Pause before treating a check-shaped mailer as a coupon
A check-shaped mailer may be a discount voucher, a rebate, or a real financial instrument with conditions attached. Identify the sender and read the fine print before you do anything with it.
How to identify and handle a check-shaped mailer
- Look at the front for routing and account numbers. A piece with live bank numbers may be a negotiable instrument, so do not treat it like a coupon.
- Read the small print for membership enrollments, subscriptions, or automatic billing that start if you sign, deposit, or return the item.
- If you recognize the company, confirm what the item is using the phone number on its verified website, not a number printed on the mailer.
- To stop future mailings from the sender, photograph one unwanted mailer for Junk Mail Magic. Review the details it finds, sign in, and submit the request. Skip any piece that is a real check or other financial instrument.
When the instrument might be real
Some direct-mail checks are tied to loan offers or rebate programs, and depositing one can open a credit account or enroll you in a service. If routing and account numbers appear on the piece, contact your own bank before deciding what to do. The shape and design alone do not tell you which kind you have.
Confirm the sender's identity first
Before you respond, sign, or deposit anything, verify the issuing company through contact information from a source you already trust.
Instructions for the next step
Have an unwanted advertisement ready?
Photograph one piece you are authorized to handle, with the sender and full mailing label visible. Review the details before submitting. The first request is free; the sender controls the response.
Try one request free