| How to Reduce a Fever Posted: 29 Jun 2016 05:00 PM PDT Having a fever is a common symptom of viruses, infections, sunburn, heat-stroke, or even prescription medication.[1] The body's temperature rises as a natural defense against infection and disease. An area of the brain called the hypothalamus regulates body temperature, which fluctuates throughout the day from the normal level of by a degree or two. A fever is most commonly defined as a rise in body temperature above the normal body temperature of .[2] While a fever is a natural process that can help your body heal, there are situations in which you may wish to ease the discomfort that fevers bring or even visit a doctor. EditReducing Fever with Medicine - Take acetaminophen or ibuprofen. These drugs are available for purchase over the counter and effectively reduce fevers temporarily.[3] They can help both children and adults feel more comfortable as their bodies heal.
- Consult a doctor or pharmacist before administering (child- or baby- formulated) medication to any child under the age of two, and never give ibuprofen to a baby under six months of age.[4]
- Do not take more than the recommended dosage. Pay special attention to the dosage you give to children. Don't place medicine bottles within reach of children, since ingestion of more than the recommended dosage can be dangerous.
- Take acetaminophen every 4 to 6 hours, but do not exceed the recommended dosage on the package.[5]
- Take ibuprofen every 6 to 8 hours, but do not exceed the recommended dosage on the package.[6]
- Avoid combining medications for children. Don't give children more than one over-the-counter medicine at the same time for treatment of other symptoms. If you give your child a dose of acetaminophen or ibuprofen, do not also give them cough medicine or any other type of other medicine without consulting your doctor first. Certain medicines interact with each other in ways that can harm your child's health.[7]
- For infants over 6 months, children, and adults, alternating between acetaminophen and ibuprofen is safe. Usual dosages are acetaminophen every 4-6 hours and ibuprofen every 6-8 hours, depending on the dose.
- Take aspirin only if you are over 18.[8] Aspirin is an effective fever reducer for adults, as long as you take only the recommended dosage. Never give adult aspirin to children, since it can cause Reye's syndrome, a potentially fatal disorder.[9]
EditAlleviating Fever Symptoms with Home Remedies - Drink plenty of fluids. Keeping your body hydrated is important during a fever, since the increased body temperature can cause dehydration.[10] Drinking water and other fluids helps your body expel the virus or bacteria that's causing the fever. However, you should avoid caffeine and alcohol because these can lead to further dehydration.
- Green tea may help reduce a fever and boost your immune system.[11]
- If you are experiencing nausea or vomiting along with the fever, avoid fruit juices, milk, very sugary beverages and carbonated beverages. These drinks can make you feel sick or cause vomiting.[12]
- Try replacing solid food with soup or broth to help rehydrate your body (but watch the salt content). Popsicles are also a great way to consume fluids that will also help cool your body down.
- If you have been vomiting, you may have an electrolyte imbalance. Drink an oral rehydration solution or a sports drink with electrolytes.[13][14]
- Children under age one who do not regularly consume breast milk or who are on a nursing strike during an illness should take a rehydration solution containing electrolytes, such as Pedialyte, to make sure they're getting the nutrients they need.[15]
- Rest as much as possible. Sleep is the body's natural method for recovery from illness; in fact, having too little sleep can even make you sick.[16] Trying to fight through and keep going may even raise your body's temperature.[17] By making sure you get plenty of sleep you allow your body to spend its energy fighting infection instead of something else.
- Take the day off of work, or if your child is sick, have him or her stay home from school. The extra sleep your child will get is a sure way to a quicker recovery, and the source of the fever might be contagious, so it's best to keep her home. Many fevers are caused by viruses that remain highly contagious as long as the fever is present.[18]
- Wear light, breathable clothing. Don't cover yourself or your child with blankets and layers of clothing. You may feel chilled, but your body's temperature won't be able to start dropping if you're covered with warm blankets or clothes. Dress yourself or your child in a thin but cozy set of pajamas.[19]
- Do not try to "sweat out" the fever by bundling up a feverish person.
