University Sent My Check to Wrong Person

[surfer349]

My question involves personal finance in the State of: UT/AZ/ID

OK, so I've got a question. I've got a refund check coming from my University in Utah. They sent it to the wrong address, to someone with my same name (first middle last) in Arizona for some unknown reason. I live in Idaho.

The AZ person cashed the check and now it's "gone."

What kind of legal recourse is there? Who is responsible? The third party who was given the money or do I go after the University and have them write a new check.

We're talking thousands of $$ here.

[chyvan]

Start with the University. They should be asking you to sign your name many times on a piece of paper and submit an affidavit. They'll compare that with the endorsement on the back of the check from the person in AZ, and see that it's not your signature, and you received no benefit.

Chances are that AZ person is a student of theirs, and the university is in the best position to recover the loss.

[Mr. Knowitall]

Start with the University. They should be asking you to sign your name many times on a piece of paper and submit an affidavit.

Let's try to be realistic, here. Nobody has alleged forgery, and if somebody did the university would say "make a police report" not "give us a bunch of signatures to compare to the endorsement."

I've got a refund check coming from my University in Utah. They sent it to the wrong address, to someone with my same name (first middle last) in Arizona for some unknown reason. I live in Idaho.

They didn't pull a random person's address out of thin air, merely because the name matched. They would have sent the check to the address they had on file for you. I find it difficult to believe that you don't have any idea why they did not have your current address, or why this person received the check instead of you.

You know this person's name, you know where they live, and you say they have your check. What did they say when you called them and asked them to send you your money?

What kind of legal recourse is there? Who is responsible?

In terms of the university, you would have to share more information.

In terms of the person who cashed your check, even if in 'their' name, it wasn't their money to take and they're not entitled to keep it. I don't know if the police will do anything for you under the circumstances you have shared (they received a check in their own name at their own address, and cashed it) but if everybody is in agreement that the money is yours perhaps they'll at least pressure the person to send you the money.

In terms of the university, find out how this happened and get back to us.