posted on June 25, 2001 01:44:20 PM new
Well, it was bound to happen, I suppose.
I got a returned check from the bank today, ISF. Very small amount, it was less than $10.00, 'course with the Bank Fees...
I am not angry, or upset, except at myself, because I never mentioned what I would charge for a 'returned check fee'.
Certainly I'll e-mail the buyer, and ask for a MO or cashier's check to replace the original payment, but I'm not sure if I should ask the buyer to reimburse me my own Bank's fee.
If I'd mentioned it anywhere, I'd not hesitate, but I'm not sure if it's right or not. Part of me feels like it's my bad for not stating anything about it, and I should just eat the $20. (presuming the buyer cheerfully replaces the payment).
Lessons learned, right? Or am I being a e-doormat?
posted on June 25, 2001 02:16:59 PM new
I've had a couple of people bounce checks on me. Each time they have been very embarassed, and have always paid the bank fee without argument.
posted on June 25, 2001 02:19:08 PM new
Absolutely request both reimbursement for the face value of the bounced check, plus the bank fees. Ask for it in a money order too.
I am nice the first time (oh, it happens to everyone, but I expect this m.o. by _date_) ... then I get progressively firmer. After 2 months, I say, if I don't have this m.o. by _date_, I will refer the account to a collection agency.
If they continue to procrastinate, I send the check to a collection agency. I use M.A.D. Agency in NH .. they have an online form to use.
posted on June 25, 2001 02:23:56 PM new
I've had only one NSF check so far. The buyer knew before I did. He emailed me to let me know, and offered to re-send payment (by money order), including my bank's fee. I told him he could just send another check if it was easier for him, which he did, and itm cleared just fine.
I would suggest that you request reimbursement for your additional fees- anybody who would refuse would probably not make good on the original amount anyway.
posted on June 25, 2001 03:02:04 PM new
It's perfectly logical to ask for out-of-pocket expenses for a bad check. I think the people that put in their auction that they charge $10 or $20 for back checks are disclosing an "padded" fee up front. Your customer could certainly complain about a padded fee, but he'd have to be a pretty lousy person to balk at simply paying what you were charged to accept his rubber check. In your e-mail to him, you could state that he needs to send XX dollars for the check and XX for the fee that Bank of Anywhere has charged you. If he's pi$$y about it, you can always give him the bank's phone number to verify the info.
posted on June 25, 2001 03:11:04 PM newI think the people that put in their auction that they charge $10 or $20 for back checks are disclosing an "padded" fee up front.
Why do you think that? One of my banks charge a $30 returned check fee. Maybe the sellers are listing upfront what their banks charge. Also in some states you must have the fees for return checks clearly posted. Maybe the sellers are putting that in their auctions to follow state laws.
In Florida you are allowed to charge at least $25 for returned checks no matter what your fees are. Most other ststes have similar laws.
posted on June 25, 2001 04:24:59 PM newI think the people that put in their auction that they charge $10 or $20 for back checks are disclosing an "padded" fee up front.
That is the stupidest thing I have read. People should not be sending a rubber check in the first place! Accepting personal checks (which I do) is a customer convenience and not a requirement! Padded fee?
posted on June 25, 2001 05:24:58 PM new
Had a man in my B & M shop read my sign saying we charged a $20.00 returned check fee. (This sign is required by law). He was outraged-said that's highway robbery. I smiled and reminded him that passing cold checks wasn't exactly proper and that as long as he didn't write me a cold check, there wouldn't be any problem-would there. Give me a break. I don't know how some people manage to walk around with that brass set.
posted on June 25, 2001 05:40:14 PM newin their auction that they charge $10 or $20 for back checks are disclosing an "padded" fee up front. Your customer could certainly complain about a padded fee, but he'd have to be a pretty lousy person to balk at simply paying what you were charged to accept his rubber
He'd have to be a pretty lousy person to balk at paying the posted fee.