- Eat food as usual. Even though the old expression says "starve a fever," that is not good advice. Continue to nourish your body with healthy foods for a quicker recovery. The old standby chicken soup is a good choice, because it contains vegetables and protein.[20]
- If you don't have much of an appetite, try replacing solid food with soup or broth to help rehydrate your body.
- Eat foods with a high water content, such as watermelon, to help you stay hydrated.[21]
- If you have nausea or vomiting with your fever, try to stick to bland foods such as saltine crackers or applesauce.[22]
- Try herbal remedies. Some herbal remedies may help reduce a fever or support your body's immune system as it fights whatever is causing the fever. However, herbal and natural remedies can interfere with medications and other medical conditions, so you should consult with your doctor or pharmacist before taking any.[23]
- Andrographis paniculata is widely used in traditional Chinese Medicine to treat colds, sore throats, and fevers. Use 6 g a day for 7 days. Do not use andrographis if you have gallbladder or an autoimmune disease, are pregnant or trying to become pregnant, or take blood pressure or blood thinning medications such as warfarin.
- Yarrow may help reduce fevers by encouraging sweating. If you have ragweed or daisy allergies, you may experience an allergic reaction to yarrow. Do not take yarrow if you also take blood thinning or blood pressure medications, lithium, stomach acid reducers, or anticonvulsants. Children and pregnant women should not use yarrow. You may find that adding yarrow tincture to a warm (not hot) bath helps reduce fever.[24][25]
- Despite its name, feverfew doesn't actually work very well to reduce fevers.[26]
- Take a lukewarm bath. Drawing a lukewarm bath, or a relaxing shower, is an easy and comfortable way to reduce a fever. A lukewarm or room temperature dip is usually just the right temperature to cool your body without throwing off your equilibrium. It can be particularly helpful right after taking fever medication.[27]
- Do not give yourself or your child a hot bath. You should also avoid cold baths, which can lead to shivering that can actually increase internal temperature. If you do want to have a bath, the only appropriate temperature is lukewarm, or just above room temperature.[28]
- If your child has a fever, you can bathe him or her with a sponge dipped in lukewarm water. Gently wash your child's body, pat him or her dry with a soft towel, and dress your child quickly so he or she doesn't get too chilled, which can lead to shivering, which heats up the body.
- Never use rubbing alcohol to reduce a fever. Rubbing alcohol baths are an old remedy people used to use to bring fevers down, but they cause the body temperature to drop dangerously quickly.[29][30]
- Rubbing alcohol can also lead to coma if consumed, so it is not appropriate for use or storage around small children.[31]
EditTaking a Temperature Reading - Select a thermometer. There are several different types of thermometers, including digital and glass (mercury) models.[32] The most common way to take a temperature for an older child or an adult is to place a digital or glass thermometer underneath your tongue to measure your body's heat, but there are several other thermometers that use alternate methods for temperature taking.
 - Digital thermometers can be used orally or rectally (see below) or under the armpit (though this reduces the accuracy of the reading. The thermometer will beep when the reading is complete, and the temperature displays on a screen.
- Tympanic thermometers are used inside the ear canal, and they measure temperature with an infrared light. The downside to this style of thermometer is that a buildup of earwax or the shape of an ear canal can skew the accuracy of the reading.
- Temporal thermometers use an infrared light to measure the temperature. These thermometers are great because they are quick and least invasive. To use this type of thermometer, you slide the thermometer from the forehead to the temporal artery, right above the top of the cheekbone. It can be difficult to master proper placement, but taking several readings can improve the accuracy of the reading.
- Pacifier thermometers can be used for babies. These are similar to oral digital thermometers, but perfect for babies who use pacifiers. The peak reading is displayed when the temperature is measured.
- Check your temperature. After selecting a thermometer, take your temperature according to the method that the thermometer is made for (either orally, in the ear, on the temporal artery, or rectally for a child (see below). If you have a fever above ,[33] you have a baby over 3 months with a fever over , or you have a newborn (0-3 months) with a fever over 100.4, call the doctor immediately.[34]
- Take a young child's temperature rectally. The most accurate way to take a child's temperature is through her rectum, but you should use extreme caution so that you do not perforate the child's bowel. The best thermometer for rectal temperatures is a digital thermometer.
