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We've all heard about this happening,I didn't think it would happen to me.
Back when wooly mammoths still roamed North America,ATMs,debit cards & PayPal didn't exist so people would use what were called "checks" to purchase items.A primitive form of trade,but mostly adequate for everyday transactions with merchants.The system could break down though when people didn't have enough shiny beads & rocks to cover the amount they wrote the "check" for
I was a piano & organ salesman in a mall (you folks over 40 may remember us) on a slow afternoon when a nicely dressed elderly woman came in looking at the organs (awright,leave the jokes for later y'all
).She looked like a live one,so I hustled my skinny 21 year old ass over there & began to show her all the wonderful easy-play features of the modern Lowery Home Organ.
After about half an hour she decides on a model,I'm mentally rubbing my hands in glee because not only does she not haggle on the price but wants the one my boss had put a bonus on,on top of the regular commission.
So I write it up & she writes me a checks for the full amount & I tell her we'll deliver it the next day,then she leaves,happy as can be.
Back in those days what we'd do when someone wrote a large check was to call the bank to make sure it was covered,there were no privacy issues involved since the bank wouldn't say how much was in the account,only if the check would clear.
"Howdy,I'm calling from The Music Villain to confirm a check I just received from Mrs. Nice Old Lady,here's the account number & amount"
"Yes sir" the young lady said "Let me put you on hold for a moment while I check that"
Less than a minute later there's a guy on the phone & I can tell he's not exactly all smiles "Is she still there?!?"
"No,she left a few minutes ago,why?"
"Her husband died a few months ago & he'd handled all their finances,she has no idea how to handle money"
"What are you saying?" I asked with a sinking feeling...
"I'm tellin' you the check's no good,she thinks that because she still has checks that she has money in the bank,she's waaaay overdrawn.Just write VOID on it when you go to deposit it & we'll take it from there."
So with a heavy heart I did that & told my boss & he said he'd heard about that happening with some older ladies but this was the first time it had happened in any of his 3 stores.
Would've been a nice commission for me.
Back when wooly mammoths still roamed North America,ATMs,debit cards & PayPal didn't exist so people would use what were called "checks" to purchase items.A primitive form of trade,but mostly adequate for everyday transactions with merchants.The system could break down though when people didn't have enough shiny beads & rocks to cover the amount they wrote the "check" for
I was a piano & organ salesman in a mall (you folks over 40 may remember us) on a slow afternoon when a nicely dressed elderly woman came in looking at the organs (awright,leave the jokes for later y'all
).She looked like a live one,so I hustled my skinny 21 year old ass over there & began to show her all the wonderful easy-play features of the modern Lowery Home Organ.After about half an hour she decides on a model,I'm mentally rubbing my hands in glee because not only does she not haggle on the price but wants the one my boss had put a bonus on,on top of the regular commission.
So I write it up & she writes me a checks for the full amount & I tell her we'll deliver it the next day,then she leaves,happy as can be.
Back in those days what we'd do when someone wrote a large check was to call the bank to make sure it was covered,there were no privacy issues involved since the bank wouldn't say how much was in the account,only if the check would clear.
"Howdy,I'm calling from The Music Villain to confirm a check I just received from Mrs. Nice Old Lady,here's the account number & amount"
"Yes sir" the young lady said "Let me put you on hold for a moment while I check that"
Less than a minute later there's a guy on the phone & I can tell he's not exactly all smiles "Is she still there?!?"
"No,she left a few minutes ago,why?"
"Her husband died a few months ago & he'd handled all their finances,she has no idea how to handle money"
"What are you saying?" I asked with a sinking feeling...
"I'm tellin' you the check's no good,she thinks that because she still has checks that she has money in the bank,she's waaaay overdrawn.Just write VOID on it when you go to deposit it & we'll take it from there."
So with a heavy heart I did that & told my boss & he said he'd heard about that happening with some older ladies but this was the first time it had happened in any of his 3 stores.
Would've been a nice commission for me.
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