How can I collect on a bad check ? “UPDATE”

[Firpo]

And that is why they (the scumbags) does this is cause they know they will get paid and have no consequences for their actions.

Yep, that’s absolutely why they do it but I don’t know any corporation that’s going to spend $75K chasing $40K. I know of two small churches in the Elgin area that both had people embezzling from them and neither made the criminal pay back the money they stole. Best you can do is implement policy to prevent these types of situations as best you can and even then it will happen. Sinful people do sinful things and as long as we live in this fallen world this garbage is going to happen. According to this Forbes article $94.5 Billion dollars were stolen in 2022 so far from retail businesses. Just sickening however I do take comfort in knowing they’re aren’t getting away with anything. Someday they will Stand before God and give an account of their lives. A VERY uncomfortable judgement to be sure.

 

[Ahall]

When I was a kid there was a grocery store in town that would cash third party checks for a nominal fee. We always took questionable check to them and took the hit. The store had a reputation for collecting by any and all means.

Today, contact the DA's office and find out what your options are and check the bank for sufficient funds. If you can handle it privately with a phone call and trip to the bank, that's the easy way.

If it's worth the effort, get it in the courts.
Sooner or later, they will need to clean up their record and the lean or judgement will be out there. When that happens, you will get a call trying to negotiate away part of the debt and interest. When they do, tell them to pay the court clerk. Then collect from the clerk.

 

[skyhawk1]

Like a few people said call the DA in your county IF you got the driver's license #. You can call anyway if you didn't. they might be able to help. When we have one they get a call and deadline to pay cash plus fee. If they don't make deadline it goes to OK county DA. In last 30 years I think there was only one they couldn't collect. Sometimes it may take a year or so.

 

[cowadle]

if you use small claims and you get a judgment in your favor and they still don't pay,,,all you have to do is return to the judge and show him or her the judgment and non payment....the debtor will be held in contempt of court and a deputy will arrest them and put them in front of the judge who will then either get your money or some kind of payment plan from the debtor. it takes a couple or months but you will get paid eventually. usually at court order the debtor will have to come up with tax records and a list of property that can be sold in order to pay. it becomes a real pain in the neck for the debtor.

 

[Hipshot]

I appreciate all the help, it is a check to my business for work I did and “undoing” the work really isn’t an option, getting a bat and act menacing would probably get me arrested , the lady is 70 yrs old and has the sweetest southern drawl ever and I took the check instead of a credit card because I was in a hurry to meet up with an OSA’er for a gun I was buying, she assured me about 3 times that she would pay me in a day or two, it’s only 135.00 and not the end of the world but the first time she lead me to believe she had the money a couple of days after I contacted her about the returned check she asked me to come by and she asked me to move 19 mattresses out of her garage to the curb which I did just because I’m a nice guy, THEN she said she would have payment in a couple of days, so now it’s principle over money and I’m gonna collect one way or another !!

 

[Bocephus123]

I appreciate all the help, it is a check to my business for work I did and “undoing” the work really isn’t an option, getting a bat and act menacing would probably get me arrested , the lady is 70 yrs old and has the sweetest southern drawl ever and I took the check instead of a credit card because I was in a hurry to meet up with an OSA’er for a gun I was buying, she assured me about 3 times that she would pay me in a day or two, it’s only 135.00 and not the end of the world but the first time she lead me to believe she had the money a couple of days after I contacted her about the returned check she asked me to come by and she asked me to move 19 mattresses out of her garage to the curb which I did just because I’m a nice guy, THEN she said she would have payment in a couple of days, so now it’s principle over money and I’m gonna collect one way or another !!

WTF using her charm to use people probably a pattern with her ! ...good it was small amount but still.

 

[DRC458]

I appreciate all the help, it is a check to my business for work I did and “undoing” the work really isn’t an option, getting a bat and act menacing would probably get me arrested , the lady is 70 yrs old and has the sweetest southern drawl ever and I took the check instead of a credit card because I was in a hurry to meet up with an OSA’er for a gun I was buying, she assured me about 3 times that she would pay me in a day or two, it’s only 135.00 and not the end of the world but the first time she lead me to believe she had the money a couple of days after I contacted her about the returned check she asked me to come by and she asked me to move 19 mattresses out of her garage to the curb which I did just because I’m a nice guy, THEN she said she would have payment in a couple of days, so now it’s principle over money and I’m gonna collect one way or another !!

I would be willing to bet that she has used such tactics many times in her life.

 

[HFS]

I appreciate all the help, it is a check to my business for work I did and “undoing” the work really isn’t an option, getting a bat and act menacing would probably get me arrested , the lady is 70 yrs old and has the sweetest southern drawl ever and I took the check instead of a credit card because I was in a hurry to meet up with an OSA’er for a gun I was buying, she assured me about 3 times that she would pay me in a day or two, it’s only 135.00 and not the end of the world but the first time she lead me to believe she had the money a couple of days after I contacted her about the returned check she asked me to come by and she asked me to move 19 mattresses out of her garage to the curb which I did just because I’m a nice guy, THEN she said she would have payment in a couple of days, so now it’s principle over money and I’m gonna collect one way or another !!

Sweet southern drawl, eh?
Is her name Blanche DuBois by any chance?

 

[Hipshot]

I would be willing to bet that she has used such tactics many times in her life.

I’d bet that you are correct !!

 

[Snattlerake]

In regards to calling/visiting her bank to see if the check will clear, most of the bigger banks won’t tell you anymore. I used to do it all the time, but it typically doesn’t work anymore. Depending on the amount of the check, the DA or small claims court are your best options. Another “country boy” option is to see if there is anything of value around their house and load it up. I’m not giving advice to do this, and I have never done that.

Ahh no, that is called theft, possibly burglary theft, possibly agg burglary theft. Do NOT do this