Bounced check

[alan and carolyn barnard]

This happened to me only once, thank goodness, in the piano business. What
I did was call her bank and tell them that I had a check from such and such
account for so much money and if I came down to the bank, would it clear. I
did this every week or so and they always said it would not. After about 3
months they said yes and I zipped to the bank. The wanted to know why I'd
held it so long and I was deeee-lighted to explain it to her bank. They
photocopied the check, along with my driver's license, etc., to cover their
derrieres, and gave me the cash.

I figured this might cause her further problems so, being the noble sort
that I pretend to be, I called her--she didn't pick up the phone, of
course--and left a message saying "Hi, I was able to cash that check, so
the account is all paid. Thanks."

If you only ran it though the bank once, I believe most banks--or the rules
in most states--allow you to try it a second time. Whether banks in your
area will let you handle this in the small-town, folksy way I did, I do not
know.

The other thing you can do if all else fails is drop by the County
Sheriffs' office and file a formal complaint. They aren't likely to strike
up a grand jury for your one little check, but usually people who do this
sort of thing once, do it a lot. The cops might be building a file that
they WILL prosecute. Maybe just a threat to do that--via a letter--will be
enough to prompt some action.

One small possibility (but I mention it because it also did once happen to
me) is that something has happened beyond the customer's ability to cope.
In my case, her son was in a bad wreck halfway across the country so she
bought airline tickets, etc., which put her over limit in her checking
account then she was out of town for nearly three weeks. When she returned,
she made everything right and was apologetic. The son came out okay, btw.

In another instance, I had a person just ignore my bill and reminders, so
it wasn't a bad check issue, but she was in a real crappy marriage (major
abuse, etc.) and I just decided to let it go. Then, almost a year later,
her mother sent me a check from her home several states away with a copy of
the bill.

Point being: There are some mighty fine people out there in mighty bad
circumstances. And there are some real two-legged turds running around out
there, too. It's always a challenge to discern the difference.

One last thing, since my fingers are already wiggling, and this is an
extremely important thing I've learned from many years in business: If a
reasonable effort doesn't produce results, absolutely and completely drop
it--let it go--because if you keep carrying the little grudge around it
will do nothing to the person who cheated you but it will slowly eat you
alive from the inside out. Promise! Guarantee! Been there, done that, got
the souvenir T-shirt.

In another business, I was once owed thousands of bucks from a list of
about 20 people at a time when I could really have used the cash. I let it
ruin my sleep for about two years before I woke up (as in "... forgive us
our debts as we forgive our debtors"). I wrote a letter to each person
saying in effect that if the problem was because they were unhappy with my
services (executive career management) or felt I had wronged or offended
them in some way then I apologize. And in any event I frankly forgive the
debt, etc., and wish you well. The result? Names and faces that had been
haunting me day and night suddenly evaporated. Two weeks after I did it, I
don't think I could even have told you any of the names. And one guy sent
me what he owed and the most sincere apology I've ever seen!

So there ya go. Try to get the money, but don't go for revenge or voodoo
curses. That's my advice.

Alan Barnard
Salem, Missouri


> [Original Message]
> From: Aart in America Piano Services <aartinamerica@optonline.net>
> To: Pianotech <pianotech@ptg.org>
> Date: 05/08/2005 6:26:38 PM
> Subject: Bounced check
>
> Hello List.
>
> Any advice on what to do when a customer bounces their check for your 
> services and does not return your phone calls?
>
> Thanks,
>
> Aart
>
> _______________________________________________
> pianotech list info: https://www.moypiano.com/resources/#archives