Legal Question in Criminal Law in Iowa

Paid with a bad check

I sold a car and a stove to a person for $250 (total). 2 weeks later I got the check in the mail, from my bank. It was not honored due to NSF. The first thing I did was call her bank to see if I brought the check in, was there enough in the account to pay it. There was not. So I immediately attempted to make contact with the person, and she informed me that her daughter had used her debit card, that she knew that the check had bounced, and that she would pay me yesterday (her payday) as soon as she got off work. She also said she'd been ''wracking her brain trying to figure out how to contact me without coming to my house'' ??!!??

Anyway, she didn't pay me yet, and I don't know what steps I should take to recoup my money and/or property, or what the laws in this state actually are for a situation such as this.

Please hurry with your advice, as if I need to see the county attorney on Monday I need an answer on this before then.

Thanks so much, in advance.


Asked on 9/29/07, 11:12 am

1 Answer from Attorneys
Robert Luedeman solo practitioner

Re: Paid with a bad check

I'd let the county attorney work it over. The chances of getting anything out of this person without a struggle are miniscule. If she knew the check had bounced but did nothing about it, that should tell you something. Perhaps the odor of a forgery charge will bring her to her senses.

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Answered on 9/29/07, 5:16 pm


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