It is a very common matter for an employee to lose the paycheck once in a lifetime. Although there is now the system of direct deposit, which ensures that the amount gets transferred to the employee’s account directly via an electronic medium, if this facility has not been availed, a person with a stolen or lost paycheck is bound to worry. The good thing is that the New York City Office of Payroll Administration is very efficient in dealing with problems. Check Replacement is one such way. This administrative body helps all the civil service employees in times of need.
Check Replacement Facility if the check has not been cashed:
In such a situation, an employee can take these steps to get a grip on the matter.
- First, the employee needs to inform the agency regarding the missing or stolen check with immediate urgency.
- Along with that information, one can easily request their agency to stop the payment.
- Next, the agency will ask to check the number. After confirming that number, the agency will directly send a notice to stop all payments to the OPA or Office of Payroll Administration.
- OPA will inform the bank regarding the matter next.
However, the process does not end then and there. There are a few more steps one needs to go through to complete the process.
- Check Replacement process only gets completed through the Claim of Lost Check. To do that, one needs to fill out a form describing all the situations and circumstances that caused the incident of losing the paycheck or stealing the paycheck.
- This is basically an affidavit that carries and certifies the signature of the person who has lost the check. This affidavit also carries the address of the person. Also, one needs to ensure that if the person finds out the lost check later, they will inform the Office of the Payroll Administration and return it to them.
This form of Claim of Lost Check is easily available at the Payroll Office of the agency. The process is pretty simple- getting the form, filling out the details, and returning it to the agency or directly to OPA.
After receiving the details, generally, OPA replaces the check at the earliest. This whole process generally takes ten business days.
- Check Replacement for checks already cashed:
However, the process mentioned above is only applicable in case of lost or stolen checks that haven’t been cashed yet. In case the check has already been cashed, the procedure is a different one. In that case, one needs to follow these steps-
- After informing the agency and OPA about the lost or stolen check, the OPA will send a copy of the canceled check to the person.
- OPA will now take measures regarding forgery if the endorsed signature is not of the person. OPA will first contact the person and take steps to ensure the completion of the forgery affidavits.
- Such an affidavit mentions that the person has not signed the check with authority.
- Next, the affidavit will be submitted to the bank of issuance. The bank will now proceed with the investigation process.
- After completing the investigation, it takes typically sixty days or more for the process of reimbursement at the City’s account.
- Generally, forgery papers go to the City’s Department of Investigation as well for review in this process.
- After the reimbursement, the employee gets a replacement check.
This is a time-consuming procedure along with all the difficulties one needs to go through due to the stolen check.
- Check Replacement if the Check is Lost before Given:
The last possibility is there of losing a paycheck even before receiving it. In this case, the paycheck gets lost within a particular agency itself. However, in this case, the agency gets a replacement check easily just after informing the OPA and requesting a stop payment. A copy of the letter goes to the Office of the Inspector General as well.
- Check Replacement for Damaged Checks:
Paychecks in New York City are generally valid for three months from the date of issuance. OPA doesn’t replace a check that is still valid. In such a case, to replace a damaged check, one needs to submit to the Payroll Office of the Agency. OPA helps the employees in the best possible way if a paycheck gets lost or stolen. Although all these processes ensure guidance to the employee in times of need, the best way would be to get enrolled for direct deposit. In this way, the salary gets credited directly to the employee’s account via an electronic medium. This is hassle-free and clearly a safer way to go.