State: NH
My roommate moved out in what I thought was an amicable situation. We'd both agreed to give 3 months notice (or payment) whenever either moved out. As per that agreement (yes, unwritten), she offered to pay ahead and moved out within 2 weeks of notifying me. She was listed on our lease, but we were past our year obligation and had been on a monthly basis.
She called to let me know that she'd left me a check covering her share of 2 months' rent. I hadn't asked for the entire amount at once. I deposited the check the day she left it for me. I'd never had an problem with her paying rent or any of her checks being declined.
After being unable to pay for a doctor's appointment, I found I had $2 in my checking account after my ex-roommate's check amount was deducted. Her check was returned as "Stop Payment". Last night, I called her bank's customer service, and she'd closed her account between the time she wrote the check and when my bank tried to collect it. Today, I went in and talked to an officer at her bank and my own bank. While disgusted with her, the officer at her bank assured me that it was a legal "Stop Payment".
I admit to being furious and feeling victimized by her completely unnecessary malicious act. I know our verbal agreement means nothing legally, and as she is no longer on the lease, I have little to no legal weight there.
However, I have a check written by her when she had no intention of paying it. The abuse of "Stop Payment" seems like a loophole around a check fraud situation. While minimal, I was charged a fee by my bank for the returned check.
Ideally, I want the value of the check she wrote plus my bank fee and the fee for a relative to wire me money so I wouldn't be overdrawn until getting paid next week.
Emotional vindication aside, is this worth pursuing?
My roommate moved out in what I thought was an amicable situation. We'd both agreed to give 3 months notice (or payment) whenever either moved out. As per that agreement (yes, unwritten), she offered to pay ahead and moved out within 2 weeks of notifying me. She was listed on our lease, but we were past our year obligation and had been on a monthly basis.
She called to let me know that she'd left me a check covering her share of 2 months' rent. I hadn't asked for the entire amount at once. I deposited the check the day she left it for me. I'd never had an problem with her paying rent or any of her checks being declined.
After being unable to pay for a doctor's appointment, I found I had $2 in my checking account after my ex-roommate's check amount was deducted. Her check was returned as "Stop Payment". Last night, I called her bank's customer service, and she'd closed her account between the time she wrote the check and when my bank tried to collect it. Today, I went in and talked to an officer at her bank and my own bank. While disgusted with her, the officer at her bank assured me that it was a legal "Stop Payment".
I admit to being furious and feeling victimized by her completely unnecessary malicious act. I know our verbal agreement means nothing legally, and as she is no longer on the lease, I have little to no legal weight there.
However, I have a check written by her when she had no intention of paying it. The abuse of "Stop Payment" seems like a loophole around a check fraud situation. While minimal, I was charged a fee by my bank for the returned check.
Ideally, I want the value of the check she wrote plus my bank fee and the fee for a relative to wire me money so I wouldn't be overdrawn until getting paid next week.
Emotional vindication aside, is this worth pursuing?
