Got a l'il problem

[Junejer]

Got an issue.

Had a check returned from Office Max. Tried to contact them about it and was refered to Certegy. I was under the impression that they were a CA. They acted like one over the phone (ie. rude, nasty, condescending, etc.). Told them to fly a kite and that I don't deal with third parties on these matters. Followed it up in writing. They were reporting me 30 days PD each month for six months, then current for the month of Nov, as they turned it over to Law Offices of Bennett & DeLoney. I disputed this with EQ and it was deleted (gained 5 points ).

Bennett et al are not currently reporting to any CRA. I want to pay the darn thing and get it over with. My question is who should I pay? I wanted to pay Office Max originally, but Certegy stepped in. If I pay Certegy, will they try to update the CBR? I don't want that! It's already been deleted. If I pay Bennett, will they try to hit the bureau?

I am thinking that some sort of letter getting them to agree not to hit the CB is in order. What is my best move?

[Anonymous]

If it's been deleted, why don't you just let sleeping dogs lie?

If this is weighing heavily on your mind,  I would send a letter (and a new check) to Office Max explaining the enclosed check is intended to replace the one originally returned and you apologize for any inconvenience or confusion this matter may have caused.

OM will cash that check. I would NOT deal with Certegy.

[Junejer]

Thank you Cobra. It is weighing on my mind, b/c I just want the thing paid and out of my hair. I get so many calls from the CAs that I plumb forgot about the OC. So much easier to see clearly when it's not your personal problem. Thanks again.

[sunrise]

You might want to be careful where you write checks in the future if you aren't going to pay them.....if you are in their system, unpaid,...your checks can be declined on the spot!! This depends on which retailers use Certigy for check verification.  A lot of them use Certigy & CheckScan.

If you pay the OC make sure they update w/ Certigy, though!  I would also only deal with OC!! Like stated above! 

Message Edited by sunrise on 01-11-2008 07:11 AM

[Junejer]

Edit: removed the remarks, b/c I misunderstood what a dear forum member was trying to say.

Message Edited by ByrdMan on 01-11-2008 08:45 AM

[Anonymous]

I think that what sunrise meant was if you decided not to pay them NOW, as cobra suggested. I don't think s/he was referring to the original check you wrote. I think s/he was just warning you that not paying it may impact your ability to use checks with some vendors. It sounds like you have every intention of paying it so no worries, but I think sunrise was just trying to give you information about what effects taking that route might have had on you. I've had this happen to me so I know what can happen. I hope you find the best way to take care of it.

[Junejer]

Sunrise, my apologies. I totally misread your msg. I totally intend to pay it b/c it is weighing on my conscience. Sorry again.

[Anonymous]

Byrd..........meant to ask you this before. Why such a huge difference between EQ and TU?

[Junejer]

Cobra, that's easy. TU (the devil's little brother) hates me.

Seriously though, in WI the utility company reports to the devil's brother. My ex-wife didn't pay the bill, and I was still listed on the bill, even though I was no longer living there. I had to pay it off in full in order for them to remove me from the bill. Don't know why that was, seeing as how I had established my own new utility account at another address. Long story short, there are a string of 90s reporting within the past year. I am looking into some measures that I can take with their regulatory authority. Probably don't have a leg to stand on though. Will probably try to GW them when the last 90 (July) gets about a year old.

[Anonymous]

How long ago was the check returned?  What is the statute of limitations in your state for theft by check?  How much was the check?

These questions could determine whether or not you are indicted for theft by check, which although a misdemeanor in most states, would permanently appear on your criminal history.  Theft by check may not seem like it's very important, but it is considered a crime of moral turpitude.  That means that if you have a theft by check on your criminal record, it can be very difficult to get a job and, in some cases, to be licensed.  Here in Texas, for example, theft by check will prohibit you from serving on a grand jury (who wants to anyway?) but will also prevent you from being licensed by the bar association or the medical association.  If it was for over $250, then be very careful.  In Texas, an amount between $250-$500 can get you jail time (county), depending upon the situation.  Anything over $500 will get you jail time (or probation).  And that statute of limitations thing -- it's probably at least three years.

Hopefully, you have paid the check to the original vendor and have kept a copy of the cancelled check for your records -- which you should never destroy, but keep forever.  It's just little problems like these that come back to haunt you in 10 or 15 years.

That's what I like about this forum -- although it is FICO that brings us all together, we also learn about even more important issues that make concern about FICO scores pale by comparison.