Who should pay the $30 bank fee for a Stop Payment on a check that I wrote but was lost by my pastor?

Question

I gave my pastor 4 separate checks and enclosed them in an envelope securely. A few weeks later I noticed that he cashed only check 2,3 & 4 but not 1. When I finally spoke to him he told me that I should stop payment on the check because he can not find the check. He lost it and thinks I am going to pay $30.00 and guess what I didn't do it and have not as yet replaced the check that he lost. I somehow think that my check is somewhere in his house, maybe in between other papers. This is not the 1st time that this has happened, the previous time he found the check real fast. So tell me, shouldn't he pay the fee since he acknowledged that he received the check and then lost it?

The checks are for my tithes.

Thank you all, I love these answers. I am waiting, not doing a stop payment because I just have this feeling that he is going to find that lost check.

The check was for $50.00

I'm assuming he wants me to pay for the stop payment, he did not ask me how much it would be nor did he offer to pay for it himself. I know that if I received a check from someone and I lost it, I would be responsible and insist on paying the fee.

I found out through my bank that the personal checks that I write have no expiration date.

Answer 1

I agree with you. Your pastor is responsible for the fee. He accepted the check and he lost the check. You shouldn't be fined $30 for his inability to keep up with his own paperwork. It sounds like he needs to be better organized.

Answer 2

No, it would be foolish to pay $30 stop payment fee on a $50 check. He acknowledges it was in his possession and he has misplaced it, it is his responsibility to find it.

Most banks have a time limit on when they will cash checks; contact your bank and find out what the time limit is. If the check does not turn up by the expiration date, then offer to replace the check but even then, have him acknowledge in writing that the check is a replacement for check # in the amount of $ written on __ and that if the original should ever be found, it is to be returned to you.

Answer 3

If the check has been deposited and they have their money already then there is no need to issue another. If the money has not been taken from your account then you are still ok. It might be good to call the bank and give them the number of the check and tell them it has not cleared and ask them what should be done. You will have to pay a fee to have a check stoped.

Answer 4

if it is written out to the church, no one else can cash it so why put a stop on it. Also, if this isn't the first time this has happened, why are you still giving the preacher checks? Maybe you can put it directly into the churches bank account and that way you can be sure of where your money is.

Answer 5

My bank only charges $20 and does not charge for lost checks. They charge for checks in situations like if the mechanic did not fix your car, but you prepaid him.

In your case, I would wait a month or so before putting a stop payment. I would write a check for the difference.

Answer 6

You say your pastor thinks you are going to pay the $30.00 fee. Did he actually say you should pay it? Did you ask him to pay it and he said no or are you assuming he expects you to pay it?
How much was the cheque for? Is it less than 30.00? If it is and you don't want to pay the $30.00 fee to stop it, it would be cheaper to do nothing.
Your pastor has 6 months to cash the cheque, after that it is stale dated. You think the cheque is in his house, so wait for him to find it. Do nothing.

Answer 7

You are not paying the pastor the money, but rather the church. So dont skimp out on God. Wait to see if the check is found, and if not, in 6 months or however long til the check takes to become void, write another one.

Answer 8

I agree that your pastor should pay the fee. Plus if the check is written to him then he is the only one who could cash that check. Sooner of later he will find it. He needs to be more organized.

Answer 9

You paid the $30 and give him another check, with the original amount, less $30. You then tell the pastor to give you a receipt for the original amount.

Answer 10

Why not Stop Pay the check, and replace it with another one with the $30 deducted?