what will happen if i go to court for passing bad checks?

Answer 1

it's fraud, and if you can't pay you are probably going to jail depending on how many you passed, and over what period of time.

Answer 2

Passing bad checks is a way that people get what they need now and hope to pay later. Trouble is, their timing is off or they have no intention to pay later and the check bounces. The merchant is left with a bad check. Whether you pass bad checks because you're dishonest or it's a simple accident, stiff penalties can apply. Criminal charges can be brought against you if the DA can prove all criminal elements especially fraud and intent. Merchants lose hundreds of thousands every year in bad checks and the consumer who pays by legitimate means ends up picking up the tab. You cannot however, escape risk free.

There are a number of unpleasant consequences for writing bad checks:

-You could be charged fees

-Your bank or credit union could charge you an overdraft fee, which is typically around $25.00 per check

-The place you wrote the check could also charge you a fee

-The place you wrote the check could refuse to take any more checks from you

-You could receive calls and letters asking you to repay the money

-Your name and account information could be reported to an agency, like SCAN, Telecheck, Equifax Check Solutions, or others where it would be placed on a bad check list

-Then, other places could refuse to take your checks

-Your bank could close your checking account

-You would not be able to write checks

-Your bank could report your closed account to ChexSystems. As a result other banks could refuse to open a checking account for you for some time.

-You can ruin your debit history

Civil & Criminal Penalties
Bad checks, also known as NSF checks, bounced checks, rubber checks, etc., can be a big problem for any credit department. There are both civil and criminal penalties for this unlawful act, although it is much more costly and difficult to prove a criminal case.

Answer 3

It depends. Can intent be proven, how many bad checks did you write, what was the amount involved, things like that. You could be charged with fraud, theft, defrauding an innkeeper, forgery, ect. If this is your first offense, you may get off with community service or you could be looking at jail time. If you can afford an attorney, get one. The attorney appointed to you will only want to get your case over with and move on to the next person. You are far less likely to get jail time if you hire an attorney.

Answer 4

It will depend on which state you live in... but depending on how much those bad checks add up to will depend on if you have to pay restitution - or if you go to Jail..... or prison.

I know of one lady that got 5 years in prison for writing bad checks... a lot of bad checks...

Get your life together and don't buy things you can not afford.

DUH!

Answer 5

This is not a good practice at any age --it all depends on how many bad checks you are writing and how often you are doing this. Stop now while you recognize your problem or else the law will stop you

Answer 6

it depends how many .. restitution if its 1 or 2 but you could go to jail if knowingly passed a bad check and you could go there for 366 days

Answer 7

Actually if they can prove you did this on purpose, you could be liable for treble damages, which means you would have to repay 3 times the amount of the check.

Answer 8

Probably be forced to reimburse the bad checks. Unless you have priors, then expect some jail time. But, it's all up to the judge.

Answer 9

I can tell you what will happem if you don't go to court. You get arrested on a warrant and you are even more screwed than you were in the first place!!

Answer 10

Depending on the state and the dollar amount could be jail time and a felony record.

Answer 11

ive never been to jail and i did at least 30 checks for pizza places and walmart albertsons and ralphs just dont take it over the limit and if u do you will only do very little time if this is your first offense