How long do you wait for a check to clear

12-15-10: Slikric3000
There was a law passed some years ago that when a check is presented to a bank it is processed immediately, it should clear the next day, mine does. No more check floating for the floaters.
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Yes, the check may 'clear' for your use of the funds the next business day, BUT that doesn't mean that the funds can't be rescinded from your account many days later.

As many have said, this applies to even 'certified' checks. My local bank branch manager (BoA) told me the same thing...they can't tell you when a check 'clears' because they send it into the banking system black hole and don't hear anything (only if there is a problem) and that is a very variable time.

The best advice posted above was the idea of going to the local branch of the buyer's bank (if there is one) and cashing the check right there, and then with money in hand, deposit it in your bank. Other than that, the answer is just wait.

And the certified bank check business..all it means is that the buyer has the money in his account, but it doesn't mean you are going to get the money any more so than if it was a personal check.

Best methods:
Wire transfer
Postal money order
In person cash transfer
...and good A'gon feedback

If the check is a large enough amount they will put a hold on access to the the funds anyway, been there done that. So the argument that the depositor may access to the funds when the check clears can be misleading.

I only accept paypal from verified address and USPS money orders as I was told by my local banks that they were the safest. But about 3 weeks ago, my shipping center that ships UPS/FedEx for me said there have been some counterfeit USPS money orders surfacing. With the hologram and watermark, I thought that would be impossible, but if someone is smart enough to create a "foolproof" way to avoid counterfeiting, there is also someone smart enough to create the fake. Feedback is still the best way to judge someone. I'm lucky...over 600 transactions on Ebay & Audiogon and I was only burned once when seller never sent the cd box set and I paid by money order. From that time I only paid by paypal.

Like a few others have said, go to the issuing bank & have check cashed there. If there are none in your area, call the bank & ask if there are sufficient funds available to cover the check. Some of them will tell you, some will not, although they do have to tell you if the account is active.

You can also ask the issuing bank if you can check to see if that particular check has cleared. Again, some will tell you, some won't but your bank should be able to get that information for you. I would think 10 business days is plenty of time to find out.

Also, like a few have mentioned, usually the persons feedback is a good indicator of whether or not their check is good.

Down the road if there is a problem, let the community know who it is you dealt with, plus you will get more information on what to do next.

Best of luck to you with regards to this transaction.

Slikric3000,
If the bank is the same it clears the same day as cash.
Other than that always next day clearance. If the bank is major and has all new processing technology it would clear next day. Other than that despite passed local or global laws it may clear longer.