If your USF refund check never arrived, was lost, or was stolen, you can cancel it and request a replacement by filling out the USF stop payment form and emailing it to SFSStopPay@USF.EDU. The form is handled by the University Controller’s Office, and you cannot submit it until 15 business days have passed from the date the check was issued.1University of South Florida. Student Accounting – Stop Payment Requests One form per check.
When You Can File the Request
The Controller’s Office will not process a stop payment until 15 business days have passed from the check’s original issue date.1University of South Florida. Student Accounting – Stop Payment Requests That window gives the postal service time to deliver before the university cancels anything. If the check was clearly stolen or destroyed rather than just slow, contact the Controller’s Office to ask about an exception; the standard policy is written for lost-in-transit situations.
If you are sitting on an old refund check you never deposited, the same form is the right tool. Under Florida law, a bank has no obligation to honor a check presented more than six months after its issue date, so a stale check needs to be canceled and reissued rather than taken to a teller.2Florida Senate. Florida Code 674.404 – Bank Not Obliged to Pay Check More Than 6 Months Old
What to Gather Before You Open the Form
Download the Stop Payment Request Form from the Controller’s Office student accounting page.1University of South Florida. Student Accounting – Stop Payment Requests Have these details ready so you can finish it in one pass:
- Your USFID (U number), the letter U followed by eight digits.3University of South Florida. USFID vs. NETID
- The check number from the original check. You can find this in Student Self-Service (formerly OASIS) under your account activity.
- The exact dollar amount, down to the cent. The bank matches stop requests against the precise figure, so a rounded number will be rejected.
- The original issue date, which is the date USF issued the check, not the date you expected to receive it. This is also visible in Student Self-Service.
- Your current mailing address for the replacement. If you have moved since the original was sent, this is the field that matters most.
If you cannot find the check number or issue date in Student Self-Service, call Student Accounting before submitting. Close-enough information will stall the request rather than move it along.
Filling Out and Signing the Form
Enter your full legal name and USFID at the top, then the check number, dollar amount, and issue date. Add the mailing address where you want the replacement sent. Sign and date the form; all stop payment requests must be submitted in writing from the student.1University of South Florida. Student Accounting – Stop Payment Requests No notary seal or witness signature is required under the current process.
Need to cancel more than one check? Fill out a separate form for each. The university processes stop payments individually and will not accept multiple checks listed on a single form.1University of South Florida. Student Accounting – Stop Payment Requests
How to Submit It
Email is the primary submission method. Scan or photograph the completed, signed form and send it to SFSStopPay@USF.EDU with “Stop Payment Request” in the subject line.1University of South Florida. Student Accounting – Stop Payment Requests Confirm the image is sharp before you hit send. A blurry signature or an unreadable check number will slow things down.
You can also deliver the form by mail or in person to the Controller’s Office at 4202 E. Fowler Avenue, SVC 1039, Tampa, FL 33620. Email is faster and creates a timestamped record.
What Happens After You Submit
Once the form arrives, the accounting team verifies the check’s status with the bank to confirm it has not already been cashed. If the check is still outstanding, the university stops it and authorizes a replacement. From submission to a new payment, allow up to 15 business days.1University of South Florida. Student Accounting – Stop Payment Requests
If the bank reports that the original check was already cashed, the matter gets more complicated. The university will investigate the transaction, which may require additional paperwork and a longer timeline. In cases of suspected theft or fraud, you may be directed to file a police report.
Switching to eDeposit So This Doesn’t Happen Again
The simplest way to prevent another lost check is to enroll in USF’s eDeposit, which sends refunds straight to your bank account. Log in to Student Self-Service and click “Sign up for eDeposit” under the Tuition & Fees menu.4University of South Florida. eDeposit You will need your bank routing and account numbers. Once eDeposit is active, future refunds bypass the mail entirely.