Stopped Check

[Jasenko]

My question involves criminal law for the state of: Iowa

Hi guys,

I'm a owner of a home based travel agency in Des Moines Iowa

A month ago a guy called from Boston he wants to purchase a airline ticket to Bosnia, I told him that I will call him back with the price.
So I did, he agreed to purchase the ticket but if is fine he is gonna pay with his check, fine with me, he is not the first one to pay with check.
So I received the check and deposit it to my bank account, money is there.
Five,six days later he calls me back he has to change his departure date, I tell him I have to check with the airlines to see how much the penalty fee is for changing the date.
I call him back and tell him that the airlines requires $350 for penalty fee, he told that he will think about it.
Guess what?! Few days later I get copy from my bank he stopped the check!

I grabbed my phone and started calling him, his son answers the phone. His son started having attitude at me and finding some stupid excuse why they stopped the check.
I told the son that if they don't mail me the new check I will call my attorney. Few days later he emailed me that he will mail me the check. I have not heard of him since.

What would you do guys? This is first time happened to me in 15 years.

Thanks in advance!

[jk]

where is the customer located? Realize that if you sue him, you will likely end up in his home state.

are you actually out anything? is there a possibility of reclaiming at least some of that money by reselling the ticket (if you actually have already purchased the ticket). Is there any possibility of getting a refund or at least a partial refund from the airline?

[Jasenko]

He is located in Boston,MA.

We had to pay for the ticket $1300 but airline told us that they will refund us around $250 because it's nonrefundable ticket, same rules for everybody I guess.

[jk]

Is it worth possibly having to go to Boston, maybe a couple times, for $1050?


beyond that, I would consider calling the police local to the guy and reporting this. They may consider it as criminal, maybe not. Again, realize that if he is prosecuted, you may be required to attend the trial as a witness.

[Jasenko]

Not really worth it...

Would it be better to contact my lawyer or collection agency?

Friend of mine told me to contact collection agency...but what can they do, the guy lives in Boston...

[jk]

a collection agency cannot really do anything you can't personally do. They charge you to attempt to collect the debt. While some of them are very good at it, in the end, since this is just one debt and not really that much, I see no benefit of hiring a collection agency to try to collect the debt.

The only thing your lawyer can do that you can't do is use his letterhead to send a scare letter, cost you a lot of money to send a letter, and offer to represent your company should you wish to sue the guy (and I'll bet it cost more for his fee than you would lose if you just forgot about this)


and think of it this way: now you have a tax deduction!!

[Jasenko]

Thanks for the tip about tax deduction.

It just pisses me of that there is no small business protection or insurance type of thing for these kind of scams.

[jk]

Thanks for the tip about tax deduction.

It just pisses me of that there is no small business protection or insurance type of thing for these kind of scams.

due diligence and a paranoid attitude That is about all ya got.

All I can suggest is you look into accepting funds in such a manner that you are protected to some extent. Personal checks are pretty dicey. I would think credit cards would be better. Cashiers checks would be a bit unusual and onerous on the customer so that might scare them away.

It seems paypal is attempting to be a general use escrow company. I don't know much about them but you might consider doing so.

[Jasenko]

Thank you for you advice JK!

I will definitely look into it!