Customer keeps bouncing checks

[b1st]

What is the name of your state? Virginia

Hello all,

I've been browsing the forum for a little while now and I appreciate everyone's thoughtful and experienced advices.

My father owns a small business and he has a customer (also a small business) that keeps bouncing checks. He has now bounced 4 checks totaling about $1800 over the past month and my Dad is tired of driving to the customer's store to collect money. The customer's business is in Maryland. So I figured I'll file a claim for my Dad in Virginia for the debt. I'm just going to fill out the form and give it to the customer without filing with the court hoping that this will be enough for him to pay up. If not, I don't have problem bringing him to the court. A few questions:

- Should my Dad be filing in Virginia or Maryland? The "Warrant in Debt" form says to the defendant something to the effect of "if you think this should have been filed elsewhere (city/county) it's up to you to let the judge know that b/f the serving date". I'm guessing that means that my Dad can file in his convenience and let the defendant figure out where it should have been filed

- I'm hoping that we're not breaking any law by sending him a claims form without actually filing it? I'm going to write him a letter and say that we're _not_ filing this yet so we won't be falsifying anything.

- Are there better ways to deal with bounced checks?

Thanks in advance for any input you have.

[debtcollector`]

Stop taking his checks.

Put the customer on a cash basis only.

DC

[b1st]

Yeah, I don't think my dad is going to sell anything to him now. He's just trying to get what he's owed and move on.

[GulfBreeze]

Originally Posted by debtcollector`

Stop taking his checks.

Put the customer on a cash basis only.

DC

CASH?

Ever heard of "MONEY ORDERS"?.... nobody deals in cash, least not in business. That leads to more problems. Keeping records and receipts and tax filing purposes. But as usual, DC offers "great advice"....

[Zigner]

Originally Posted by GulfBreeze

CASH?

Ever heard of "MONEY ORDERS"?.... nobody deals in cash, least not in business. That leads to more problems. Keeping records and receipts and tax filing purposes. But as usual, DC offers "great advice"....

Gulf - think about what you're saying.
Have you bought anything retail recently? 7-11, gas, McDonalds?
And, if you want to talk business-to-business...yes, they DO take cash. I'm not sure I understand why you think any of the paperwork is any more cumbersome. If I take a check, I still may issue a receipt, I still have to deposit it, and I still have to report it for tax purposes...what's the difference?

[GulfBreeze]

Originally Posted by Zigner

Gulf - think about what you're saying.
Have you bought anything retail recently? 7-11, gas, McDonalds?
And, if you want to talk business-to-business...yes, they DO take cash. I'm not sure I understand why you think any of the paperwork is any more cumbersome. If I take a check, I still may issue a receipt, I still have to deposit it, and I still have to report it for tax purposes...what's the difference?

With my apologies. I wasn't talking retail consumer spending. I was talking business accounts that handle more than a few dollars. I didnt realize we were talking some change. Business accounts (not lemonade stands) for the most part, simply don't deal in cash transactions. They receive product or services and bill them on a timed basis, usually monthly or even less if needed. Then, they simply issue a check to pay the current balance on the acount and move forward. It would be risky to be handling thousands of dollars with cash. Not just with the paperwork, but with the idea of having that money exchanging hands. On second thought, I guess drug dealers prefer cash...my bad.