# Taking a large check from a service member: Good or bad idea? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [May 29, 2019, 10:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/taking-a-large-check-from-a-service-member-good-or-bad-idea/834741 "2019-05-29T22:27:45Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Slash1972](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slash1972/32/6461_2.png) [@Slash1972](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slash1972)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2019, 1:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/taking-a-large-check-from-a-service-member-good-or-bad-idea/834741/61 "2019-06-03T01:05:27Z")
> [@doreen](#): > > To make sure the seller and the bank didn’t put something over on me. If the buyer and the bank both have attorneys looking out for them, why would I want to be the only unrepresented party in the room? In any event, I was going to need the lawyer to negotiate and review the contract ( which the seller’s attorney generally drafts) and the fee wasn’t going to be any lower if he skipped the closing. Is this a normal thing for a sale of a house? Attorneys and what-not? ---
**Author:** ![doreen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/858c86/32.png) [@doreen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/doreen)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2019, 1:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/taking-a-large-check-from-a-service-member-good-or-bad-idea/834741/62 "2019-06-03T01:28:40Z")
It absolutely is in New York - I think in New Jersey also. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk ---
**Author:** ![Nars\_Glinley](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nars_glinley/32/8177_2.png) [@Nars\_Glinley](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nars_Glinley)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2019, 1:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/taking-a-large-check-from-a-service-member-good-or-bad-idea/834741/63 "2019-06-03T01:51:47Z")
Let’s do a poll. [https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=876555](https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=876555) ---
**Author:** ![muldoonthief](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muldoonthief/32/3188_2.png) [@muldoonthief](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/muldoonthief)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2019, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/taking-a-large-check-from-a-service-member-good-or-bad-idea/834741/64 "2019-06-04T16:53:13Z")
Bump - I think you said the closing was Monday, **Nars**. So what happened? Do you have a check for a fence? ---
**Author:** ![Nars\_Glinley](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nars_glinley/32/8177_2.png) [@Nars\_Glinley](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nars_Glinley)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2019, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/taking-a-large-check-from-a-service-member-good-or-bad-idea/834741/65 "2019-06-04T17:11:49Z")
Closing was yesterday. I have a check. I deposited it but then there was an issue wiring the funds to the seller’s account because her maiden name was on the account. So, I got the check back. My banker said t hat that was reasonable and that wires have to be 100% perfect or they’ll get rejected. I have to hold onto the check a couple more days. I’ve been in contact with the sellers (through my realtor) about other issues and they’ve always responded promptly so if they’re scamming me, they’re doing it in a funny way. I’m not concerned yet. FWIW, I’ve also talked to my neighbors and they all liked the family. ---
**Author:** ![Nars\_Glinley](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nars_glinley/32/8177_2.png) [@Nars\_Glinley](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nars_Glinley)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2019, 8:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/taking-a-large-check-from-a-service-member-good-or-bad-idea/834741/66 "2019-06-06T20:48:15Z")
I just got a text from my realtor that it’s OK to deposit the check (again). We shall see. ---
**Author:** ![Nars\_Glinley](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nars_glinley/32/8177_2.png) [@Nars\_Glinley](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nars_Glinley)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2019, 9:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/taking-a-large-check-from-a-service-member-good-or-bad-idea/834741/67 "2019-06-17T21:34:38Z")
It’s been over a week so I’m going to assume that everything went according to plan. If it was a scam, it was a strange one. ---
**Author:** ![TruCelt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/trucelt/32/523_2.png) [@TruCelt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TruCelt)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2019, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/taking-a-large-check-from-a-service-member-good-or-bad-idea/834741/68 "2019-07-04T17:16:22Z")
Final follow-up? Do you have your money? ---
**Author:** ![Nars\_Glinley](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nars_glinley/32/8177_2.png) [@Nars\_Glinley](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nars_Glinley)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2019, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/taking-a-large-check-from-a-service-member-good-or-bad-idea/834741/69 "2019-07-04T18:25:39Z")
> [@TruCelt](#): > > Final follow-up? Do you have your money? Yes. There were no issues after I deposited the check the second time. ---
**Author:** ![Melbourne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b5e925/32.png) [@Melbourne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Melbourne)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2019, 12:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/taking-a-large-check-from-a-service-member-good-or-bad-idea/834741/70 "2019-07-05T00:51:06Z")
> [@Nars\_Glinley](#): > > that wires have to be 100% perfect or they’ll get rejected. I have to hold onto the check a couple more days. . Wires have to be 100% perfect because they are irrevocable and heavily regulated. Of the two factors, it’s the second that the banks care about more… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/taking-a-large-check-from-a-service-member-good-or-bad-idea/834741.md?page=3)