Patrick Combs

Patrick Combs is an American best known for having deposited a "Junk Check", and refusing to be intimidated by demands for its return.

Mr. Combs has posted an account of these events on his web site. He has created a one-man show about the incident (Man: 1, Bank: 0). He sells a version of this on DVD, as well as having performed it on many occasions.

Junk Check scheme
On 19 May 1995 he received an advertising promotion for a "get-rich quick scheme" which included a "sample" check to illustrate how much money a patron might receive from the particular scheme being advertised. It was made out to him by name, carried an account number and a signature, and was in the amount of US$95,093.35. It did, however, carry the words "non-negotiable for cash" in the upper-right-hand corner. Combs deposited this check in his bank account via an ATM. He says (and has said from the start of the affair) that he did this basically as a joke, being sure that the check would be rejected as soon as someone took a look at it. However, the bank (First Interstate Bank of California) deposited it and duly credited his account.

After several weeks, he questioned a teller at the bank and was assured that the check had cleared and the money was his. He consulted a book on banking law, and became convinced that he had received a valid check, even if the advertisers had not intended to send him one. He withdrew the money and purchased a Cashier's check for $95,093.35, which he placed in a safe deposit box rented for the purpose. Shortly afterwards, more than a month after the original deposit, the bank demanded that he immediately return the money, and according to his account, seemed to treat him as if he were a criminal. He says that he strongly resented the bank's attitude and approach. He refused to return the check.

He retained the check for more than four months. During this period he consulted lawyers, and was convinced that he was legally entitled to retain the money and use it however he pleased, although he says that he felt that he had no moral right to it. During this period the story of the "Junk Check" was covered in the Wall Street Journal and on the television shows Good Morning America, Hard Copy, and the Montel Williams Show. The story was also covered by the Associated Press and other news outlets.

Finally on 4 October 1995 he signed a settlement agreement with the bank and returned the check uncashed. The bank conceded that he had not committed fraud or any other wrongful act, and that the bank had made several errors in the transaction. Combs jokingly wrote the words "Non-Negotiable" at the top of two other checks that he gave to the bank - one for the interest earned on the disputed money, the other to close his account.

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