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Okay, this is what happened. I submitted a deposit at a school and then got the other school I wanted, basically I don't want this school anymore. The deposit was submitted and confirmed recieved 1 month ago. The money hasn't been taken out yet from my account, while the new school has already deposited the check.

Is this normal, or might the check be lost? If I withdraw now and then block the original check, will they care? Dang, would love to have 500 bucks back, lol. Currently sitting in my account but afraid to use them in case of an overdraft.

They're probably just slow in processing the check. You might be able to get away with putting a stop payment on it, but it would be dishonorable.

I don't think putting a stop payment on it would be dishonorable. They've failed to deposit the check after having it for a whole month. Their loss. There's nothing they could do about it.

BenJ wrote:I don't think putting a stop payment on it would be dishonorable. They've failed to deposit the check after having it for a whole month. Their loss. There's nothing they could do about it.

would putting a stop-payment on the check even be legal in this instance ?

gwuorbust wrote:

BenJ wrote:I don't think putting a stop payment on it would be dishonorable. They've failed to deposit the check after having it for a whole month. Their loss. There's nothing they could do about it.

would putting a stop-payment on the check even be legal in this instance ?

Pretty sure it would be legal (only consequence being loss of the spot retained at the school, which of course is what the OP wants), but maybe I shouldn't be giving this advice as I'm not certain.

voice of reason wrote:They're probably just slow in processing the check. You might be able to get away with putting a stop payment on it, but it would be dishonorable.

I like your tar.

Mmmm, I'll just withdraw from that school this week. I'll also just hold on to the $500 in my account (dang, could've used it to pay off some bills, not in debt or anything but still) as savings for another or two months, if its not deposited, I'll just put a stop payment.

Unless, does someone here know if its illegal to do a stop payment at this point? I don't want the school to send a collection agency after me or something.

You paid the deposit in order to have them hold your seat. They held your seat.

The fact that you have decided that you no longer want that seat has no bearing on the original agreement.

You paid for a service which was delivered. If you stop payment, then the school would be well within their rights to attempt to collect that money (plus their expenses for collection).

Will the school go after you? I have no idea. But trying to weasel out of paying an obligation that you freely committed to just because you would rather have the money back is a pretty lousy thing to do in my book. Definitely not an auspicious beginning to a career in a profession that is supposed to be centered around ethical behavior.

You could just call them and politely ask them not to cash the check. All they can do is say no.

There was another thread discussing this, and someone mentioned that a particular school will charge you the total amount of the seat deposit plus canceled check fees if you stop payment on a check. Why don't you just call them and explain you want to withdraw? You can ask about the check then.

Definitely not an auspicious beginning to a career in a profession that is supposed to be centered around ethical behavior.

And you're talking about lawyers here? lol.

Anyways, yes, what I will do is call them this week and withdraw, and ask and see if its possible to keep the money. If not, then its not a big deal, the money was committed for that purpose anyways in the first place.

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