- Place a small amount of petroleum jelly or ky jelly on the thermometer probe.
- Lay your child on her stomach. Get another person to help if necessary.
- Carefully insert the probe one-half inch to one inch into the anus.
- Hold the thermometer and child still for about one minute, until you hear a beep. Do not let go of your child or the thermometer to avoid injury.
- Remove the thermometer and interpret the reading on the screen.
- Let the fever run its course. If the fever is relatively low grade (up to 102 degrees for an adult or a child over 6 months), reducing it entirely is not necessarily recommended. Fevers are produced by the body as a sign that there's another issue going on, so making it go away can mask a deeper problem.
- Aggressively treating a fever can also interfere with your body's natural method of getting rid of a virus or infection. A lower body temperature might produce a more habitable environment for foreign bodies, so it can be better to let the fever run its course.[35]
- Letting the fever run its course is not recommended for individuals who are immunocompromised, taking chemotherapy drugs, or who have had a surgery recently.[36]
- Instead of trying to get rid of the fever, take measures to make you or your child more comfortable during the course of the fever, such as rest, drinking fluids, and staying cool.[37]
EditKnowing When to Go to the Doctor - Recognize the symptoms of a fever. Not everyone's normal body temperature is exactly . A variation from your normal body temperature of a degree or two is normal.[38] Even a mild fever is usually not cause for concern.[39] The symptoms of a mild fever include:
- Discomfort, feeling too warm
- General weakness
- Warm body
- Shivering
- Sweating
- Depending on the cause of the fever, you may also see any of the following symptoms: headache, muscle aches, loss of appetite, or dehydration.
- Call the doctor if the fever is high.[40] Adults should go to the doctor with a fever higher than . Children's bodies are more sensitive to the effects of fevers than adults' bodies are. Call the doctor in the following cases:[41]
- You have an infant under three months old with a fever over
- You have a baby three to six months old with a fever greater than .
- You have a child of any age with a fever greater than
- You or another adult have a fever of or higher, particularly in conjunction with excessive drowsiness or irritability.
- Call the doctor if the fever lasts more than a few days. A fever that lasts more than two or three days may be a sign of a deeper problem that needs to be treated separately. Don't try to diagnose yourself or your child; go to the doctor to get it checked out. You should see the doctor if:[42][43]
- The fever stays longer than 24 hours in a child under 2
- The fever stays for 72 hours (3 days) in any child over 2
- The fever persists past 3 days in an adult
- Know when to seek immediate medical attention. If the fever is accompanied by symptoms that indicate other problems, or when the person with the fever has extenuating circumstances, you need to contact a doctor, regardless of how high the fever is. Here are some circumstances in which you should seek immediate medical attention:[44][45]
- The person has difficulty breathing
- A rash or spots develop on the person's skin
- The person exhibits listlessness or delirium
- The person has unusual sensitivity to bright lights
- The person has any other chronic condition such as diabetes, cancer or HIV
- The person has recently traveled to another country
- The fever has resulted from an overly hot environment such as being outside in extreme heat or being in an overheated vehicle
- The person with the fever complains of other symptoms like sore throat, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, ear pain, rash, headache, blood in the stool, abdominal pain, trouble breathing, confusion, neck pain, or pain with urination
- The fever is lowered, but the person is still acting sick
- If the person has a seizure, call 911
- Always consult a physician before administering medication to a child under the age of two.
- Be aware of up-to-date dosing recommendations. For example, infant acetaminophen bottle concentrations have recently been changed to a less concentrated dose (80 mg/0.8 mL to 160 mg/5 mL).
