What do you do about bad checks??

[58ford]

I've got a bad check here from a local church. The check was payment for one job combined with the down payment for another job that has already been completed. So, now I'm stuck with that job & a bad check. I've been polite to these folks for about 3 months now because I've done business with them in the past, and since it's a church, I know they depend on the congregations offering to pay the bills, and that can be an iffy thing. Any suggestions??
I know you can't get blood from a turnip, but I gotta eat.

[Rainey]

I've got a bad check here from a local church. The check was payment for one job combined with the down payment for another job that has already been completed. So, now I'm stuck with that job & a bad check. I've been polite to these folks for about 3 months now because I've done business with them in the past, and since it's a church, I know they depend on the congregations offering to pay the bills, and that can be an iffy thing. Any suggestions??
I know you can't get blood from a turnip, but I gotta eat.

Maybe go to a monthly or weekly payment system.

[gregprine]

call them, tell the it did not go through, see if you can run it back through. They might have a book keeping error and did not know. I had businesses do this to me. I would call them and get it straight.

There was a time I had a check bounce on me, which made me bounce some checks. Everyone one ran my checks back through except one store who made me pay a $40 fee. I don't go to that store anymore.

[Fantom]

Bad check from a church, huh. Seems to me that they would just tell you they didn't have the money to pay you, not write a bad check. Maybe just an error in accounting.

I would try to be nice about it at first, but if it went on too long, I would tell the person who signed the check that it was going to be turned over to the district attorney. Might scare them into paying you.

Other than that your probably S.O.L.

[58ford]

call them, tell the it did not go through, see if you can run it back through.
I've been calling them once a week for three months now, every time I call they say they'll get somebody by with cash as soon as they can.

[JMC]

how much money you talking about?

[P-2]

I've been calling them once a week for three months now, every time I call they say they'll get somebody by with cash as soon as they can.

Same thing happened to my dad. You need to do what your heart tells you cause I know you are dealing with a church. BUT you can file a report with the local police dept. and they turn it over to the DA.

[58ford]

how much money you talking about?
A few hundred.
It's not like it's gonna put me outta business, but still.

[Fantom]

Wow, three months old, gonna be tough. I would go see the preacher at home. (or who ever is in charge of the money)

I have had a few bad checks, don't expect too much help from the D.A.

[JMC]

I'd send them a certified letter giving them some time to take care of it and advisign them if they don't, you'll be turning it over to the DA. If they don't pay, turn it over. Done about all you can at that point.

Your other option is to show up Sunday morning with an air hose.

[Rainey]

I'd send them a certified letter giving them some time to take care of it and advisign them if they don't, you'll be turning it over to the DA. If they don't pay, turn it over. Done about all you can at that point.

Your other option is to show up Sunday morning with an air hose.

:laugh::laugh:

[58ford]

I'd send them a certified letter giving them some time to take care of it and advisign them if they don't, you'll be turning it over to the DA. If they don't pay, turn it over. Done about all you can at that point.

Your other option is to show up Sunday morning with an air hose.
Yeah, that's what I figure, I just hate to do it, but the materials I used on their subsequent job can't be reused, so I need to collect.

[JMC]

i don't know how you run your business (accouting/tax wise) but have you thought about just writing it off as a bad debt?

[58ford]

i don't know how you run your business (accouting/tax wise) but have you thought about just writing it off as a bad debt?
Yeah, I guess I could, probably I will, but honestly, Id rather have the money.
Strange thing is, I've noticed that over the past few years, the hardest people to get money from are churches & lawyers.

[marion]

If I was a member of the congregation and I knew about this, it would seriously bother me. What established church can't pay a few hundred dollar bill? That's really strange. If they don't pay it soon, I would seriously think about turning it over to the DA, or someone who can investigate it, simply because I find it hard to believe that there's not some other problem there.

[jojobeans1120]

Show up for Sunday morning service and when the preacher ask if anyone has any announcements, bring it to their attention!

