I am a new treasurer this year with our PTO and we have had 2 checks returned. The first check was less than $10 but the second check is for over $260. We have tried to get in contact with the parents (of the $260 check)and no phone calls have been returned. How do you not give out someone's product when all of these people have paid up front for the merchandise, the student sold to 20 different people but at the least the less than $10 check is for a single person (who probably already knows that it is bad but too embarrassed to come in and clear it up). We do not have a policy written and in the past the fundraiser chair has worked with the parents to get all descrepancies cleared up prior to the merchandise being released, up until this fundraiser we have not had anyone who has not cleared up their account so how should this be handled? Any suggestions would help. Thank you!

I guess I need to get a little more in depth about this. ALL[ of the checks that bounced were larger checks for the total amount of the sales. The people took cash from the buyers, and then wrote bad checks to the PTA. Which begs the question...where is the money? One of the checks was written on a closed account, which is a crime here in NY. Not that we would pursue any criminal charges, and believe me, I know families have financial difficulties, but is this not tantamount to theft?

I don't want to turn this into a moral dilemma, I truly just wanted to know if anyone has a written policy that I could use as a reference.


<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>
every phone # the school has for her, including emergency #s is disconnected<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

actually the message when you dial the # was..."this number has been changed to an unlisted number" It's fine if you don't want creditors calling, but for goodness sake, the school needs a contact number in case of emergency.

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Our bank does not and most do not charge tax exempt non profit organizations any fees for rtn cks--ck with your bank. This might have been an oversight on them. If they won't stop chging fees- shop around the bank market.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
Our bank charges $10 to us instead of their usual $18, and they always go out of their way to donate $ and prizes for whatever we need, so we'll stick with them.

Thank you for all the input!

Suzi

[This message has been edited by SFilak (edited 11-07-2001).]

[This message has been edited by SFilak (edited 11-07-2001).]

We hold merchandise on checks that have bounced. The family is sent a letter in a sealed envelope advising of the return check and that payment to reimburse us is needed in the form of cash or money order.

Our bank does not and most do not charge tax exempt non profit organizations any fees for rtn cks--ck with your bank. This might have been an oversight on them. If they won't stop chging fees- shop around the bank market.

We have only had a few bounced checks this year but they were for large amounts. One in particular was for 268.00 dollars. This check bounced two times and the bank has charged us $18.00 in fees. The parent called right away to let us know that there was a problem and that she would cover the check...we thought everything was fine. Two weeks have passed and many calls from her later and she finally came in to pay, she left an envelope with money with the secretary and collected her merchandise. Only problem is she is close to $90.00 short. I have a copy of her order form and this was a prepaid sale and you can see where her customers paid her in advance. This is very irritating...As to feeling bad for these parents who place orders they can't pay for I really don't. People know how much money they can afford and should live accordingly. If you are finacially strapped don't participate in the fundraiser, volunteer instead! There are many ways to help your child's school that does not involve money. In the past when the amounts owed has been substantial (100 or more) the school holds the last report card until the debt is settled...this also goes for library books etc. Just so everyone does not thnk we are totally ogers I do give the kids their prizes they have "won" even if their parents have bounced checks...the fundraising company supplies these and I would never hurt the children's feelings.

We work with these situations on a case by case basis and keep them private. However, we would hold the merchandise if the order wasn't paid, and bounced check writers do get a letter from our treasurer. Actually, it's organized by him, but signed by the principal and on school letterhead. (The school wants it handled that way.) Where we draw the line is that we don't pursue criminal action the way a store or business would. But we definitely try to collect short of that point.

We always have checks come back, this year it was only 4 checks for about $200., not bad out of $17,000 in checks. I have written leters to the families in hopes that we can collect the money. I will probably hold the orders on delivery day to try to get the money. In some cases, we just pull a few items to cover the check.

As far as the other family that was mentioned, we do let things slide, unfortunately we do not know how bad it is for some families.