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| How to Get a College Scholarship Posted: 29 Jun 2016 09:00 AM PDT The cost of college tuition has increased 1,120% (no, that's not a typo) in the past 30 years.[1] With the cost of college continuing to skyrocket, many students will no longer be able to pay for school out of pocket. While many students use financial aid to offset the cost of school, this can lead to a lifetime of debt. College scholarships, on the other hand, are a great way to pay for college without taking on any debt. With planning, research, and careful preparation, you may be able to get scholarships to pay for part, or all, of your education. EditFinding Scholarships - Search online for scholarships. Begin by searching for scholarships that are specifically for your grade in school. For instance, there are many scholarships designed for high school seniors. The best place to begin in the US is the U.S. Department of Labor's scholarship search, here, which searches over 7,000 scholarship opportunities by category and other keywords.
- If you are currently enrolled in college, there should be some resources through your school's website that will help you find scholarships. You should also search for scholarships within your institution that are designed for continuing students.
- There are scholarship-specific search engines that you can use to find potential scholarships. Some of these include Fastweb, Scholarships.com and College Board.
- You can find a list of state grant agencies here.
- Ask your counselor or teacher about scholarships. Career counselors or college counselors know a lot about the types of scholarships that are available. They may be able to direct you to scholarship options you haven't yet considered.[2]
- If you're from a disadvantaged background, you may also be eligible to participate in TRIO, a US government program designed to help low-income families, first-generation college students, and people with disabilities get into college. TRIO offers guidance counseling and scholarship opportunities.[3]
- Think about your background. Many scholarships give money to students with particular ethnic or racial backgrounds. There are even a variety of scholarships for students in military families or for students with parents in volunteer or fraternal societies. There are also a lot of scholarships designed for students who are returning to school late in life or beginning at a non-traditional age. Think about your background and search for unique scholarships that you are eligible for.[4]
- Check the Federal Student Aid website, here, for information on scholarships for students from military families.
- If you're a current or former foster care child, you may be eligible to participate in the Educational and Training Vouchers program through the federal government. Find more information here.
- Consider also checking websites from your church or religious organization, community organizations, and local businesses. Many offer scholarships for local students.
- Keep track of deadlines. Deadlines for scholarship applications are firm. This means that you can't send in your application late and expect you will get the scholarship. Keep track of deadlines by using a spreadsheet or your personal calendar. Then you won't miss an important deadline.[5]
- Make a note of whether the scholarship deadline is when your paperwork needs to be received or if it is a postmarked deadline. If the deadline is when your paperwork needs to be received, you should send in your application at least a week before it is due. This will assure that it's received on time.
- Avoid scams. While there are thousands of legitimate scholarship opportunities out there, there are also plenty of people who would be willing to take your money or steal your personal information. Use the following tips to keep your search smart:[6]
- Don't pay for scholarship information. Most of the time, the information that financial aid "services" provide is already available for free elsewhere. Furthermore, these services may promise to "guarantee" financial aid or lock in a scholarship if you just give them a credit card number. This is a scam.[7]
- Be careful of application fees. In most cases, "scholarships" that require an application or processing fee are fraudulent. Reputable scholarships are there to help you out, not milk your money.[8]
- Don't pay someone else to file a FAFSA. The Free Application for Federal Student Aid is used in the US to help the government determine your eligibility for aid. It's free to file and is very easy. Save your money and don't hire someone else to pay to file it for you. These companies are never associated with the US government.
- Be wary of "winning" contests. You may receive notification that you've "won" a contest or been "selected" for a scholarship that you never applied for. If it sounds too good to be true, it almost certainly is. Usually, you will have to pay money in order to claim this "scholarship," which kind of defeats the point.[9]
EditPreparing Your Application - Gather important documents. Many scholarship applications will ask for academic records, financial information, and other details about you.[10] Try to gather these materials well in advance, as documents such as transcripts and test scores can take a few weeks to arrive.
- In general, plan to have these documents on hand when applying for scholarships: transcripts from every high school and college you've attended, test scores (SAT, ACT, etc.), financial aid forms, financial information (tax returns, etc.), and proof of eligibility (birth certificate, passport, etc.).
