Can You Fax a Check? Yes. Follow These Steps to Do it Safely

There are most likely a dozen methods of sending cash which are simpler than faxing a test. Even so, it’s nonetheless potential and authorized to ship a test with fax — and also you would possibly end up in a scenario the place it’s your solely alternative.

If you happen to ever must fax a test, it’s vital to observe just a few steps to verify it’ll work correctly and that you simply’re doing it securely.

What to know earlier than you fax a test

Most individuals moved on from faxing, however the expertise nonetheless works, and it’s nonetheless round.

Some companies (usually in extremely regulated markets) and a few authorities companies nonetheless depend on the flexibility to work with faxed checks. There are people preferring faxing checks when they should pay a enterprise with a test by a sure deadline and wouldn’t be capable to mail it in time.

Since a fax goes by immediately, it might probably assist prevent from late charges if you end up in that unlikely scenario. Moreover, faxing a test can also be safe as a result of it leaves a paper path so that you can show that you simply despatched within the test by a sure date.

Earlier than you fax a test, there are some things it is best to do first to make sure it goes effectively.

• Verify that the enterprise accepts checks. Usually, if you happen to’re faxing a test to companies, it’s as a result of they’ve particularly requested you to take action; in the event that they haven’t, double-check earlier than you ship a faxed test that gained’t be accepted.
• Make a photocopy of your test. Most fax machines require full-sized paper to ship faxes, so a test is prone to be too small to place by the machine. Make a duplicate of the test first on printer paper, and maintain onto the unique.
• Discover a fax machine or an internet fax service. You’ll be able to ship faxes with virtually any laptop or cellphone if you happen to use an internet fax service, or you may go to a print store or UPS retailer to make use of an analog fax machine. In case you have your personal Multi-Operate Printer (MFP) at house, you would possibly be capable to ship a fax utilizing that.
• Draft a fax cowl sheet. Faxes want cowl sheets so the recipient is aware of what they’re getting. Write that you simply’re sending a test for a certain quantity and embrace the explanation you’re sending the test—for example, “Fee for account 123.”
• Fill out the test memo. This will also be, “Fee for account 123,” or no matter the reason being that you simply’re sending the test. This goes within the memo subject of the test itself.
• Maintain the corporate’s contact data shut by. You’ll clearly want the fax quantity, however you’ll additionally wish to observe up with the enterprise by way of cellphone or electronic mail as quickly as you ship the fax to verify it went by.

Concentrate on the potential safety points with on-line faxing, and take steps to mitigate them. Whereas most cloud faxing providers are extremely safe, it’s value taking the time to verify the service you select is respected and has safety safeguards in place.

For max safety, search for providers which were round for some time, in addition to these which are designed to adjust to trade rules like HIPAA. When you aren’t prone to be sending any healthcare data alongside along with your test, merely complying with these sorts of regulatory measures is an effective indication that it’s safe sufficient to cowl monetary issues as effectively.

What’s one of the best ways to fax a test?

You’ll be able to both ship a fax the old school method through the use of an analog fax machine, or you need to use an internet fax service.

Most individuals choose to make use of an internet fax service lately due to the comfort and lack of {hardware}. I do know I do. For instance, on-line choices help you ship a fax out of your iPhone or Android. That’s often much more handy than monitoring down a fax machine or ordering a fax modem to allow your laptop to ship faxes.

On-line fax providers are usually very safe — particularly if you happen to’re utilizing one which’s been designed for sending monetary, authorized, or healthcare paperwork. They’re usually very low-cost, too, with a spread of costs based mostly on the quantity of paperwork you want to ship.

Moreover, on-line fax providers help you ship and obtain faxes from anyplace, and with out having to pay for a fax machine, paper, or ink toner. The entire course of is extra much like sending a scan by way of electronic mail than the normal strategy of sending a fax — you simply kind in a cellphone quantity as an alternative of an electronic mail tackle.

If you happen to’re working with a enterprise that requires you to ship faxes by way of an analog machine within the first place, then there’s not a lot you are able to do about that. Finally, you will have to fax utilizing the popular methodology of the individual or enterprise you’re sending the test to.

Find out how to fax a test utilizing an internet service

Sending utilizing an excellent on-line fax service is easy. There are a variety of simply accessible, low-cost fax providers accessible on-line, from fundamental providers that ship easy faxes to extra complicated providers with superior safety, fax historical past, electronic mail notifications, and extra.

