IRS sent me a $20,000 check for a refund my 2nd year of grad school. I hadn't been allowed to work the first year so I knew the check was a mistake. I called them and they said it was mine don't bother to send it back. I put it in the safe and didn't cash it.
About 2 years later I got a big threatening letter from them saying I owed them $20,000 plus fines and interest of several thousand more. It was a pain to straighten out. Because I hadn't cashed the check I proved I never took the money. They tried to argue I took the money just because I had the check. I sent it to them certified mail. They tried to argue it again but I was able to prove they had it now.
The only time I won anything and it ended up just costing me time and some postage.
Bb