- Type up a resume outlining your extracurricular activities. Make a list of every activity that you've participated in during high school and college. This will include school activities, community and volunteer activities, and work experience.
- Type up your resume on the computer. Many universities and colleges now use online applications, so you will probably need an electronic copy of your resume.
- Be specific with details on this resume. Include the name of the organization that you worked with, the dates that you worked or volunteered there, the position you held, and the tasks that you completed.
- Include scholarships and honors that you've received. If you have any special skills, such bilingualism or computer coding knowledge, list those too.
- If you have a lot of activities or experience, consider making a long version and a short (one-page) version of this resume. Different scholarship organizations may have different preferences.
- Check out this sample applicant resume from the University of Texas Honors Program.
- Fill out a practice copy of the application form. You want to make sure your information fits on the application form, so fill out a copy before you fill out the official version. If the application form is not online, make a photocopy of the form.
- Type your information into the form. Typing your information into the form is best, as it will be more legible than handwriting. Many scholarship forms are available online in PDFs, so typing your information into these forms is simple. Some forms may be available only in hard copy.
- Handwriting the form is fine if you don't have access to a typewriter. Be sure to write in blue or black ink and write neatly. If your handwriting is messy, ask someone else to fill out the form for you.
EditWriting a Scholarship Essay - Determine the audience for your essay. Each scholarship organization has particular goals. This can influence how it wants to spend its scholarship money. Do a little research on the organization so that you understand who is giving out the money. [11]
- A good place to start is by looking at the mission statement of the college, university, or institution. Every higher education institution should have a mission statement and it should lay out the priorities of the school. Most philanthropic organizations will have mission statements too. Be sure to address its mission statement directly in your essay.
- Follow the instructions. If the essay directions ask for answers to particular questions, make sure you answer them. If the essay instructions call for 500 words, don't write 700. If it asks for double-spaced paragraphs, make sure to format your paper like this.
- Double check the instructions after you've finished writing. This will help make sure you've covered what you need to cover in the essay.
- Write something original. College scholarship essays are sometimes boring because writers often use cookie-cutter answers to the assigned topics. Make sure your essay has passion and personal voice. This will help your essay stand out to the scholarship committee.[12]
- For example, tell a story to start out your essay. If you are writing about an influential person in your life, start out by telling the story of when you first met this person. If you are writing about an influential book, talk about the first time you read it. Describe how you couldn't put the book down, or how you stumbled through it, looking up every second word.[13]
- Keep things personal. The scholarship committee is interested in getting to know you, not "modern society" or "humanity."
- Use specific examples. Avoid vague statements that don't say much. Go for vivid imagery to paint a picture for your reader. Incorporate specific examples of your volunteer work, detailing how you helped a certain person, for example. Use descriptive phrases that paint a picture of your contribution.[14]
- For example, instead of writing, "I helped a homeless single mother by gathering donated school supplies for her children," you could write, "Sharon, a single mother of two, teared up when I presented her with a backpack full of notebooks and pencils for her children."
- Avoid fluff language that doesn't say anything. "I'm a people person" or "I'm devoted to learning" are not specific or personal. They communicate nothing about you.
- Consider how much more descriptive these are: "Since I can remember, I have never met a stranger. Whether it's at my job bagging groceries or serving as class president, I can easily strike up a conversation with anyone." or "Finishing high school with a chronic illness wasn't easy, but I took distance learning courses and studied on my own because I value learning and am devoted to pursuing it."
- Ask someone else to edit your essay. Once you've finished your essay, ask someone else to read it and give you feedback. Getting someone else's eyes on your work will help you figure out whether your points are clear, what you need to improve, and what works well.[15]
EditGetting Letters of Recommendation - Find people who know your work. Most scholarship applications will ask for at least one letter of recommendation. The letter can come from a teacher, employer, or other person familiar with your work. The letter should focus on your work, grades, community service, talents, and so on. [16]
- Don't choose a relative for this role. Friends usually won't work either. However, a volunteer coordinator, your pastor, or another figure in your community who knows you could work.
