kristie
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posted on January 31, 2001 01:41:06 PM new
I'm curious as to how best to handle
a returned check. I had one yesterday and
the buyer isn't responding to my emails.
Is this reportable to Safe Harbor for investigation if the buyer fails to respond?
By the way, the buyer had zero feedback and
shades. I guess my check policy is going to
be changing to "no shipment until check has
cleared." I've had greater than 400 transactions with only one prior returned
check. Still, it hurts to have even one.
Thanks for any input. 
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dch366
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posted on January 31, 2001 02:00:37 PM new
Hi there--
I am fortunate, I have completed about 2000 transactions, with, so far, only two returned checks, and they both made good on them. After receiving the first one, I sat down and composed a letter, which I saved for future use. In it I explained that the check was returned , and that they now owe me xxx plus the bank service charge of xxxx. That total must be sent to me within two weeks of receipt of this letter, or I will forward their information to a collection agency. Both times I have sent this letter, and it worked great. In case it didn't, I looked up madagency.com to handle collections per some suggestions I had read on this message board. I have not used them but their web site looks good. Also, after I received the money due, I sent them their cancelled check.
Hope this helps some.
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cyberjp
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posted on January 31, 2001 02:37:08 PM new
You may want to try:
Call the bank that the check is written from and ask them to verify funds on the account. They will not tell you how much they have in the account but they will tell you if there is enough to cover the check.
If there is enough, hurry to your bank and ask them to run the check again.
You can usually attempt to run a check though your bank twice before they place a big red mark on it sating that it is un-depositable.
Joel
cyberjp on ebay
Have a nice DAY!
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morgantown
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posted on January 31, 2001 09:44:43 PM new
Hi Kristie:
NSF checks are a part of conducting normal business. Send the party notice of the NSF check, give them a time frame in which to correct the situation.
If that fails, turn the NSF check over to a collection agency. Even if you never get any money back, you'll have the satisfaction of knowing that the offending party's credit is ruined. They won't get any loans for cars, homes, etc., unless they want to deal with a loan shark.
All collection agencys are not good. I'd stay away from the "free" ones. I have had 100% success with MADAGENCY.COM. They charge a percentage and it's well worth it.
Good luck to you.
MTown
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victoria
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posted on February 1, 2001 06:17:29 AM new
Calling the bank doesn't always net you any information.
One bank I called wouldn't even tell me if my bad checkwriter ( written on a closed account) ever even HAD an account there.
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spuddy98
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posted on February 1, 2001 06:52:40 AM new
I just had my first bad check problem in my 500 or so transactions. If I were you I would not run it thru again unless you have the money to pay another bad check charge. The first thing to do is to spend some time on the internet to discover the laws in the state the person is from. For example LA I beleive has a special Police unit to get checks paid. You must often follow specific time frames as well. Quite often it is within 15 days you must send the person a form letter stating your case. Plus oyu can demand the bad check fee allowable in that state. Send the letter return receipt requested (the post office can help here). If the person does not respond then you can go to the DA in their area. Writing a bad check in many places carries a fine AND jail time. Try this url; http://dowjones.legalinfo.work.com/book/18.C.02..html
Does the address and name on the check match the address you sent the item to? this is another important issue.
Good luck and don't let them get away with it!
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jenikahscloset
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posted on February 1, 2001 07:00:16 AM new
What does one do about checks coming from Canada? I live in the US and a customer is sending a check in US funds.
Is there something special I must do on this?
I have a 10 day policy in effect now.
Any adivise?
Thanks
Gina
Jenikah's Closet
'online'
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llama_lady
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posted on February 1, 2001 07:35:48 AM new
Knock on wood I have had only one bad check. I sent the customer a couple of emails asking they get in touch with me. I couldn't establish communication so I called them on the telephone. It took a week before they returned my call but they did
respond. I requested a money order for the amount plus the $3 my bank charged me. I received a money order fairly promptly.
I did change my shipping policy because of this incident. It took 30 days to be returned by my bank. So, it didn't matter that I held the check for 7 days. I ship next day on personal checks. I do state in my auction description though that I send next day with good feedback of 25 and over if they send personal checks. This allows me the option to wait on shipping if I think I need to. Busting myself, even if I have a funny feeling, I write down all the pertinent information from their check and send it next day anyway. I believe that people are intrinsically honest and sometimes things happen, like a bounced check. I've bounced a couple of checks over my lifetime, never intentionally, but mostly because of stupid stuff like forgetting to deposit the money. 
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MADAGENCY
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posted on February 1, 2001 11:30:13 AM new
Thanks for the plug! I do collect for alot of people that sell on ebay and either get a bad check or never get payment at all! I have pretty good luck if the bidder has a good address or phone number, sometimes the mail gets returned or the phone is disconnected so I can't collect.  Your best bet is to ALWAYS wait for check to clear!
Michelle
http://www.madagency.com
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morgantown
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posted on February 1, 2001 11:58:23 AM new
Hi Michelle! You Rock!
