WWYD - Paycheck bounced - UPDATE #44

[EllenFrasier]

Last Saturday we received a notice of insufficient funds for my paycheck! We had deposited it the Saturday before, so it took a week for our bank to get a copy of the check to us and let us know that the money was not in the account. Luckily we had not drawn checks on this amount. I emailed my boss right away - small business I work for and she does the payroll herself. She was sick on that Friday and I didn't want to call her in case she was sleeping, figured she could handle this as soon as she was able. I have received several emails from her regarding clients and my schedule, but nothing about the paycheck. I emailed her back in response to her emails, and added in a reminder about the bounced paycheck - still nothing.
I deposited another paycheck this Saturday which means I probably would not find out if there was a problem with it until this coming Saturday. I am really hoping that there isn't.
I know she is sick, possibly the flu, and probably cannot deal with calling her bank and all that. How long does the flu last? I've never had it, but I would think she would either be getting better or going to the doctor or something. Do you just have to wait it out when you have the flu?
I need the money from my paycheck, but it's not like we are not paying bills or buying food because of not having that money right away. Should I keep emailing her about it, or assume she got the emails and is just avoiding the issue because she is too sick to deal with it right now?

 

[HelenePA]

How long has she had the flu? my son had it and it lasted about 7 days. Start to finish. He went back to school after 9 days (had to be with out a fever for 48 hrs just in case) I think you have bigger things to worry about if she's been sick longer than that!

 

[Poohbug]

This is a big red flag that the business may not be going so well. Since it is a small business-do they use a local bank? I would not deposit any more paychecks into your account. There is usually a charge from the bank for returned deposit items. I would take them directly to the bank they are drawn off of and cash them.

This needs to be addressed immediately unless you don't mind working without pay.

 

[PrincessSuzanne]

She wouldn't be putting me off this long, sick or not. You don't mess with somebodys paycheck like that. Soounds like she's avoiding you. I don't think I would be nice much longer.

 

[lovesmurfs]

Last Saturday we received a notice of insufficient funds for my paycheck! We had deposited it the Saturday before, so it took a week for our bank to get a copy of the check to us and let us know that the money was not in the account. Luckily we had not drawn checks on this amount. I emailed my boss right away - small business I work for and she does the payroll herself. She was sick on that Friday and I didn't want to call her in case she was sleeping, figured she could handle this as soon as she was able. I have received several emails from her regarding clients and my schedule, but nothing about the paycheck. I emailed her back in response to her emails, and added in a reminder about the bounced paycheck - still nothing.
I deposited another paycheck this Saturday which means I probably would not find out if there was a problem with it until this coming Saturday. I am really hoping that there isn't.
I know she is sick, possibly the flu, and probably cannot deal with calling her bank and all that. How long does the flu last? I've never had it, but I would think she would either be getting better or going to the doctor or something. Do you just have to wait it out when you have the flu?
I need the money from my paycheck, but it's not like we are not paying bills or buying food because of not having that money right away. Should I keep emailing her about it, or assume she got the emails and is just avoiding the issue because she is too sick to deal with it right now?

That is NOT right. She should have at least acknowledged receipt and told you she'd look into it. I would probably redeposit the first check. AND I'd probably start looking for another position.

 

[SaraJayne]

Stop emailing and call her immediately. Today.

Then start looking for a new job. When a paycheck bounces, it usually means the company is in financial trouble.

 

[phred52]

Stop emailing. Pick up the phone, call her and tell her your paycheck bounced. I'd then tell her straight out you NEED the money now. I'm not one who likes confrontation, but this situation needs it since she is ignoring your communication about $$ but NOT about work related things!


Let us know what she says, please

 

[prncess674]

I would stop depositing the checks and take them directly to the bank they are drawn on and cash them.

 

[lovesmurfs]

Once you call her, though, be sure to follow up the conversation with an email. You never know when you need a paper trail -- you might need dates, times, etc. later on.

And print out hard copies of your communication.

