Worthless Check Unit

IN 1984 THE ALABAMA LEGISLATURE PASSED LAWS AUTHORIZING DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S TO ESTABLISH WORTHLESS CHECK UNITS TO AID IN THE COLLECTION AND/OR PROSECUTION OF BAD CHECKS. THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY OF THE TWELFTH CIRCUIT IMMEDIATELY ESTABLISHED THE UNIT TO SERVE THE CITIZENS AND MERCHANTS OF COFFEE AND PIKE COUNTIES.  SINCE ITS BEGINNING, THE UNIT HAS GROWN AND REFINED IN ITS OPERATION.  1996 WAS ONE OF IT'S BEST YEARS EVER, COLLECTING OVER 5,300 CHECKS WITH AN ALL TIME HIGH COLLECTION RATE OF JUST UNDER 80%. IN DOING SO THE UNIT RETURNED TO THE VICTIMS OVER $411,000.00.

If you have a question for the Worthless Check Unit, or you are a client needing to contact a Worthless Check Unit Staff, you may e-mail your question to either the Coffee County or Pike County  
Worthless Check Unit, whichever is appropriate. Again, thank you for your interest in our office and 
the Worthless Check Unit.
SERVICES OFFERED
  • ASSISTANCE WITH REQUIRED NOTIFICATION ALSO KNOWN AS THE STATUTORY NOTICE.
  • EXAMINATION OF VICTIMS BAD CHECKS FOR STATUTORY REQUIREMENTS NECESSARY FOR PROCESSING.
  • PREPARATION AND EXPLANATION OF THE COMPLAINT AND WARRANT PROCESS.
  • REPAYMENT OF THE CHECK AMOUNT PLUS A $20.00 MERCHANT FEE ON A MONTHLY BASIS.
  • A COMPLETE BREAKDOWN, UPON REPAYMENT, OF EACH AMOUNT AND THE WRITER IT WAS COLLECTED FROM.
  • ARREST OF THE CHECK WRITER.

Statutory Notice       Statutory Notice      

    (Word Format)                           (PDF Format)

  


STEP BY STEP INSTRUCTIONS

STEPS EACH VICTIM / MERCHANT SHOULD TAKE IN ORDER TO RECEIVE THE BEST SERVICE POSSIBLE

  1. INSURE THAT PROPER IDENTIFICATION IS RECORDED WHEN YOU TAKE A CHECK.

  2. DO NOT ACCEPT "TWO PARTY" OR "HOLD" CHECKS.

ONCE A CHECK HAS BEEN RETURNED

  1. EXAMINE THE CHECK FOR PROPER BANK STAMP. WE ONLY ACCEPT CHECKS MARKED INSUFFICIENT FUNDS OR ACCOUNT CLOSED. CHECKS MARKED STOP PAY, FUNDS NOT AVAILABLE OR UNAUTHORIZED SIGNATURE, CANNOT BE ACCEPTED UNDER THE LAW.

  2. SEND THE "STATUTORY NOTICE" CERTIFIED MAIL RETURN RECEIPT TO THE PERSON WHO NEGOTIATED OR GAVE THE CHECK TO YOU.

  3. IF THE RETURN RECEIPT COMES BACK SIGNED, YOU MUST WAIT TEN DAYS FROM THE DATE OF THE SIGNATURE BEFORE YOU MAY BRING THE CHECK TO THE UNIT. IF THE LETTER IS RETURNED UNCLAIMED, YOU MAY BRING THE CHECK TO US IMMEDIATELY.

  4. TAKE YOUR RETURNED CHECK ALONG WITH THE RETURN RECEIPT OR THE UNCLAIMED LETTER TO THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE IN YOUR COUNTY AND DIVISION. ALSO TAKE OR PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION YOU MAY HAVE ON THE BAD CHECK WRITER WITH YOU.

  5. EXAMINE THE COMPLAINT AND WARRANT, WHICH HAS BEEN PREPARED FOR YOU BY DISTRICT ATTORNEY PERSONNEL, FOR ACCURACY.

  6. SIGN THE COMPLAINT.

  7. CARRY THE WARRANT TO THE CIRCUIT CLERKS OFFICE AND SIGN IN FRONT OF THE MAGISTRATE. IN MOST CASES, ONCE YOU ARE AT THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE THE ENTIRE PROCESS WILL TAKE ABOUT TEN TO FIFTEEN MINUTES. 


HOW LONG WILL IT BE BEFORE I GET MY MONEY BACK?

THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY IS REQUIRED TO TAKE CERTAIN STEPS UNDER THE LAW JUST AS YOU WERE BEFORE YOU BROUGHT IT TO US. WHILE THESE STEPS ARE AUTOMATIC TO US, THEY DO REQUIRE A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF TIME BEFORE WE HAVE ENFORCEMENT AS AN OPTION. IN AN AVERAGE CASE THE TURN AROUND TIME WOULD BE APPROXIMATELY 60 DAYS. YOU MUST REMEMBER HOWEVER, THAT NOT ALL CASES ARE AVERAGE. ALSO, NOT ALL CHECKS ARE COLLECTABLE WITHOUT ARREST AND PROSECUTION. OBVIOUSLY, ANY OF THE ADDITIONAL STEPS TAKEN WILL LENGTHEN THE PROCESS WHICH IS WHY OUR FIRST PRIORITY IS TO RESTITUTE THE VICTIM IN THE MOST EXPEDIENT MANNER. WE OPERATE ON A COMPUTER TICKLER SYSTEM WHICH KEEPS US AWARE OF ALL OVERDUE CASES.

 

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