Employer's false accusation of check forgery

Jesort415 · #1 02-07-2006, 01:00 PM

I have been a bookkeeper for over ten years. It was a common practice at my last job that if my boss (owner of the company) was out of the office and a check had to be cut I sign his name and mail it. That was the procedure for years while I was there. Recently I left that job for one closer to my home & better pay. My boss was pissed even though I gave him 2 months notice, offered to come in on weekends, and even tried to help find a good replacement. My last day was 10/15/05 and I got my last paycheck from this company ($700.00). Well early Januray I got a call from my bank about my overdrawn account (there had been stop payment placed on the check 3 months after it was deposited). I called my former employer (F.E) but he moved with no forwarding info. I called the bank my FE banked with & was told FE placed a stop payment on it & they reversed the funds out of my account cause FE claimed it was stolen & forged (he didnt sign it- which is true). I signed the payroll checks that last payroll cause my boss wasn't in the country (away on busines). I explained the procedure we had but the bank didnt want to hear it & didnt believe me.

What can I do now to stop this in its tracks (dont know if FE is going to press charges or just wanted to be an evil person by purposedly having my last paycheck bounce), will they believe me when i tell me that I was allowed to sign the checks? I use to sign the checks for the rent and other bills so will that prove my side (why would i forge checks for legit expenses & not just have him sign them) How bad will the charges be if they dont believe me? Was it illegal for me to sign them since I wasn't listed on the account as a signator?

Mr. Knowitall · #2 02-08-2006, 05:39 AM

If you have signed payroll checks in the past under similar circumstances, you can use that as evidence that you were authorized to do so once again. You should also be able to demonstrate that you worked the hours for which you were paid, right? And I doubt that anybody would question your right to be paid for work you performed.