What happens when you write a check and it bounces?

Question

When you write a check and it bounces does it go directly to the district attorney or do they try to cash it again?

Thank you everyone for answering this question. The check went to Telecheck and I was charged 30 dollars from the bank and 30 dollars from Telecheck. They ran it through again and finally got the money :)

Answer 1

Contact them and make arrangements. They can submit the check to the DA if they want to but would love to here from you and learn how you are going to pay for it first.

The DA will do nothing if you make a good faith effort to right the situation.

Most Likely: If you don't have overdraft protection, the vendor and your bank will nail you for charges that typically range from $20 to $75 combined.

Worst Case: You may face other penalties: If you're paying off a credit-card bill, you could end up being charged a late fee, as well as interest on the outstanding balance. And depending on state laws, the incident could go on your credit record.


How do overdrafts and bounced checks happen?
When you
write a check,
withdraw money from an ATM,
use your debit card to make a purchase, or
make an automatic bill payment or other electronic payment
for more than the amount in your checking account, you overdraw your account. Your bank (or your savings and loan or credit union) has the choice to either pay the amount or not. If it pays even though you don’t have the money in your account, you may be charged an "overdraft" fee. If your bank returns your check without paying it, you may be charged a "bounced-check," or "nonsufficient funds," fee. And the person or company that you wrote the check to--for example, a store, your landlord, or the phone company--may charge you a "returned-check" fee in addition to the fee your bank charges you.



The best way to avoid overdraft and bounced-check fees is to manage your account so you don’t overdraw it.

Keep track of how much money you have in your checking account by keeping your account register up-to-date. Record all checks when you write them and other transactions when you make them. And don’t forget to subtract any fees.

Pay special attention to your electronic transactions. Record your ATM withdrawals and fees, debit card purchases, and online payments.

Don’t forget about automatic bill payments you may have set up for utilities, insurance, or loan payments.

Keep an eye on your account balance. Remember that some checks and automatic payments may not have cleared yet.

Review your account statements each month. Between statements, you can find out which payments have cleared and check your balance by calling your bank or by checking online or at an ATM. Be sure to find out the actual amount in your account--your account balance not including any funds available to you through "courtesy overdraft-protection," or "bounce coverage," plans.

Sometimes mistakes happen. If you do overdraw your account, deposit money into the account as soon as possible to cover the overdraft amount plus any fees and daily charges from your bank. Depositing money into your account can help you avoid additional overdrafts and fees.

Answer 2

Mistake happen to us all just try to keep track with the amount you have in your checking account because a steady track record of this then it will be possible you would go to jail for Writing Bad Checks but just inform your bank or try to put the amount into your account ASAP if you could, if not either way you will still have to owe the balance plus a fee for writing that check plus a store fee also on all returned checks anyway Take Care

Answer 3

Most times they run the check twice and if it bounces again, the check is returned to the business. The business will then notify you that they have your returned check. You will then pay the amount of the check and a return check fee, (which is whatever that business charges) in certain amount of time. If it is not paid by that time, then they can send it to the district attorney's office. But it could take a while for them to contact you to let you know it went there. The district attorney's office gives you a chance to pay and when you pay sometimes they will resolve the matter then and sometimes even when you pay it, they still give you a misdemeanor record and it stays on your record for a year, for felony check writing.

Answer 4

It does not go to the district attorney. If every bounced check did go there, the district attorney's office would be overwhelmed in about 20 minutes.

You will be charged a hefty returned check charge from your bank, usually about $50.

Whoever you wrote the check to might not accept another one from you and charge you for their bank fee as well (they got hit with a bounced check fee when they depositied your check, banks hit both sides). So you're now looking at an increased amount that you'll probably have to pay by money order or cashier's check.

Answer 5

Your best bet is to contact the person who you wrote the cheque to an the bank, work out a payment arrangement. Offer a bank draft, certified cheque or money order(inclusive of any fees or penalties they may have incurred by your negligence) then you want to contact the bank.

The bank may very well freeze you account.

As long as it was an honest mistake and you address it in a prompt and responsible matter you should not have a problem.

If this is a repeated pattern, then yes charges may very well be laid.

Answer 6

if i write a check and it bounces one of two things can happen my bank will pay it and charge me a fee, the bank will not pay it and the other persons bank will charge them a fee or they other persons bank will hold that check for a couple of days then try again if it does not go through the other person bank will charge them a fee as well as your bank but it does not go to a DA unless there are criminal issues with it

former bank employee

Answer 7

If you have the cash, save yourself some trouble and go to the place and pay them with an apology. You will get a mark on your credit and probably have to pay a fee to both your bank and the recipient for having bounced the check.

Answer 8

You will have to pay the amount of the check and a fee of $20-$50 dollars depending on how much the bank charged the person/company you wrote the bad check to.

Oh, and you will have to pay it back in cash, money order or official bank check.

Answer 9

They try to cash it again, and some companies, try to contact you and after that they send it to the DA offices. You will need to pay them the original sum, their bounce check fees, your bank bounce check fees and if it goes to court the court cost and DA fees.

Answer 10

you're going to be charged a fee from your bank and are going to have to find another way to pay the person or company that you were writing the check to.