Expert: Robin Sexton - 7/17/2008

Question
IM GOING TO COURT TODAY FOR A BAD CHECK THAT I GUESS I WROTE,TWO SEPERATE TOTALING 837.00,PROBLEM IS I DON'T RECALL WRITING THESE CHECKS,IF I DID I WOULD'VE REMEMBERED.I WANTED INFO TO WHERE I WROTE THESE CHECKS TO DO A LITTLE INVESTIGATION BUT THE COURT CLERK TOLD ME I NEED TO COME IN TO COURT TO GET THE INFO,SO TODAY IS COURT FOR ME,DO YOU KNOW IF I'LL BE SENTENCED TODAY?I KNOW I DID NOT WRITE THOSE CHECKS,BUT HOW CAN SOMEONE ELSE USE ANOTHERS CHECK SINCE STORES REQUEST FOR ID'S,I'M SO SCARED AND FREAKED OUT.CAN SOMEONE USE A STOLEN CHECK W?O AN ID?

Answer
Dorine,

Don't panic,  bad checks is not a real serious offense.  You won't be sentenced to day unless you plead guilty.  Someone from the police department should have contacted you about the checks, in some states it is required to notify the account holder of the check prior to charging.  When you get to court ask to see the check and check the signature and endorsement.  Stores frequently take checks without identification and there is also false ID.  Get your information from the police / court / prosecutor and try to determine what is going on.  This is one reason why people should be reconciling there checking, credit accounts monthly so they can see what is going on. Also lot of banks have overdraft protection and notification.

Good luck

Robin