You don’t want a landline to ship faxes with an internet service. You simply want an web connection, the fax supplier will host all the normal infrastructure required to ship and obtain faxes.

In case you are utilizing a Voice over Web Protocol (VoIP) cellphone service, your supplier might provide on-line fax options you need to use straight away with out having to enroll in something new. Keep in mind, fax is a separate service from VoIP — not each supplier presents it, and fax could also be an add-on service.

DOWNLOAD this VoIP Options Characteristic Comparability from TechRepublic Premium

Whereas the precise steps for sending a fax utilizing an internet service will fluctuate relying on the service you select, the steps will usually be the identical.

Step 1: Get your documentation within the correct format

Whereas a standard fax machine works like a copier or top-feed printer that requires you to place a doc right into a machine which then scans and spits it out the opposite aspect, an internet fax service requires you to scan or take an image of your paperwork along with your cellphone.

The actual on-line fax service you’re utilizing will specify which format your paperwork should be in. Some distributors help a variety of file sorts and sizes, whereas others are extra restricted. When doubtful, use PDF.

If the recipient requires a fax cowl sheet, make sure to embrace one. It solely takes just a few seconds. Be at liberty to make use of a fax cowl sheet template.

Step 2: Enter the fax quantity and hit ship

This often occurs on the subsequent display, and also you’ll kind within the fax variety of the enterprise or individual you’re sending the fax to on a quantity pad, similar to you do while you’re about to make a cellphone name.

Ensure you add any extensions or nation codes if you happen to’re sending a fax exterior of the U.S.

After you have reviewed all of the crucial particulars. Hit ship. Your test is on the best way.

Step 3: Verify your test was faxed

Most fax providers will routinely present you a affirmation web page as soon as your fax has been despatched, however generally chances are you’ll must request this relying on the service or the best way the settings are configured along with your on-line fax service.

Both method, it is best to get this affirmation and observe up with the enterprise to verify not solely that the fax you despatched was obtained, but in addition that they’ll clearly learn the account and routing numbers on the test.

Find out how to fax a test utilizing conventional fax

It’s nonetheless potential to ship a test utilizing a standard fax machine, and a few companies nonetheless require you to do it this fashion. The method is similar to sending an internet fax, with just a few notable changes.

Step 1: Discover a fax machine

If you happen to don’t have a fax machine at your house or workplace, you may usually discover one in co-working areas, workplace shops, and public libraries. UPS, FedEx, and different print & ship shops usually have public fax machines. If you want to discover a place to photocopy your test, this is usually a good guess, too.

Faxing delicate data, like a test, over a public community has its dangers. If something rubs you the unsuitable method concerning the co-space fax machine, for instance, it may be higher to make use of UPS as a result of you realize the corporate has invested closely in community safety.

Step 2: Place fax paperwork within the feeder on the prime of the machine

After you find a fax machine, place your paperwork — together with your cowl sheet, the photocopy of your test, and anything you want to ship — face up within the doc feeder on the highest of the machine.

The machine ought to have an icon exhibiting you which of them method is up, however if you happen to’re unsure, ask the one that owns the machine or check with the handbook; oherwise, you can find yourself sending a clean fax.

Step 3: Enter the fax quantity and hit ship

Fax machines have quantity pads like conventional landline telephones, so use that to kind within the variety of the individual or enterprise you’re sending the fax to. Once more, make sure to add on any extensions or nation codes as wanted.

As soon as you might be completely satisfied the whole lot is right, hit ship. On most machines, this seems like an enormous inexperienced button, and it often says “Ship” or “Begin” on it.

Step 4: Get the affirmation web page or test the fax log

Most fax machines will routinely print out a affirmation web page after your fax goes by, but when the one you’re utilizing doesn’t, chances are you’ll must test the fax log. The machine ought to preserve a report of all of the faxes it’s despatched and obtained, and you’ll usually get the machine to print out a duplicate of that log so you might have a paper path.

Be certain that to observe up with the enterprise to verify your fax has gone by and is legible on their finish. One other good thought is to make it possible for the individual or enterprise you’re sending the fax to is aware of it’s coming, to allow them to be looking out on your fax and never depart it sitting within the machine for nosy individuals to go snooping.