A Bad Check Doesn’t Have to Mean Bad News

PHOENIX, AZ (March 9, 2011) – It is a crime in Arizona to knowingly write a bad check, and it is one of the many ways thieves attempt to make a dishonest living. Fortunately, there is a place victims of bad checks can turn to for help. Through its Check Enforcement Program, the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office helps victims of bad checks get restitution and also prosecutes bad check writers for Non-Sufficient Funds, Account Closed, Unable to Locate and many other types of bad checks. This service is available at no charge to the victim.

“Our staff will work with you or your business to collect payment for a bad check and we will also provide instruction on how to ‘check out the check’ before accepting a check for payment,” said Maricopa County Attorney Bill Montgomery. “I encourage all eligible business, public agencies, government programs and individual victims of bad checks to use this free service to fight financial crime in Maricopa County,” he added.

Since the late 1980s, the Check Enforcement Program has returned over $40 million in restitution and repays an average of $1.2 million a year to victims of bad checks. Funds for the program are generated entirely from fees and payments levied on bad check writers and involve no cost to the taxpayer.

Melissa Hyde, Check Enforcement Program Business Manager, is available to meet with business associations, trade organizations and other local groups to provide an overview of the program and answer any questions. The Check Enforcement Program brochure, guidebook and warning poster for retailers are available online under the “Community Programs” tab at www.maricopacountyattorney.org. For more information or to request a speaker, please contact Melissa Hyde at (602) 372-7300.

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