- Ask the person if he or she will write a letter on your behalf. Don't assume that your teacher or other referee will write you a letter. You must ask to make sure that he or she is familiar with your work and has the time to write a letter for you.
- Meet in person to ask about a letter. This is a more personalized approach than an email and it will reflect positively on you. Bring a copy of your resume or the work you did in his or her class to help this person remember your accomplishments. This is especially important if you have not worked with this person in a while.
- If the person says no, try not to take it personally. It's better to have someone who can write you a good letter than someone who writes a vague, impersonal letter.
- Give your application materials to your referee well in advance. You want to make the letter-writing process as easy as possible for your referees. Give them any forms they need to fill out as early as possible. Provide them with a copy of your personal statement or essay as well, if the application calls for one. This will help them draft a letter that supports the statements you made in your application.
- Be sure to give your referees a self-addressed stamped envelope. Many scholarships ask that your referees mail their letters to the organization rather than giving them to you. It's impolite to expect your referees to pay to send their letters.
- Send a reminder. As you get closer to the application deadline, send a reminder to your referee about writing a letter. Don't remind them every day, but a reminder at least a week ahead of the deadline is a good idea.
- Send a thank you note afterwards. Regardless of whether you win the scholarship or not, send a handwritten thank you note to each of your referees. They deserve thanks for the time they took to write on your behalf and thanking them for that time will make it more likely that they will do it for you again.
EditFinalizing Your Application - Proofread your application. Go through each page of your application and carefully proofread it. If it's an online application, it helps to print out the entire application and read through it. Ask someone else to read through it too.[17]
- Assemble your application in order. Put all the pages of your application in the order that the scholarship application asks for them. For example, place the cover page first, then your scholarship essay, then your resume, and so on. Each application will have its own specific instructions, so be sure to follow them closely.
- Make sure you have all the parts to your application. Missing one part might make you ineligible for the scholarship.
- Make copies of your application. It's a good idea to have a record of the information that you send in for your application. Some scholarship organizations might need an interview. It will be helpful to remember what you've already turned in as you talk to the organization.[18]
- Send in your application early. Don't wait until the deadline to turn in your materials. If you assemble all your materials ahead of time, you will have time to proofread your application. Don't forget to send a reminder to those writing your letters of recommendation.
- Take some time to clean up your online presence. Search for your name online and see what comes up. Take down pictures that you don't want scholarship organizations to see.
- Don't pay a service to search for scholarships for you. This is a waste of your money and the legitimate services are usually free.
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| How to Cancel a Check Posted: 29 Jun 2016 01:00 AM PDT There can be any number of reasons to want to stop payment on a check. Stopping the payment on a check means canceling the check so it will not be paid. This process can be very simple if you follow a few easy steps. EditDetermining Whether to Cancel the Check - Gather needed information. To cancel a check, you must have the legal authority to do so either as an owner of the account or as a legally recognized agent. You will also need certain information to make a cancellation request with your bank:
- You need the name or names of the owners of the account on which the check was written. This includes all names on a joint or company account.
- You will also need your phone number and the address as it appears on the check.
- Make sure you write down the account number on which the check was drawn, the check number, and the date written on the check.
- You also need to have the amount for which the check was written and the name of the party to whom the check was made payable.
- Your bank will also ask you the reason for the stop payment request, so make sure you know why.[1]
- Verify payment status. Check with the bank to see if the check has cleared. This means that the person you wrote the check to has been paid the amount it was written for. You can ask the person or company that it was issued to. You should also verify the status of the check with your bank. This can be done over the phone or online. You cannot cancel a check that has already been paid.
- The cancellation does not take effect immediately. It generally happens at the end of the following business day in most cases.
- If it has not cleared, no information is needed from the recipient of the check before making a stop payment.
- Consider the cost. There is usually a charge for the service, regardless of whether payment is actually stopped or not. [2] This varies from bank to bank. Depending upon your relationship with the financial institution, fees may not be required or will be forgiven.
- If you know there will be a fee, you may not want to place a stop payment because of the extra cost. If a check is worth less than the amount of the fee, let the payment go through. If you receive an overdraft fee, it is about the same price as a stop payment fee at most banks.
