Returned check

[California Girl]

So I got a check for a wedding a couple weeks ago (music) and deposited it. Yesterday, I get the check back from my bank with a statement, $10 has been charged to your account for handling this bad check, as well as the check. I called the bank.
I understand I get charged for their bad check, but why isn't the check returned to the person who wrote it?
Answer: You can try again to cash it, but if there are insufficient funds, you will be out another $10. It's a $30 check which has already cost me $10, but for another $10, I can risk clearing $20.
I asked, is the writer of the check aware that there were insufficient funds?
I'm sure she is.
How many checks were issued that day?
How many checks were returned?
And, should I even bother to do anything. I will be seeing this person regularly in church for the forseeable future...she must be embarrassed. I do not have a set fee for providing music so this was pretty much a gift.
I so enjoy these types of situations.

 

[DawnCt1]

Can you try to cash the check at the "gift giver's" bank and prior to submitting the check, ask the teller to tell you if there are sufficient funds? If there aren't, then return the check to the giver and tell her that there were insufficient funds and perhaps now is not a good time for her to give a wedding present.

 

[California Girl]

Can you try to cash the check at the "gift giver's" bank and prior to submitting the check, ask the teller to tell you if there are sufficient funds? If there aren't, then return the check to the giver and tell her that there were insufficient funds and perhaps now is not a good time for her to give a wedding present.

I probably won't bother. Your suggestion is a good one. I guess you could say this was one of those "I don't believe it" threads. I already gave a gift so that's not an option. It was one of those weddings where things were done as inexpensively as possible. I sort of felt sorry for them; there wasn't a wedding cake, there were wedding pies....just real different.

 

[golfgal]

The gift giver will get an NSF charge as well. If you resubmit it and there is still insufficient funds, they will get charged again. You got the actual check back because it is your "proof" of non-payment and you can use that to try to collect the funds. Like you said, it was $30, your choice as to whether you want to go after the money or not but collection agencies will try to not only collect the $30 but any other charges (the $10 in your case) as well. I am kind of surprised your bank charged you for the check though. I had that happen to me where I had cashed a check from a Pampered Chef party and the check was returned to me but the bank didn't charge me for that. The PC consultant went after the person that wrote the bad check so I don't know what happened after that.

 

[irishbosoxfan]

I would just throw the check away and consider a little of my time and talent as part of the gift I gave them.
Obviously they don't have much and even with all they didn't do it was still above their means.
While it stinks to not be paid, the time and money it would cost just to get the $30 isn't worth it.
Throw the check away and offer a little prayer that one day these people will be better off than they are today!

 

[BirdsOfPreyDave]

Is this someone you know and will be seeing at church or anything? Like has already been said, the person who wrote you the check is going to get a notice from their bank saying they bounced the check. I'd wait and see if their conscience leads them to call you to apologize and ask you to try the check again.

If it were me, I'd just write it off if I didn't hear from them.

Sorry it wound up costing you money instead of earning you money. Think of it as a deposit in your karma account instead of your checking account. It sounds like the bride probably didn't get the fantasy wedding she'd always dreamed of. But you at least helped to bring something special to their wedding through your music.

 

[mickeyboat]

Is this someone you know and will be seeing at church or anything? Like has already been said, the person who wrote you the check is going to get a notice from their bank saying they bounced the check. I'd wait and see if their conscience leads them to call you to apologize and ask you to try the check again.

If it were me, I'd just write it off if I didn't hear from them.

Sorry it wound up costing you money instead of earning you money. Think of it as a deposit in your karma account instead of your checking account. It sounds like the bride probably didn't get the fantasy wedding she'd always dreamed of. But you at least helped to bring something special to their wedding through your music.

I agree.

Denae

 

[Tiffer]

I probably won't bother. Your suggestion is a good one. I guess you could say this was one of those "I don't believe it" threads. I already gave a gift so that's not an option. It was one of those weddings where things were done as inexpensively as possible. I sort of felt sorry for them; there wasn't a wedding cake, there were wedding pies....just real different.

I am confused. You worked at the wedding? Or you ar a gift recipient?

 

[kimber79]

I would just throw the check away and consider a little of my time and talent as part of the gift I gave them.
Obviously they don't have much and even with all they didn't do it was still above their means.
While it stinks to not be paid, the time and money it would cost just to get the $30 isn't worth it.
Throw the check away and offer a little prayer that one day these people will be better off than they are today!

Very well said!!

I am confused. You worked at the wedding? Or you ar a gift recipient?

She worked it ~ she played the music!

Is this someone you know and will be seeing at church or anything? Like has already been said, the person who wrote you the check is going to get a notice from their bank saying they bounced the check. I'd wait and see if their conscience leads them to call you to apologize and ask you to try the check again.

If it were me, I'd just write it off if I didn't hear from them.

Sorry it wound up costing you money instead of earning you money. Think of it as a deposit in your karma account instead of your checking account. It sounds like the bride probably didn't get the fantasy wedding she'd always dreamed of. But you at least helped to bring something special to their wedding through your music.

Absolutely! Sounds as if you helped their day be a more special one!

 

[horseshowmom]

I probably won't bother. Your suggestion is a good one. I guess you could say this was one of those "I don't believe it" threads. I already gave a gift so that's not an option. It was one of those weddings where things were done as inexpensively as possible. I sort of felt sorry for them; there wasn't a wedding cake, there were wedding pies....just real different.

Normally, I would take it to their bank and try again (as previously suggested), but under these circumstances, I would probably just let it go like you're saying. But, at least you know you have the option of trying again if you want (just don't put it through your bank! ).

 

[poohandwendy]

I would just throw the check away and consider a little of my time and talent as part of the gift I gave them.
Obviously they don't have much and even with all they didn't do it was still above their means.
While it stinks to not be paid, the time and money it would cost just to get the $30 isn't worth it.
Throw the check away and offer a little prayer that one day these people will be better off than they are today!

I totally agree, that is what I would do.

 

[Tiffer]

She worked it ~ she played the music!



For $30?

 

[California Girl]

She worked it ~ she played the music!



For $30?

I was asked to play, sort of last minute. I agreed. I have done weddings before, generally for friends, as in this case, and have been given a gift, as in this case (rather than payment which is really just a matter of semanitics). My participation lasted less than five minutes. It was to provide background music with another musician (strictly instrumental) while the bride and groom did the candle lighting and took communion. I was handed a card (thank you note) by the wedding coordinator. Inside was a check for $30. Had I been paid nothing, I would not have cared one way or the other. I would have been at the wedding anyway and when asked, I was happy to contribute. My reaction to the returned check is actually of concern for the well being of this couple. I really don't care about the money. I just thought it odd, more about the bank, than the returned check. I like these kids, but I think they are going to face some difficulties because of the way they have been more or less sheltered by their environments. This may be a sympton of that, or maybe it was just an honest mistake.

Sometimes people post interesting situations on these boards. I thought this might be one of them.

For playing at wedding I have been given:
Nothing
An album
A traveller's check that was virtually impossible for me to cash.
More money than I deserved,
and now
a bounced check.

 

[Tiggeroo]

I would drop it. They're a young couple at church. Eventually they'll realize what happened and be very embarrased. They'll either replace the funds or try to pretend it didin't happen. They probably cut themselves to the bone for the wedding, wrote a bunch of checks, and miscalculated just a bit on their bank balance. Perhaps they deposited wedding gift checks that took longer to clear then they thought or maybe one of them bounced.
I can't imagine that most people haven't bounced a check once or twice in their life. It's a mistake that you realize is costly while young and hopefully learn from.