68 HASKINS & SELLS September
Tearing Up Spoiled Checks
THE American Bankers Association,
through a protective department
which interests itself in the prevention of
loss from crime, recently issued a code of
rules containing advice as to the proper
preparation and use of checks. One of
the rules is stated as follows: "Don't
erase. Errors should be corrected by
writing a new check and destroying those
incorrectly written."
There can be no question that the practice
of attempting to correct errors made
in checks already written is a pernicious
one. The correction of an error made in
writing a check, either by erasing or by
drawing a line through the part erroneously
written, offers an excellent opportunity
for further alteration by any person
who subsequently may come into possession
of the check. The only really safe