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About us

We're the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), a U.S. government agency that makes sure banks, lenders, and other financial companies treat you fairly.

Learn how the CFPB can help you

I wrote a check and the person I gave it to increased the amount of the check before cashing it. The bank/credit union paid the higher amount rather than the amount I had written. What can I do?

Answer:

Contact your bank or credit union as quickly as you can. If your bank or credit union cashed the check, you may be able to have the difference restored to your account.

You are still responsible for the original amount of the check.

If the check was processed as an electronic transfer, you have additional protections under federal law.

If the check was not processed as an electronic transfer, you still may have protections under state law.

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The content on this page provides general consumer information. It is not legal advice or regulatory guidance. The CFPB updates this information periodically. This information may include links or references to third-party resources or content. We do not endorse the third-party or guarantee the accuracy of this third-party information. There may be other resources that also serve your needs.