Pretend it's '85 to answer my stupid question

[Tiny]

Pretend it's 1985.... 

I receive a paper invoice from my lawn service every month.  It generally comes with a pre-addressed envelope so I can mail in my payment (yea I know bill pay thru my bank! but just go with this... it's 1985!!! ) 

The invoice page doesn't have a "return this portion with payment" part.   

I usually just write a check (put the invoice number and the month the payment is for in the memo section of the check) and put a blank piece of paper in with it (cause you can see the check thru the cheap "security envelope" )  and mail. 

And here's the stupid question: 

If this was 1985 and  you got a invoice for a monthly service  without a "return this portion with payment" part  WHAT would include with your payment check in the envelope?  

Just the check? something else? 

[skeeter]

I always take a copy of the invoice and mail it with my check

[TheOtherMe]

Not in 1985.  That would have meant going to a copy store and paying probably a $1 a page.

I would have written the invoice number, date paid and check number on the invoice.  If it was cashed it would show up on my bank statement.

I would only mail a check.

There's some one person businesses around here that bill like that and that's what I do if I don't think they can handle bill pay.

[skeeter]

Jun 11, 2022 21:14:04 GMT -5 TheOtherMe said:

Not in 1985.  That would have meant going to a copy store and paying probably a $1 a page.

Yes, in 1985.  There were copying machines all over the place where I worked, so it cost me nothing

[msventoux]

Just the check. Write the account #/invoice # in the memo of the check and call it a day. 

[toomuchreality]

Jun 11, 2022 23:10:39 GMT -5 msventoux said:

Just the check. Write the account #/invoice # in the memo of the check and call it a day. 

This is what I would have done too., as long as the name/address on the check and the account were the same.  

[NoNamePerson]

Jun 11, 2022 21:20:57 GMT -5 skeeter said:

Jun 11, 2022 21:14:04 GMT -5 TheOtherMe said:

Not in 1985.  That would have meant going to a copy store and paying probably a $1 a page.

Yes, in 1985.  There were copying machines all over the place where I worked, so it cost me nothing

Same here! I made a copy of invoice to mail to small individual peeps like lawn folks. Did at work. I guess if a person didn’t work that doesn’t apply but our library would copy for .10 cents or .50 for color. Same price today    The anal me also put invoice # on check

[tractor]

I would mail the check back with the original invoice.

[dannylion]

My lawn service does the same thing -- self-addressed envelope, invoice with no "return this portion" portion.  I just send them a check in a "security" business envelope (the kind that is made of thick paper that has a pattern on the inside to conceal the contents).  It's a small family business.  My surname is unique, so it is unlikely to be confused with someone else.  Never had a problem.  Actually, it might not even be a standard invoice.  It's just a spreadsheet page with a running total of charges and payments for the year with the outstanding balance shown in the last entry.  Now that I think about it, I've never noticed an invoice number on the paper.  Anyway, it has worked fine so far, so I don't give it much thought.  

[Tiny]

Thanks everyone!

I like to keep the original invoice for my records - in the past I sometimes copied the invoice and mailed it back with the check.

For some reason, this month I started questioning what I should be doing and then the whole "what is the proper way to do this?" and I didn't want to make "more work" for the Lawn service to process my payment....

I will continue to send my check with my invoice # and the service month being paid for in the memo section.

Thanks again.

[toomuchreality]

Jun 12, 2022 15:49:57 GMT -5 Tiny said:

Thanks everyone!

I like to keep the original invoice for my records - in the past I sometimes copied the invoice and mailed it back with the check.

For some reason, this month I started questioning what I should be doing and then the whole "what is the proper way to do this?" and I didn't want to make "more work" for the Lawn service to process my payment....

I will continue to send my check with my invoice # and the service month being paid for in the memo section.

Thanks again.

You've got this! 😁

[Knee Deep in Water Chloe]

I also do the invoice # and/or dates of service on the memo line. 
However, if I don't have a security envelope, then I fold the check into another piece of paper to "hide" it.