# I got paid with a bounced check.   What should I do?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-got-paid-with-a-bounced-check-what-should-i-do/440291>\
**Category:** In My Humble Opinion\
**Created:** [March 6, 2008, 4:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-got-paid-with-a-bounced-check-what-should-i-do/440291 "2008-03-06T04:35:45Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Plan\_B](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Plan\_B](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Plan_B)\
**Post date:** [March 6, 2008, 4:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-got-paid-with-a-bounced-check-what-should-i-do/440291/1 "2008-03-06T04:35:45Z")

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For the first time ever I got paid with a check that bounced. The check was for about $1000. So I called the guy who wrote the check and he’s not returning my calls. I have his address; he’s local, so I guess I could go to small claims court. From another thread I saw that there are criminal as well as civil penalties for this sort of stuff. So I’m wondering if I should just call the D.A. Also, FWIW, I’m pretty sure the guy is not yet a citizen, so I don’t think he wants to get involved in any kind of legal troubles.

I’m wondering about some practical stuff:

I don’t really need a lawyer at this level, do I?  
Should I send him a certified letter at this point?  
If I do, what can I say? What shouldn’t I say? I don’t want to go to jail for making threats or anything like that.  
Can I charge him a reasonable fee for the time consumed in collection? How much?  
If he says I should re-deposit the check, do I have to do that? Or could I say something like: No, I think you ought to walk over to my house with cash at this point or else we go to court?

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**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\
**Post date:** [March 6, 2008, 4:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-got-paid-with-a-bounced-check-what-should-i-do/440291/2 "2008-03-06T04:47:16Z")

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[QUOTE=Plan B]  
For the first time ever I got paid with a check that bounced. The check was for about $1000. So I called the guy who wrote the check and he’s not returning my calls. I have his address; he’s local, so I guess I could go to small claims court. From another thread I saw that there are criminal as well as civil penalties for this sort of stuff. So I’m wondering if I should just call the D.A. Also, FWIW, I’m pretty sure the guy is not yet a citizen, so I don’t think he wants to get involved in any kind of legal troubles.

I’m wondering about some practical stuff:

I don’t really need a lawyer at this level, do I?  
Should I send him a certified letter at this point?  
If I do, what can I say? What shouldn’t I say? I don’t want to go to jail for making threats or anything like that.  
Can I charge him a reasonable fee for the time consumed in collection? How much?  
If he says I should re-deposit the check, do I have to do that? Or could I say something like: No, I think you ought to walk over to my house with cash at this point or else we go to court?  
[/QUOTE]  
I think this falls under the category of asking for legal advice, which is best handled by a legal professional.

Closing thread.