[Rainey]

Show up for Sunday morning service and when the preacher ask if anyone has any announcements, bring it to their attention!

Wow, I would love to be there. Hahaha

[big john]

Show up for Sunday morning service and when the preacher ask if anyone has any announcements, bring it to their attention!I was going to say the same thing,take your whole family with you.

[gregprine]

I was going to say the same thing,take your whole family with you.


Yup, take your brother Billy and your Mom

[jkspatty]

And when the offering plate round is made, be there to collect.:-D

[58ford]

Update, the pastor who signed the check has changed their phone number.

[daisy]

I'd send them a certified letter giving them some time to take care of it and advisign them if they don't, you'll be turning it over to the DA. If they don't pay, turn it over. Done about all you can at that point.

Your other option is to show up Sunday morning with an air hose.


Can you reposess the sign if all else fails and see how they explain that to the congregation.????? Just a thought.

I have heard others say preachers and lawyers can be difficult to work with. on $$$$

[JMC]

do you think they don't have the money, or just don't care?

[gregprine]

MH posse, that will put the fear of god in them.


What they have done is illegal. You will need to follow the certified letter post, or let it go.

[jojobeans1120]

Update, the pastor who signed the check has changed their phone number.

I'd show up at the church for sure. First, go by the church office, then go to Sunday services. :smt102

[gregprine]

What church is this?


..it that against the rules?

[Rainey]

MH posse, that will put the fear of god in them.


What they have done is illegal. You will need to follow the certified letter post, or let it go.

Or, Bash a few windows.

[jojobeans1120]

Go through the DA's office... they can handle it for you, i'm sure

[jkspatty]

One would think the "Christian" thing to do would be do the right thing and pay the bill.

[Fantom]

Some have joked about going to the church service, but it's not a bad idea. I would probably do it on a Wednseday though.

I'm sure that if the congragation(sp?) new about the bad check, they would do something about it.

[58ford]

What church is this?
I can't say, We're not supposed to give away personal info on here.

[pEtAl mIsFiT]

can you call the bank name on the church's check and tell them what happened and ask if you can verify funds that you want to re run the check?

[777]

I'D send them a letter to turn them over to the DA's Office then see if they come with cash!

[pEtAl mIsFiT]

so 58 what cha gonna do?

[58ford]

so 58 what cha gonna do?
Good question, I wasn't going to turn it over to the cops, but changing their phone number was a bad idea. I know a woman that owns a collection agency, I might see what she has to say.

[pEtAl mIsFiT]

them changing their number would just piss me off to another level...

oh, will their bank on the check tell you if the funds are available?

[pEtAl mIsFiT]

or did they close their bank acct?

[58ford]

or did they close their bank acct?
I haven't gotten in touch with them yet.

[phmom]

Take it by the bank and see if they can give you certified funds for the check. If its still not any good they will tell you.

[drake]

I know a woman that owns a collection agency, I might see what she has to say.

You know the Devil?

[Conveyor Belt]

I'd keep running it through the bank, every single day...

Can't you take it to their bank and cash it?

Or cash it at Wal-Mart?

I think running it though every day would make their bank account give a fee...

I know you want to keep the business, but do you want to keep doing business with them? I know money is money... and you know now to request that they pay upfront... but still.

If they have the money to change their phone number, they should have the money to pay the bill.

[XC9]

I'd send them a certified letter giving them some time to take care of it and advisign them if they don't, you'll be turning it over to the DA. If they don't pay, turn it over. Done about all you can at that point.

Your other option is to show up Sunday morning with an air hose.

DANG! I wanted to say that :bowrofl: Glad I read the post before I posted. I honestly thought the exact same thing when I read it was a church. :laugh::laugh::laugh:

CB, the bank will only let you run it through 2 times. I have tried this before.

[pEtAl mIsFiT]

any new news on this 58?