Legal Question in Credit and Debt Law in Virginia

I have a bad check that I just found out about to a local grocery store. I called the grocery main office, told them that I kept coming up with a wrong balance on my checking statements and after working with the bank to find out what it was, it was a $35.93 check that I wrote to them. I informed their accounting office that I was calling to pay that check and any service charge that may apply (It was just a math error on my part)

I was informed that they no longer had my check but had sent it to a company in Virginia (where the check was written) for recovery and gave me a phone number for them.

I called, and was told I was speaking with the Attorney General Office Check Enforcement Program. I told her I was calling to pay my returned check and she pulls that account and says I owe them $185.93!!! I asked what for since the grocery store told me it would be around $70 that included their service charge, and was told it was $35.93 for the check...$25.00 Victim Fee $40.00 Program Fee AND $85.00 Financial Management Class that was Mandatory!? Is this legal? I just want to pay my check and I will gladly pay service charge for the inconvenience, but over 5 times the amount of my check? That seems a little ridiculas, but I am not sure what to do. The grocery store won't take payment from me, and this Check Enforcement won't take any less than $185.93. HELP!!

Also.. I was never contacted by anyone. I found out and went in pursuit of this myself to pay it. Two days AFTER my call to Check Enforcement


Asked on 9/11/09, 3:17 pm

1 Answer from Attorneys

Michael Hendrickson Law Office Michael E. Hendrickson

Better pay the $185.93.

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Answered on 9/16/09, 3:40 pm


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