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Is it illegal to bounce a check?

Date: Tue, 11/21/2006 - 08:04

Submitted by steveborum
on Tue, 11/21/2006 - 08:04

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Total Replies: 9


Is it against the law to bounce a check? If so, is it automatically prosecuted, or is it at the discrection of the entity that recieved the NSF check? Also, how would I clear this up?


Yes, it is against the law to bounce a check. I believe it would be up to the recipient of the check to press charges. I'm pretty sure it would go to the prosecutor. Before it gets that far, you could call the recipient of the check and tell them you'd like to clear it up. If it does go to the prosecutor, I believe he also will give you a chance to make ammends before it goes to trial. Good luck.


lrhall41

Submitted by dbaker6 on Tue, 11/21/2006 - 08:11

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Steve, Welcome to the forums. Some banks have overdraft coverage. I know my bank has a 500 limit including their fees. Its not good to do this but sometimes it helps. Check with your bank. KYSIDE38


lrhall41

Submitted by KYSIDE38 on Tue, 11/21/2006 - 08:13

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Also, bouncing checks depends on your state. If the check was for a large amount and the check was written on a closed acct. or something like that, it can be considered as check fraud. But, if you simply had a check returned for NSF, it is a civil offense in a lot of states, not criminal. Check your state's laws regarding bounced checks.

The receiver of the bounced check will usually contact you to advise that the check was returned, and inform you as to how much the service charge is for the returned check, and ask you to take care of it. If more than 30 days go by and you still haven't taken care of the matter, you can be taken to court or sent to collections, depending on who the check was written to (company or individual)and their policy.


lrhall41

Submitted by Tiffany99 on Tue, 11/21/2006 - 08:49

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Was this recently? A lot of places like this send the check through a 2nd time to see if it clears, and if it is returned a 2nd time, they might contact you directly to say that the check bounced and ask you to take care of it directly. I very much doubt that a $19 is going to get you hauled off to jail.


lrhall41

Submitted by Tiffany99 on Tue, 11/21/2006 - 12:21

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Writing bad check is punishable, but it is not likely to happen for a check worth $19 I guess. You might end up paying an OD charge, that's it.

However, bad check issuers are sometimes placed in Restitution Program. Read the conversations in the thread below and listen to what Clay (LCW) has said about restitution there.

http://www.debtconsolidationcare.com/forums/check-restitution.html


lrhall41

Submitted by stanley on Tue, 11/21/2006 - 23:10

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