Ed, I’m shocked and upset. My bank just charged me $30 for putting a stop payment on a $620.11 check for heating oil. I stopped payment because the check still hadn’t cleared a month after I sent it, and I was afraid it was lost. Since I don’t bounce checks, I didn’t know the bank would automatically charge me $30. Just wanted other readers to know, too.

Deposit Slip

Gotta love banks. Put your money under a mattress. Or buy gold. —Ed. Note