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Worthless Checks

The District Attorney’s Office would like to inform all parish merchants and individuals about of a free service we offer to help you collect on NSF and/or ACCOUNT CLOSED checks.  The issuance of these checks is against the law.  

The District Attorney’s Office can help to collect and/or prosecute individuals who present checks as a form of payment for services rendered or merchandise received.

 

Click here to download a Request to File a Charge.

 

Please read the following instructions for assistance with this free service.

 

A.  PROCEDURE WHEN TAKING A CHECK

It is vital that you stress to your employees the importance of being thorough when accepting a check.  If your establishment has a set policy for all customers, then no one should have any reason to feel they are being treated unfairly.  It is a good idea to have a checklist where a cashier can see it easily.  It should include at least the following:

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  1. Is it dated today?
    Checks must be dated the same day they’re given.  Post-dated checks are not prosecutable.
     

  2. Is the signature legible?
    Do Not accept checks previously signed.  Have them signed in your presence and compare with the driver’s license or other I.D.
     

  3. Is the address complete?
    Require a permanent street address, not a P.O. Box number, unless you know the check writer.
     

  4. Can you confirm Identity?
    Every kind of I.D. can be forged.  The most reliable are the ones with physical descriptions, photos, etc.  If you are suspicious, ask the writer to hand you the license and while it’s in your hand, ask his address and /or date of birth.  If it is not his license, he may be caught off guard and give the wrong information.
     

  5. Do written amounts and numbers correspond?
    Banks will not honor checks with discrepancies.
     

  6. Is the I.D. used recorded?
    Record on the check the type of I.D. and I.D. numbers as well as the clerk’s initials who takes the check.  It is very important to get a driver’s license number.


B.  PROCEDURE WHEN A CHECK IS RETURNED

 

There are certain procedures you must follow before this office will accept a returned check for prosecution:

 

The check must be presented to the bank for payment, even if you know it will not be honored, and stamped by the bank as to the reason for dishonorment.

 

If the check is returned insufficient funds, you must send written notification to the check writer informing him or her of the reason the check was not honored.

 

The written notice must be sent certified, return receipt requested.  The sample letter attached sets out the information which must be included.  If it is a company check, the letter must be addressed to the person who signed the check.  This is why it is important that the signature is legible.  If you cannot read the signature, ask for the name and driver’s license of the signer.

 

If the check is returned account closed, no letter is required.  If the check is stamped nsf and account closed, a certified letter is required.

 

Be sure to keep a copy of this letter.  If, after ten (10) days the check has not been paid, you must provide our office with the following:

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  1. The original item the bank returns with the reason it was not honored

  2. The signed receipt from the certified letter or the correspondence (unopened) marked refused or unclaimed.

  3. A copy of your letter

  4. A copy of the invoice, if there is one

  5. The name, address, and phone number of the person who accepted the check and who can identify the maker

  6. The Request to File a Charge form filled out completely


C.  PROCEDURE WHEN THE CHECK IS TURNED OVER TO THE  PROSECUTOR’S OFFICE

 

When you bring in a check, it will be logged and a search made to see if the maker has any other worthless check offense pending.  If there is, yours may be combined with the one previously filed.

If not, the office usually notifies the writer that a case is about to be filed against him.  If he does not make restitution, prosecution procedures will be started.

The Worthless Check Fee Act was passed by the Legislature to defray some of the prosecution expense and require the worthless check writer to help bear the cost of his misdeed.  Because of the worthless check fee, it may cost the issuer up to double the amount of the check.  After filing, there could be additional expenses of a fine and court costs.

When any monies are collected, we will send you a check from our office.  If you move or your business closes, please notify us immediately with an address so we may forward any restitution collected.

Once the check has been turned over to us, you should not accept any monies for payment of the check.  You need to advise the check writer to contact our office.

Hopefully, this explains the importance of your role in getting the necessary information to enable this office to control the worthless check problem and get you the restitution you deserve.

If you have any questions or problems, please contact my staff or me.  We will be glad to help in any way.
 

D.  SAMPLE LETTER

 

Dear Mr. Doe:

 

Your check #000 dated May 1, 2002, in the amount of $000.00 given for

the stereo you purchased on the same date has been returned by the State Bank

marked insufficient funds (or other reason marked on the check by the bank).

 

You have ten (10) days from the date of this letter to bring payment in cash, cashier’s check, or money order for the total amount of $000.00 or this matter will be turned over t o the District Attorney’s Office for prosecution.

 

Sincerely,

 

CHECKS OUR OFFICE CANNOT PROSECUTE

  1. A check for which the items of purchase have been returned

  2. A check for which you have refused to accept the face value

  3.  A third-party check

  4. A stop-payment check

  5. A check stamped Refer to Maker,  “Blocked/Frozen” and Drawn Against Uncollected Funds

  6. A check given for child support

  7. A post-dated check

  8. A held check

  9. A check not presented to the bank within ten (10) business days may be considered a held check

  10. A check given for a pay-day loan

  11. A check given for investments

  12. A check given for commission

  13. A check given for a gift or donation

  14. A check given for an insurance premium

  15. A check given on layaway items

  16.  A check given in exchange for a returned check

  17. A check equal to or less than $300.00 dated more than two years old

  18. A check $500.00 or greater dated more than four years old

  19. A check not issued within this parish

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