 

[disneyhand]

In addition to the advice mentioned above, she should reimburse you for any fees you may be charged.

 

[tnmt]

Wow! I agree with the others. She is avoiding you. Probably not even sick just saying that to keep you at bay long enough to get several weeks of free work out of you before you catch on to what is really going on. Take the check to the other bank and see if it bounces. I have called the bank before and told them I had a check in my hand and was wondering if it was good or not and they told me on the phone whether it would bounce or not. Try calling the bank the check is wrote on.

 

[daughtersrus]

The company that DH works for has been going through a rough patch to say the least. About 1 1/2 years ago, they did away with direct deposit. About 3 months later, they switched banks. Ever since then DH stops at their bank on the way home to cash his check. The bank doesn't charge them since they say it's a business check and not a payroll check. Even if they did charge him, it would be worth it to know that we have the cash.

 

[puffkin]

I work for a smaller company and we have good cash flow and sometimes paychecks bounce....but it is usually something funky that happens and nothing to do with the company's cash flow. It does happen though.

That being said, it sounds like she is avoiding you. I would definitely call her and demand an answer. I would also take the original check to bank it was drawn on. Sick or not, if she is responding to other emails then how hard is it to say, I'll look into it or something like that. I'd be very careful with this job. Doesn't hurt to be cautious.

 

[malibuconlee]

This is a big red flag that the business may not be going so well. Since it is a small business-do they use a local bank? I would not deposit any more paychecks into your account. There is usually a charge from the bank for returned deposit items. I would take them directly to the bank they are drawn off of and cash them.

This needs to be addressed immediately unless you don't mind working without pay.

This is what I would do. Alternately you could call the bank before going to the branch and ask if the check (both of them) would clear. If you have the check or can get the one that was returned and it will go thru I would take both into the branch today and cash them.

 

[scrapquitler]

Stop emailing and call her immediately. Today.

Then start looking for a new job. When a paycheck bounces, it usually means the company is in financial trouble.

This.

Call her, NOW. Tell her that you need CASH today. Then start looking for a new job because the company is probably going down...

 

[matt98378]

If she is not too sick to be sending you emails about work, she's not too sick to handle the matter with your paycheck. She's avoiding the question...

 

[hereyago]

Sorry if she is sick, but you know what?oh well, it's a business and she needs to take care of the people who have helped keep her business.

My time and my money are 2 things that I don't care who they are, don't get to mess with.

I once had a check that they had money, but payroll had used that check number( it was like they had duplicate check numbers that week) so I couldn't cash my check along with some others.

Right then and there I was calling my boss-who would later get fired for stealing -wow what a shocker,not. She was like, oh yea, we know ha ha. Um ok, there is still plenty of time in the day to get it fixed because I don't think you are going to be paying my overdraft fees either I can come there and you can go get another batch of checks or I will go to corporate with some other people and ask the Pres why payroll messed up.

She went and got them. My bank was actually the same bank that our checks were cashed on.

But at any rate, you have all ready earned that paycheck, get your MONEY!

 

[SaraJayne]

OP, what did she say when you called her today?

 

[happygirl]

OP you are more patient then I would be.

 

[jessicaerv]

This story reminds me a little of something that happened locally in the last few years.

There was this "gentleman" who owned several restaurant franchises (we're talking over 50 restaurants) amongst 4 or 5 different company names. One day, one of the companies folded. The next day, another one. Two weeks later, another one. You get the idea.

When it hit the news (imagine, 300 to 400 people suddenly out of jobs in the middle of this really bad economy) some employees of one of the smaller restaurant franchises told the story of how the employees would literally grab their paychecks on payday and race each other to the bank to cash out because they knew that someday someone wouldn't get their money due to insufficient funds. They were able to make it through 5 or 6 pay cycles before the inevitable occurred.

This is a HUGE red flag in terms of the solubility of the organization you are working for! I think you really need to protect yourself in this instance. You have already given the benefit of the doubt without any good faith response. Time to look out for number 1 now.