posted on November 25, 2000 11:46:26 AM new
I'm not a happy girl today. I just got a check back from the bank from a bidder. The darn thing bounced. I usually deal in under $10.00 items so I never hold checks. Wouldn't you know, the first larger check I get bounces. Add the fact that I had to leave my first neg today and I'm just having one heck of a day.
How do you handle bounced checks? I already emailed her telling her her check bounced and that I was charged by my bank because of it and I expect a money order or paypal transfer to cover the cost plus fees at this point. At least I withheld feedback on this one.
posted on November 25, 2000 12:04:46 PM new
Well try the good humor tact frist, I have never had a bounced check yet but my brother has had a few his notice to the buyer frist time around look like this.
Dear Buyer
Congrats you are the winner of the day you you were the frist this month to have a check I deposited in my account bounce for you payment in the Amount of $XX.XX for item XXXXXX.
Your prize is a $20 returned check fee you can pay me this in the money order I am now requireing from you as payment on this sale.
If I havent heard from you within 10 days on how and when you plan to make this good we will be looking in to sending this out to collections
Thank-You
XXXXXXXXXXXX
Hope this helps
If the check was for a large enough ammount and Item already delivered and you dont hear from this buyer check in to a collect agent
one mentioned on this boad not to long ago I think the URL is www.madagency.com or something like that. http://www.Dman-N-Company.com
posted on November 25, 2000 12:22:22 PM new
That sounds like a great suggestion, humor!
I remember my one and only bounced check transaction like it was yesterday. It was for $3.75! I emailed the lady and told her my bank charged me XXX amount of dollars because she bounced and check and that if she didn't have $3.75 to cover an item, maybe she shouldn't be using eBay.
I promptly got cash in the mail and never heard from her again.
posted on November 25, 2000 12:31:01 PM new
If you don't hear from the check bouncer, try this link:
http://virginiacourtservices.com
So far, (knock on wood) I never had a bounced check. Sorry it happened to you.
Good luck in getting your money.
Heike
posted on November 25, 2000 12:46:51 PM new
Yup and as I under stand it if you do take this up with a collection agent and they fail to make good it will be on there credit report next time they go to apply for credit not sure how this might hinder there credit but dont think anyone wants a bad credit report over a bad check.
you can also use collection agents for dead beats on your regular auctions when you dont hear from the buyer in a resonable peroid of time if it was a high end item with a big bid this can be worth your time.
unpaid auction bids can be added to credit reports to usually people will just come through after the frist notice from a credit collection agency.
not recomended for unpaid bids or bounced checks under $75 as the fees under that amount to the agent are 50% of whats collected. http://www.Dman-N-Company.com
posted on November 25, 2000 12:55:20 PM new
I DO NOT recommend Virginia Court Services.
Their customer service is atrocious. I sent two different bounced checks to them in the summer and had to raise a fuss just to get them to follow through on sending me an $11 payment they recovered. I have heard absolutely nothing further on the second check. I am not the only one who has had these kinds of problems with them. They talk up a good sales pitch but they drop the ball.
posted on November 25, 2000 01:02:38 PM new
Thanks Lisa_B. I never used virginiacourtservices myself, but have never heard anything negative about them either. Is there another free service out there with a better track record?
posted on November 25, 2000 01:54:02 PM new
Try these ideas.
Put the check through a second time.
If the check is from a bank with a local branch, go to the branch and tell them what happened and is there any suggestions they have for you (I did this once and they gave me a merchant 800 number to call and check to see when the account had funds, and we zipped over to the bank and cashed the check!)
Try calling the person on the phone (number on the check or through the ebay get inof section).
If none of these ideas work, well I guess you are out of the money.
I hold checks no for 10-14 days till they clear and say that in the posting now because of the few rubber checks I've gotten.
Good luck!
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