I work for a company that installs logistics systems in hospitals. When these hospitals pay their bills, I handle the payments. This means that I occasionally handle U.S. Treasury checks, because we do some work in military hospitals.

I handled one such payment yesterday. Printed on the check stub was this notice:

IN THE EVENT OF OVERPAYMENT, REMIT TO:
DEFENSE FINANCE AND ACCOUNTING SERVICE -- CLEVELAND CENTER
POST OFFICE BOX 998014
CLEVELAND, OHIO 44199

I handle hundreds of payments every week, and I never see this or any similar notice except on U.S. Treasury checks. I've loosely interpreted the notice to mean:

HERE'S SOME MONEY WE OWE YOU
IT'S PROBABLY THE RIGHT AMOUNT
BUT WE SCREW UP A LOT
SO IF WE SENT YOU TOO MANY TAXPAYER DOLLARS
WOULD YOU PLEASE CATCH OUR ERROR FOR US
AND TAKE SOME TIME AWAY FROM YOUR
SILLY PRIVATE-SECTOR JOB AND SEND IT BACK TO US?
THANKS BUNCHES!
THE GOVERNMENT

+posted by Lawrence @ 10/01/2003 03:45:00 PM