Ready or not, the holidays are just around the corner!  Retail merchants have been busy all summer preparing for the Christmas shopping season and what may be their last chance to meet projected annual sales goals.  Consumers have learned the best deals are available to those who shop during the late holiday season when merchants slash prices.  These bargains attract many shoppers; however, unfortunately for merchants the increase in sales often results in higher losses due to bad checks. 

The District Attorney’s Office is always concerned about the negative impact of bad checks passed to local businesses and at no time is this more imperative than during the holiday season.  To help merchants keep bad check losses to a minimum, the Tulare County District Attorney’s Office recommends taking the following precautions with every check transaction:

• Ask to see the customer’s Drivers License and record the number on the front of the check.  Accept only a valid California license.  No license, no check!
• Record both the home and work telephone numbers on the front of the check.
• Do not accept a “post-dated” or “two-party” check and never agree to “hold” a check for any length of time.
• Checks with only a P.O. Box address are risky; be sure to record the customer’s complete address on the front of this type of check.
• Do not accept “counter” or temporary checks printed by the bank for a new account.
• Every check should be signed in your presence; do not accept previously signed checks.
• Accept checks for the amount of purchase only; avoid giving cash back.
• No out-of-state checks; they are very difficult to recover if returned by the bank.
• Use caution when accepting a check from out of your area.  Ask the customer why they are shopping so far from their home?
• Learn to trust your instincts! If something seems wrong, it probably is. Suggest an alternate method of payment like cash, credit card or a bank check card.

Despite taking recommended precautions, it is highly probable the bank will return some checks.  If this happens, help is available through the District Attorney’s Bad Check Restitution Program.  This unique program provides assistance free of cost to recipients of bad checks.  The primary goal of the program is to obtain restitution and secondly, to hold bad check writers accountable for their actions.  Check writers reported to the program must pay restitution and attend a special educational class on personal money management or risk having their case reviewed for a possible criminal filing.

To learn more about the District Attorney’s Bad Check Restitution Program and how we can help your business, contact the Merchant Care Hotline:  (866) 382-9304 or visit the Bad Check Program’s website:  http://www.checkprogram.com/tularecountyca