I deposited a check in my account. The bank teller gave me back a stamped copy of a deposit slip. Then the bank lost my check, and said they could not credit my account until I contacted the writer of the check. Why?

 A check is deposited subject to collection, and any credit that you may receive until the check clears is temporary. Under the New York Uniform Commercial Code, the funds are not actually credited to your account until your bank is paid by the checkwriter's bank. If your bank loses the check after the deposit, you are responsible for contacting the maker of the check to determine whether the check was indeed cashed or to have the maker put a stop payment order on the check and reissue a new check.

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New York State Uniform Commercial Code
Article 4, Sec. 201 Provisional Credit for deposits
URL: http://assembly.state.ny.us/cgi-bin/claws?law=122&art=30
Contact: Consumer Representative
Phone: 18005223330 or Fax: 2126186440