The difference between writing a regular check and a postdated check is that a postdated check is not payable on demand. In fact, in many states, writing a postdated check is illegal. Therefore, if you do write a check that cannot be cashed until a future date, you should give your financial institution reasonable notice that you are postdating the check.
Notify the bank in advance not to cash the check before the date indicated. This is not only common courtesy---it could save you a lot of trouble in the end. There is specific information that you should give when providing your bank with prior notice.
2
Identify yourself to the customer service representative at the bank. If you are visiting the bank in person and you are unknown to the teller, you may be asked to show proof of your identity, including a driver's license or social security card.
3
Provide your bank account number. Describe details of the check, including the date on the check, the check number and the amount of the check. This information is needed to give the financial institution a fair opportunity to act.
4
Supply the name, address and contact information of the person or creditor to whom the check is made out. You should never write a postdated check unless you know the payee well enough to be able to trust that the check will not be deposited before the date written on the check. The truth is that many bank tellers do not pay close attention to the endorsement date.
5
Know your rights as a consumer. According to the Federal Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, a debt collector may neither accept a check postdated by more than five days nor deposit a postdated check prior to the date written on the check. Don't let a creditor pressure you into writing a postdated check.
Tips & Warnings
Once you have mailed a postdated check to a creditor and then realize that you do not have enough funds in your bank account, stop payment of the check immediately. Be sure to notify the debt collector that you have stopped payment and make other arrangements to pay the balance due.
If a check is cashed before the date indicated and the payer does not have sufficient funds to cover it at that time, the bank likely will charge the account holder additional fees.
