Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community - View Single Post - Giving out check card info = giving out a blank check?

westothemax · 02-26-2004, 01:21 PM

I had to get an amplifier packed and shipped. Not having a car, my only options were have the UPS Store send someone to pick it it and have them pack and ship for me or find someone who was willing to let me use their car. It turns out my friends are all protective of their cars, as I would be if I had one, so I called up the UPS Store.

The UPS guy said that they wouldn't know the total until they brought it back to the store. There is no way for me to get over there, well unless I got a Taxi. He said I could just pay by giving them my credit card or check card number, or by giving them a blank personal check and they would take care of it.

I don't have a credit card, and my thinking was a blank check is just a terrible idea. So the obvious choice was just giving him my check card info... but then I thought wouldn't that be the same as just giving them a blank check?

I asked if they could just mail me an invoice and I could mail them a check, but the guy started into this "What, you don't trust me?" thing and he said "How do I know your check will clear?". In short, I eventually gave him my check card info. I asked about a reciept as he was getting into his truck, and he said he'd call me when he got back to the store with the total. He called me up 15 minutes later with the total - $122.85, and he said he'd mail me a reciept. (yeah he can mail me a reciept but not an invoice...? He said he wanted to get this packed and shipped right away for me)

So now I'm stuck with the feeling that I've just given the UPS store a blank check. Am I just being paranoid or are they going to loot my checking account? Since I didn't know the total I had to pay, is there a difference between giving out my check card information and letting them take care of the rest vs. giving them a blank check?

02-26-2004, 01:21 PM	#1 (permalink)
westothemax Insane Location: Bay Area	Giving out check card info = giving out a blank check? I had to get an amplifier packed and shipped. Not having a car, my only options were have the UPS Store send someone to pick it it and have them pack and ship for me or find someone who was willing to let me use their car. It turns out my friends are all protective of their cars, as I would be if I had one, so I called up the UPS Store. The UPS guy said that they wouldn't know the total until they brought it back to the store. There is no way for me to get over there, well unless I got a Taxi. He said I could just pay by giving them my credit card or check card number, or by giving them a blank personal check and they would take care of it. I don't have a credit card, and my thinking was a blank check is just a terrible idea. So the obvious choice was just giving him my check card info... but then I thought wouldn't that be the same as just giving them a blank check? I asked if they could just mail me an invoice and I could mail them a check, but the guy started into this "What, you don't trust me?" thing and he said "How do I know your check will clear?". In short, I eventually gave him my check card info. I asked about a reciept as he was getting into his truck, and he said he'd call me when he got back to the store with the total. He called me up 15 minutes later with the total - $122.85, and he said he'd mail me a reciept. (yeah he can mail me a reciept but not an invoice...? He said he wanted to get this packed and shipped right away for me) So now I'm stuck with the feeling that I've just given the UPS store a blank check. Am I just being paranoid or are they going to loot my checking account? Since I didn't know the total I had to pay, is there a difference between giving out my check card information and letting them take care of the rest vs. giving them a blank check?