Check Acceptance Procedure

CHECK ACCEPTANCE PROCEDURE
The department accepts the following types of checks:
• Personal checks;
• Company checks;
• Cashier’s checks; and
• Personal money orders
Multiple checks can be accepted toward the payment of a single permit or combination of several
permits. However, all of the following elements need to be present when accepting checks (see
sample check below):
1. Date: The check must be dated and the date must be current. It cannot be “stale” (past)
dated or “post” (future) dated. If a check does not have a date or is stale-dated or post-
dated, please have customer fill it in or change it. In case of mailed in checks, please
contact the customer to verify that the check is still valid if the date is not current.
2. Payee: The check must be made to the order of “CCSF Department of Building
Inspection”. “CCSF DBI” is acceptable if customers do not want to spell out the
department’s name. No two-party checks (checks made payable to one party and given to
DBI to endorse) are allowed.
3. Payer: The check must have the name of the payer, which is the company or individual
paying for the permit(s). The name must be pre-printed (computer printed, not hand-
written). In case the person pulling the permit differs from the payer, there must be a
relationship between the two parties (i.e. authorized agent, representative, architect,
designer and/or contractor must provide proofs such as a letter from owner or project
sponsor). The payer’s address should also be present, if not, ask for payer’s present
address and write it on the check. No third party checks should be accepted.
4. Dollar Amount: The dollar amount must appear twice. It must be spelled out and
printed numerically. Both spelled out amount and numerically printed amount must
match. Beware of transpositions! (E.g. $328 vs. $382). Checks can only be written for
the exact amount of the sale. For checks drawn on non-US banks, the words “U.S.
dollars” should be clearly printed on the check. No foreign currency drawn checks
should be accepted.
5. Signature: The check must be signed by the payer to be a negotiable instrument.
6. Bank: The name, branch, city and state of a bank must appear on the check.
7. MICR numbers: Magnetic Ink Character Recognition (bank routing or ABA number,
10-digit account number and check number) numbers must be pre-printed at the bottom
left-hand corner of the check. Checks missing those numbers should not be accepted.

8. Safety Features: The check must be printed on a check stock and must have safety
features such as micro-printing, watermarks, chemically sensitive paper, etc., which when
photocopied will show spots or the word “void”.
Check Acceptance Procedure

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9. Identification: An ID should be requested and used to match the name of the payer
against the name on the ID. In case the person pulling the permit differs from the payer,
there must be a relationship between the two parties (i.e. authorized agent, representative,
architect, designer, contractor must provide proofs such as a letter from owner or project
sponsor) and an ID must also be requested.
10. Phone No.: A phone number should be requested from the check writer and/or payer (if
different from the check writer) and included on the check for NSF purpose.
11. Scanned: All checks must be scanned under the “ICL check” category. The scanner will
scan the front and back of the check. DO NOT TRY TO REMOVE THE CHECK
UNTIL THE SCANNER FULLY COMES TO A STOP. In case the check cannot be
scanned due to safety feature(s), use the “Paper check” category. With a paper check, the
ABA or bank routing no., the bank account no., and check no. should be entered.
NOTE: It is ILLEGAL to alter a customer’s check, especially with regard to items 1 through 7
above. If changes need to be made, have the customer make the correction(s) and
initial it, if s/he is the authorized signor. If the customer has left the premises or the
check was mailed in, contact the customer and have him/her come in to fix it or issue
another one.
Check Acceptance Procedure

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What are the requirements for accepting a check?

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The department accepts the following types of checks:

Check Acceptance Procedure

Check Acceptance Procedure

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