…go cash it, no backtrail to your account.
This sounds like a perfect way to go—no possible downside to your current accounts.
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### Author:  [@ZenBeam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZenBeam)
#### Post date: [January 19, 2010, 11:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-legit-credit-card-refund/525629/5 "2010-01-19T23:44:50Z")
Have you tried using **Da Google** with your bank name and “settlement” and “overlimit”?
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### Author:  [@Markxxx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Markxxx)
#### Post date: [January 20, 2010, 12:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-legit-credit-card-refund/525629/6 "2010-01-20T00:29:00Z")
How much is it for? When I worked in collections we used to send out checks for a dollor or two with similar type statemesnt to the OP. Then the person would cash the check. We would now see where it was deposited and know that person’s bank. Then we’d go and attach the bank account to collect the debt.
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### Author:  [@picunurse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/picunurse)
#### Post date: [January 20, 2010, 12:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-legit-credit-card-refund/525629/7 "2010-01-20T00:36:45Z")
This may or may not be pertinent, but there was a recent class action lawsuit about BofA over-limit fees. I got a post card stating I was part of the class and that unless I wanted to be eliminated from the class, I need do nothing more.
Could your wife have gotten a similar card and ignored it?
[here](http://www.topclassactions.com/close/255-bofa-bank-fees-class-action-lawsuit-settlement) is all I could find on line.
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### Author:  [@Duckster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duckster)
#### Post date: [January 20, 2010, 3:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-legit-credit-card-refund/525629/8 "2010-01-20T03:41:30Z")
[Is this the class action case](https://clossonsettlement.com/index.htm)?
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### Author:  [@Shawn1767](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shawn1767)
#### Post date: [January 20, 2010, 5:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-legit-credit-card-refund/525629/9 "2010-01-20T05:02:38Z")
I’m leaning toward the legitimacy of the letter. It was for about $37.
The reason I asked originally, is that a few years ago, I had a Capitol One card that I paid off and that I thought had cancelled, but had these recurring charges on it that kept being charged on it and it took me 2 years to straighten it out. I just want to make sure we’re not going down another rabbit hole of of “hey, you cashed that check, it means your credit is reactivated” crap.
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### Author:  [@Harmonious\_Discord](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harmonious_Discord)
#### Post date: [January 20, 2010, 5:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-legit-credit-card-refund/525629/10 "2010-01-20T05:10:48Z")
I’ve received two different checks over the years like you described as the companies were being required to refund money after their business practices were frowned upon by a regulatory agency.
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### Author:  [@picunurse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/picunurse)
#### Post date: [January 20, 2010, 6:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-legit-credit-card-refund/525629/11 "2010-01-20T06:44:27Z")
> [@Duckster](#):
>
> [Is this the class action case](https://clossonsettlement.com/index.htm)?
The one I was referring to was about over-limit fees, but it could be either.
> [@Harmonious Discord](#):
>
> I’ve received two different checks over the years like you described as the companies were being required to refund money after their business practices were frowned upon by a regulatory agency.
I got a check for $0.49 for a Citibank deal once. I have it framed, along with one hubby got for $0.09. Both were for class-actions. In both cases the lawyers got millions. :rolleyes:
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### Author:  [@Icarus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Icarus)
#### Post date: [January 20, 2010, 4:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-legit-credit-card-refund/525629/12 "2010-01-20T16:29:00Z")
> [@picunurse](#):
>
> The one I was referring to was about over-limit fees, but it could be either.
> I got a check for $0.49 for a Citibank deal once. I have it framed, along with one hubby got for $0.09. Both were for class-actions. In both cases the lawyers got millions. :rolleyes:
As did the class participants. It’s just that they had to share the proceeds. 😃
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### Author:  [@BorgHunter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BorgHunter)
#### Post date: [January 20, 2010, 5:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-legit-credit-card-refund/525629/13 "2010-01-20T17:05:55Z")
I have a check from Fifth Third, which was evidently sent because they screwed up the interest calculations during a leap year (due to that pesky extra day) for a CD I had.
It’s for $0.47. Woo.
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### Author:  [@FatBaldGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FatBaldGuy)
#### Post date: [January 20, 2010, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-legit-credit-card-refund/525629/14 "2010-01-20T17:12:11Z")
> [@Shawn1767](#):
>
> I’m leaning toward the legitimacy of the letter. It was for about $37.
> The reason I asked originally, is that a few years ago, I had a Capitol One card that I paid off and that I thought had cancelled, but had these recurring charges on it that kept being charged on it and it took me 2 years to straighten it out. I just want to make sure we’re not going down another rabbit hole of of “hey, you cashed that check, it means your credit is reactivated” crap.
Is there any kind of disclaimer on the back of the check stating that by endorsing this check you agree to x? If not I would assume the check is legit.
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### Author:  [@Sapo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sapo)
#### Post date: [January 20, 2010, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-legit-credit-card-refund/525629/15 "2010-01-20T17:14:37Z")
> [@Hari\_Seldon](#):
>
> I don’t know about this settlement, but if I get a check from a bank I cash it. No one can force me to use a credit card if I don’t want to.
Famous last words.
Banks send checks with a ton of fine print saying “This is not a check but a contract. If you cash it, you first born is ours”. Guess what, if you cash the check, all the ridiculous clauses they printed become valid and you are in a world of pain. I don’t think this is the case of the OP, though. Those are usually for more substantial amounts.
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### Author:  [@janeslogin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/janeslogin)
#### Post date: [January 20, 2010, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-legit-credit-card-refund/525629/16 "2010-01-20T17:54:33Z")
Take it to the bank and ask a person setting at a desk to check it for legitimacy.
No one knows why but my wife gets these frequently. The numbers at the bar-code looking things at the bottom don’t jive with the two numbers in the upper right. The checks are all bogus.