Since this has finally been resolved I'm going to just throw this out there as a warning to people who take checks. It's kind of slim that this could happen, but if you run into the same kind of problem that I did it could turn into a big pain in the ass like it did for me!
My issue was with SM checks - it was mostly my banks fault but there were things about SM's end that really bothered me as well.
I've been cashing SM checks at my bank for the last year and a half. Sometimes I'd get the side-eye from the teller but it would always clear, no problems, no holds, etc.
About two weeks ago I went in to deposit a check, the teller eyeballed me weird, but took the check anyway. I got my receipt saying the check had deposited into my account and left. An hour later I tried to use my card - the money wasn't there. I waited a few days - thinking it was just a temporary hold. I finally called - My bank told me my account and my check were frozen for check fraud. Awesome!
According to them, the check/Streamate "did not exist" - so they locked everything down. They were looking into it with their fraud department and said it would be about a week before they got back to me.
So while I was sitting their twiddling my thumbs I went through and grabbed my 1099 for Streamate and called the # on that. No answer, and the message recording didn't even sound like it was directly related to SM. So no luck there. I asked for help in another thread and another model was nice enough to ask Live Support for any info/help and received a rude response as well. I sent an email to model support but had never received a response from them.
In our model admin or Streamate.com website there is NO kind of separate departments or accounting phone number/contact info - which is kind of disturbing? I REALLY had to jump through hoops to get help for this issue and if it wasn't for another model helping me out and suggesting I talk to Liz (who's contact info isn't readily available on the website, just kind of 'word-of-mouth' help) I probably would still be sitting on this! So that is what really upset me with SM.
So, while I was still searching for all of this info someone from my bank finally called me back to confirm what had happened - The teller ran it through the payroll system (after I had specifically told her "this is not a payroll check. I'm an independent contractor. I've deposited these for the last year here. I work online"), obviously Streamate didn't show up and my account was flagged. Even better, she said they tried to call the phone number on the check and it didn't direct them to any accounting info/anyone who could confirm the company or the check.
I called the bank back the next day - explained the issued, etc. They got back to me saying that they had discarded the check and if I want my money they'll want me to ask the company (SM) to reissue a check in the same amount - but, it will be put on temporary hold and then deposited.
So in the last two weeks I got in contact with Liz who was awesome and helpful - she gave me a number to give to my bank, that would redirect them to accounting (and the phone # she gave me was completely different from the phone # on SM's checks - WHY IS THAT??? so frustrating!!) - my bank wrote it down but still stuck with the above saying I needed to get the check reissued.
I decided to just sign up for Payoneer (thank you Nissim for your help with that) and thanks to Liz I got my money on my card this morning! (THANK YOU LIZ for all of your help!!) (And thank you to all the chatzy and verified bbs who helped calm me down in my ridiculous panic/helped out in that thread. lol
)
So again, I'm only speaking on experience with SM checks - who knows what other experience can happen to another company MFC/IMLive, etc. and their model support/etc and whatever your bank is smoking to freak out like this. I'm simply posting this as a warning because this was fucking stressful having everything on hold like it was, and my panic was only heightened by trying to get through someone at SM, like ugh. lol
Soooo in conclusion,
I'm never ever taking checks again.
Payoneer 4 ever.
Liz is amazing.
And now my bank knows I'm a slut!![]()





) and thanks to Liz I got my money on my card this morning! (THANK YOU LIZ for all of your help!!) (And thank you to all the chatzy and verified bbs who helped calm me down in my ridiculous panic/helped out in that thread. lol
)

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