- Be aware that overdraft fees can be incurred again and again if the money is not replaced.[3]
- Deal with stolen checks. There is no fee for placing a stop payment on lost or stolen blank checks. If your check book is stolen, get a police report right away. This is especially needed if there was more than one check stolen. Then take the report to the bank at the branch where you do business. You may want to consider closing the account and opening another one.
- If you want to close your account, the bank will have a manager or a loss-prevention specialist to help you. They can flag your account for special care. They can also help you to transition to a new account as necessary. [4]
- Deal with an unstopped payment. You may not always be able to put a stop payment on a check. It also may not always be convenient to do so. A stop payment cannot be processed if you paid with a cashier's checks or if the check has already been paid. It also cannot go through if there was not enough time to process the request. If you can't cancel the check, try contacting the payee directly. Request that they do not deposit the check or to arrange for reimbursement in another form.[5]
EditDealing with the Bank - Take care of it in person. Once you have all the necessary information, you need to contact your bank, credit union, or savings and loan. You then need to request a cancellation. This can usually be done in by phone or in person in the branch. Make sure you have all the information handy. You don't have to be the person who signed the check, but your name needs to be on the account.
- Save your time and theirs by preparing first.
- The average amount to cancel a check at the bank is $30 to $35. Check with your bank to find the exact amount you will have to pay.
- You shouldn't have a problem stopping payment. The bank is obligated to take the request regardless of the reason you give. They usually just want to know if they need to be on the lookout for fraud.[6]
- Handle the situation online. If possible, placing a stop payment online can be easier, faster and cheaper than doing so in person. You can do this through your online banking website. Since your bank already has most of your information attached to your account, it is much easier than trying to do it in person. You should confirm the account number the check was drawn on. You then have to enter the check number, the amount it was written for, who it was written to, and the date written on the check.
- This option may result in fees $5-$10 lower than in person.
- You can typically find this option from your online banking homepage. If you cannot find it, enter "Stop Payment" in the search box and follow the links to "Request Stop Payment." Then you can enter the above information. [7]
- Take care of other transactions. You can stop payments on other types of activity on your account other than written checks. Holds can be placed on pre-authorized debits or electronic checks using the same procedures. You just need different information. You will need to know the company name, account number, amount of the transfer, and the Automated Clearing House Merchant ID. You can use the company ID instead. Both of these numbers can be found by looking at the last transaction you had with the company.
- You will need to do this 3 business days before the payment is due. This allows time for the cancellation to be processed.
- A computer in responsible for taking care of this process. This means that the information needs to be complete and correct. There will not be a person there to figure out the missing information.[8]
- Determine the timeline. It is important to ask your bank when the stop payment will take effect. This can be immediately, within 24 hours, or at the end of the next business day. It depends on your bank and the situation. You should also ask how long it stays in effect. Banks will generally get rid of stop payments from the system after 6 months. This can vary.
- Make sure you know when the stop payment will be lifted. This will help you avoid unpleasant surprises in case the check is cashed after this time has gone by.
- You may also want to place a new stop payment if needed after this time period. [9]
- Deal with the Payee. Now that the check is cancelled, you need find other way to arrange payment. Depending on the reason for canceling the check, you may want to make other arrangements with payee of the check. You will probably want to request that the check be returned to you in most cases. You know that stop payment will not remain in effect forever. Getting the check back will make it impossible for it to be cashed once the time period has ended. With this, you avoid having to place a new stop payment again in the future. That means you will not have the cost and hassle again.
- If you need to keep the check for your records, you should void the check. Do this by writing VOID in big letters across the check. You should also draw an X from corner to corner. This will make sure that the check can never be cashed.
- If you don't need to keep the check, tear it up. You should not just throw it in the trash. It could be found by someone and cashed after the stop payment date has passed.
- There may be some legal ramifications if you stop payment of a check. Make sure you understand the liability of such an action before you go through the trouble of cancelling the check.[10]
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