Is something wrong with collecting something extra for having to chase down a rubber check? Here in Florida it is relativley simple to put someone in put in jail over a bad check if they don't make it good. (A 2 week wait, a registered letter, and a trip to the DA's Office)
posted on June 25, 2001 05:59:40 PM new
Microbes: I live in Florida and it is very difficult to get someone prosecuted for a bad check. Maybe that has to do with my county.
The county I live in will not proscecute unless the person that accepts the check can identify the person that wrote the check. It does not matter if you have their personal info and drivers license number. The merchant around the corner from me said that his employees could never remember the people they took checks from. He said that they were only able to get 20 or so out of hundreds of checks. He stopped accepting checks after 15 years, because it had gotten sos bad in the past year.
They will not prosecute if the merchant agreed to hold the check. Some smaller merchants don't make deposits every day. Many check bouncers claim that they agreed to hold the check and get off using that excuse.
posted on June 25, 2001 06:36:32 PM new
shop4shoes, I've heard that the larger Cities are getting to where they don't want to pursue bad checks. (Miami Dade comes to mind, but it looks like you have the same problem in Gainesville.)
In the back woods part of Florida I'm in, our Judges happily issue warrants for worthless checks, and there is always a list of people in the paper that where arrested for it.
My sister had to do this to someone for a bad check a few months ago. She spent 2 weeks trying to politely collect, 10 days to send out a registered letter, and then carried the whole thing to the
States Atty's office. Less than 2 months after the check had bounced, the Judge issued a warrant. She was paid fairly quickly after that.
I looked at the link you posted, and the requirements are about the same from what I can see.
posted on June 25, 2001 07:20:49 PM new
Everybody, thanks so much for your input. I feel much better since you all made it seem like it was perfectly acceptable to request reimbursement.
Sometimes I think I second-guess myself too much, but I could be wrong about that...
If a high fee had been disclosed at the beginning, no, he shouldn't balk at it. I just meant that arewyn had no posted policy stating a fee for bad checks, so it would be best just to charge out-of-pocket fees. Sellers are free to say whatever they want to about bad check fees, and I think it's perfectly acceptable as long as it's disclosed at the beginning.
shop4shoes
What the heck bank are you with? I'm with Bank of America and they only charge $5.00 per check. Are you sure you're not confusing a returned item with a "rejected" item (a check that you write off your own account and it bounces). THAT'S when you get the $15 - $35 charges per check. If your bank charges more than $5 or $6 for a returned check, you should probably switch banks (since their other fees are most likely way too high).
posted on June 25, 2001 09:23:30 PM new
mcbrunnhilde:
No that is the fee charged if someone writes me a check and it bounces. If I were to bounce a check it would be $30 also. I have had the account for years and the rates are great. Oddly enough the only fees the account has is for returned checks either written or received.
I have several other banks and use those for business.
Microbes:
I think with students writing so many worthless checks here they just don't have the resources to go after them all.
posted on June 25, 2001 09:42:38 PM new
there are companies that you can have your bank send the NSF check to when they receive them back, you fill out the paper work that instructs the bank to send them to NSF check, and you will never see the NSF checks again. The service checks for available funds and when they are available they do a ACH debit on the account, they collect the amount of the check, plus the bounced check fees, plus charge the person that wrote the check a collections fee anywhere from 20 to 25 dollars depending on the state.
posted on June 25, 2001 11:56:35 PM newshop4shoes,
30 bucks for a returned item. Sheesh!!! If you're satisfied with the other aspects of your account, then I see the logic in keeping it--but I believe that your bank's outrageous charge is in the vast minority in the banking world. The fee for rejected checks is usually higher to deter someone from writing rubber checks, but I see no point in gouging a customer that much for simply depositing someone else's bad check.
BTW I am 100% for padding fees for NSF checks as a deterrent. I've already said my bank charges me $5, and if I were a full-time seller (or if I sold products that seem to attract NSF checks) you betcha I'd have it in my TOS that I'd charge $20 or $25 for NSF checks! As with s/h/i charges, if fees are disclosed at the beginning (no matter how inflated they are), the buyer is agreeing to abide by your TOS and there are no surprises.
