You need to open your own checking account next time you get a job. Regarding how much money you will get in penalty wages, did you read the first link I posted in its entirety?

It is astonishing that the HR has never heard of the final wages law. It is well known.

If you want to avoid threatening, you can simply file the claim right now and if you receive the check, cancel thr claim. Or you can even continue with the claim and see if you get penalty wages because the payment was delayed. At issue here is when the payment is considered delivered: when the ripped check arrived or when the good check arrives. You can in good faith maintain that the date should be only when the good check arrives and hence you are entitled to penalty wages. It is worth pursuing.