When a merchant runs your check through their machine does it check if you have funds available?

Question

When a merchant runs your check through their machine does it check if you have funds available?......I get paid by direct deposit tonight and the funds will be in to clear the check by midnight but at the time I write the check the funds will not be in the account, does the merchant actually check to see if funds are available when they put your check through their system or do they just check to see if you have bounced checks before?

Answer 1

I believe it checks your balance and confirms that you have an active account

Answer 2

No. Generally your bank should credit your deposit first and then process the debits against you account.
See if your bank offers overdraft protection. This will keep you from having a returned check with a bunch of fees added plus the fees your bank will charge for insufficient funds. The overdraft lets you pay the amount of the check plus an insf fund fee.
If the merchant keeps the check,it was only endorsed so it could be deposited in the bank later. It will go through the system the old way. If the check is run through the machine and the clerk returns the check to you and has you sign a piece of paper,the check was electronically processed and will be debited to your account soon. The check should also be marked void so someone else can't use the check again.

Answer 3

All it checks is to see if you have bounced checks before. It also mostly checks to see if the account and information are all the same. I used to do this a lot. Be careful that its not at a time period that they go and cash the checks. I had this happened and the available funds were late by half an hour. As long as you pay attention and time it just right.

Answer 4

Some do some don't. Last year a bunch of companies made it so that a business could pull the money directly out of your account, using the same principal as what is used by atm/debit cards. However, when they do this, they scan the check and hand the check back to you. It may have the word "Void" printed on it. If you are doing business with a company like wal-mart, they are scanning the check to make sure that you have not bounced a check at ANY of their stores with that account. But they are not looking at your balance. Neither is the business that is actually scanning your account for clearance, they are looking to check to make sure that you have enough money in the account for the check.

Answer 5

No, if your checks are good they won't have any problems having it go through, it just sees if your checking account is valid and open. I have used checks without having money in my account and it just shows that my account is active, as long as you put money back in your account before the check goes through. Also, if you have bounced checks before it won't show up unless you didn't pay for the bounced checks, I have done that before to and didn't have any problems still writing checks. Only if you didn't pay back any bounced checks if you had any then your check won't go through or they will have a sign that says don't accept checks from whomever. Anyway, you shouldn't have any problems as long as your account is active and you can cover them. Good Luck!

Answer 6

Many people like you and myself do this all the time. It just checks to confirm that it is an active account and there are no negative points against it.