The past 2 years we haven't taken checks as payment for our fundraisers. Yes the parents complain a bit but once we explain about the NSF checks, they usually understand.

We try to call the parent and give them 10 days to clear up the situation. In our communtity that is the way we choose to deal with our parents, Sometimes banks will close a checking account if checks are stolen and if your checks are stolen so is your register. It's hard to remember what you wrote last. We are not charged a fee so if we do not receive payment within the 10 days we send a certified letter to try to collect. We do not give out the merchandise. Unfortunately there are situations when you do. I am all in favor of taking legal action if the amount is worth it. $12.00 I might forgive but $400.00, I'd file a legal complaint. PS Remember that sometimes banks do the craziest things...It takes a banker to know!!!

Hi, just a little thing we do, on a seperate paper I write down name check number amount andwhen or if the dposit was made. I'ts a little more work, but then you can say yes the check has or has not cleared.

We have all our fundraisers pre paid for this reason alone. If their was a discrepancy about the check I never give them the products I just tell them that its PTO procedure to check and make sure and that we are just covering ourselves.
First I would send a written letter saying the money is owed so you have documentation and that you have received no copy of her "cleared' check and that it won't be considered resolved till you do receive one. Possibly set up a payment arrangement of some sort or maybe have the principal call her.
We have checks bounce, closed accounts all that stuff. We had one bounce for $1.00 membership fee is that awful or what.

Good Luck

Cindy

sadly, people do it because they are in financial trouble. I had a girl scout family keep $500 worth of money due to our troop. Turns out they paid the rent with the cash all their friends had given them for cookies.


As far as this situation, it could be the same. The mistake that was made was that the product was given out. I would have been FIRM on policy, and told my volunteers to make me the bad guy and tell her that they were sorry, but they couldn't give her the product.



Call her and ask her for the check #, account # and the date that was written on the check, as your bank needs that to trace the deposit. ( this makes her think you are giving her the benefit of the doubt.)

Then, when she makes her excuses, remind her that you are dealing with a bank, and they don't make $400 deposit mistakes. Then just simply ask, mrs XYZ, how can we best proceed to get this $400 paid?

If we have any bounced checks for our fundraiser, we know about it before we pay our vendor. We close our sale and let a week go by so that we can tally up the order. The vendor picks up the order and we have 14-20 days to see if any checks "bounced". We get any bounced check from the bank. We send a bad check letter home with a copy of the "bounced check". The person needs to pay us that money due in cash or money order format only; as well as the $12 fee we are charged for the bounced check. If not returned, we simply hold the order. If not taken care of when product comes back, we simply donate any items to the local food bank.