Consumer Protection Advice

[sjainga]

What is the name of your state? Georgia

I purchased some hardwood, shoe molding, and t-molding from a vendor in Florida in January of 2006. I sent the vendor a personal check and the hardwood was delivered, but the shoe molding and t-molding never arrived despite my several attempts to get them to ship it. I also noticed that the vendor never cashed the check. A year later, in February of 2007, I get a call from the vendor to tell me that they had lost the check and would like me to reissue a check. While I am perfectly willing to do so after deducting the cost of items that were not delivered, the vendors attitude has been that I am at fault for non-payment.

I want to find out if I there are any consumer protection laws for incidents such as this and what precautions, if any, I should take other than putting a stop payment on the check.

 

[moburkes]

Are you saying that he does not want you to deduct what you haven't received? Why not just charge it to a credit card (then pay it off) so that you will have the protection that a credit card affords? Why are you making these purchases difficult for yourself (on purpose)?

 

[sjainga]

Are you saying that he does not want you to deduct what you haven't received? Why not just charge it to a credit card (then pay it off) so that you will have the protection that a credit card affords? Why are you making these purchases difficult for yourself (on purpose)?

Thanks for you response. They do not accept credit card payments, hence I am looking for advice on what I need to do to protect myself from future misuse of the check if it is found.

 

[moburkes]

Thanks for you response. They do not accept credit card payments, hence I am looking for advice on what I need to do to protect myself from future misuse of the check if it is found.

You didn't ask that in your original post. Put a stop payment on the check. If they ever sue you, you will have proof that you stopped payment (if even necessary, since the check is a year old) and reissued it. However, I can't imagine doing business with a company that won't accept a credit card.

 

[sjainga]

You didn't ask that in your original post. Put a stop payment on the check. If they ever sue you, you will have proof that you stopped payment (if even necessary, since the check is a year old) and reissued it. However, I can't imagine doing business with a company that won't accept a credit card.

I lost a check once and the university where I worked asked me to file a notarized statement indicating that I had lost the check before they would reissue a check. Should I ask for a similar statement from them? Or is this a one way street where only businesses and government agencies can demand such a statement.

 

[moburkes]

I lost a check once and the university where I worked asked me to file a notarized statement indicating that I had lost the check before they would reissue a check. Should I ask for a similar statement from them? Or is this a one way street where only businesses and government agencies can demand such a statement.

You can ask for whatever you'd like. There is no harm in asking for it.