MTown
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TheFed
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posted on February 1, 2001 04:52:58 PM new
MADAGENCY: How can you wait till the check clears. The longest I had to wait for it to clear was about 30 days. My customers would be nuts by then. What has your experience been with clearance rates for checks? Thanks!Joe
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MADAGENCY
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posted on February 1, 2001 05:16:04 PM new
Wow, 30 days is a long time. I usually wait 10 days. You can also call their bank to see if the funds are available but if you then wait to long to cash it, the funds could be gone by the time it gets there. I think that is why so many sellers say in their auction that they will hold the checks to make sure they clear. This also leaves it up to the bidder, if they don't mind waiting, they can send a check, but if they are in a hurry they can send a money order or pay with paypal or some other online service.
Michelle
[ edited by MADAGENCY on Feb 1, 2001 05:19 PM ]
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TheFed
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posted on February 1, 2001 05:23:41 PM new
Michelle: Thanks for the answer. I think that Llama Lady said that at least one of her checks took 30 days also. I've been waiting 7 to 10 days depending on the buyers feedback. Has worked so far with the exception of two bounced checks which the buyers covered with bank fees. Thanks again for the information! Joe
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ksterni
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posted on February 1, 2001 06:12:14 PM new
Jenikah's Closet
I had a bad check from Canada that I haven't collected on. I was advised to call the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) for that city. They told me they had a file on this person as she does this frequently, but she had no money so I was SOL. And it was a $100 transaction!
FYI, Canada is outside of the The Mad Agency's jurisdiction.
[ edited by ksterni on Feb 1, 2001 06:12 PM ]
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MADAGENCY
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posted on February 1, 2001 06:21:12 PM new
Yes, it is out of my jurisdiction. If you want me to refer an agency in Canada to you I can.
Michelle
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ksterni
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posted on February 1, 2001 06:30:07 PM new
Hi Michelle,
Please do! That would be great!
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MADAGENCY
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posted on February 1, 2001 06:37:18 PM new
Try this one, they are in Canada, they are a member of the American Collectors Association. Wiggins Adjustments Ltd. http://www.collect4u.com or phone is 604-530-0211. I hope they can help!
Michelle
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Lisa_B
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posted on February 2, 2001 12:49:05 AM new
Question, MadAgency --
I am still holding onto a bounced check from last spring. I had provided the information to Virginia Court Services in the summer when they were advertising *free* collection services. With no further communication from them, I have no idea where this stands, or if it would be worth turning it over to your agency for pursuit. What advice can you offer?
Thanks!
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MADAGENCY
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posted on February 2, 2001 07:10:08 AM new
You might want to call the Virginia court to get some type of status on it before you do anything. Sometimes the court systems take a looooong time to do anything. If they tell you they have closed the file, you can try to collect your self or place it with an agency. Hope this helps.
Michelle
www.madagency.com
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Lisa_B
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posted on February 2, 2001 01:35:17 PM new
Thanks Michelle, I sent Virginia Court Services yet another e-mail, so I'll see what happens. The problem with them is, they don't answer e-mails or return phone calls anymore -- at least with me. The lack of communication regarding the status of the check info I sent them LAST SUMMER is truly disgusting to me. I still have the check itself though.
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ksterni
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posted on March 6, 2001 12:18:20 PM new
Hi Everyone,
The above link for a collection agency in Canada is not working.
http://www.collect4u.com
I emailed Michelle at the Mad Agency, and the link isn't working for her, either.
Does anyone know of an agency that will collect an NSF check from a Canadian customer? I've tried to search the web, but the results are confusing, it's hard to tell who does business in Canada as well as which collection agencies handle small accounts like this. Thanks for any ideas!
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madagency
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posted on March 6, 2001 12:46:05 PM new
HI, I found a few agencies in Canada, you might have to contact them to see if they have a $ amount limit.
Davson Receivables Management
phone 403-242-0308
[email protected]
Here is one that the minimum amunt accepted is $100:
Wiggins Adjustments Ltd.
phone 604-530-0211
www.wiggins-adj.com
Hope this helps!
Michelle
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paintpower
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posted on March 7, 2001 05:03:17 AM new
I just got my second bounced check since selling on Ebay since October 1999 (pretty good record I think). This was a buyer with over 300 feedback who both buys and sells. I usually hold items for 10 days after check is deposited unless the seller has over 100 feedback and no negs for bad checks. This person looked fine. I've emailed her about this and if I don't hear from her in a couple days I will follow up with a snail mail letter. I've already shipped the item because she had good feedback and I've already left positive feedback for her! Bummer! Now if she doesn't pay I've left false feedback!!
I will be a relentless hunter until this check is made good!
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Microbes
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posted on March 7, 2001 08:50:45 AM new
10 day is not enough for a out of state check. I had one for $350 come back 21 days later. I no longer take checks, period, end of story. (unless it is from a buyer I have a very solid relationship with, those get shipped before I see the money at all.)
Buyers won't put up with 30 day clearances, and I won't put up with bad checks for hundreds of $$$.
Edited cuz I repeated a statement.
[ edited by Microbes on Mar 7, 2001 08:52 AM ]
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paintpower
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posted on March 7, 2001 09:06:10 AM new
There is a line on the NPB Alert Form for bounced checks or checks with stopped payment so I'm assuming that if it is there it is okay to file a NPB alert on bounced check people.
Also, is it not postal fraud to not pay for something that was sent through the mail? Is this obtaining property under false pretenses?
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