When I was transcribing letters from the 19th century this summer, I came across one when a year changed, and he crossed out the year and wrote the year above that. I smiled as I coded in the striked-out text, thinking "It takes me until March to get the year right".
#smallstories
#relatable
Love this story.
Back when checks were a thing I used regularly, the change of year used to make me worry. Most banks reject checks over 90 days old. I didn't want my payments bouncing all over town!
Happy <strike>2017</strike> 2018
:grinning:
@Algot Thank you! I know how to write checks, but never really had the pleasure of writing very many. Mostly forms and schoolwork tripped me up (still does but technology makes it harder).
The weirdest thing about checks is this:
They have a bank code on them. As long as that bank code is valid, they are still accepted.
Because of credit card purchasing and online transactions, I am STILL using checks issued by a bank which has been bought out FOUR TIMES since. The old bank's code has progressed to be part of the newest bank's property.
The old checks still say the original bank's name on them, even though it no longer exists by that name.
Everyone just takes them and they go into the banking system just fine, though.
@Algot When I think about it, it makes sense (if the bank is bought, sorry, get new checks), but it feels really weird.
I actually read somewhere that you once could write a check on pretty much any piece of paper as long as it was filled out and signed properly. If the bank knew you and your signature, they would honor it.
A check is a promissory note, after all. You sign it in order to agree to have the bankers give some money to another person on your behalf.
@Algot Wow! That's really interesting.