Recovering bad checks (a check drawn on a US bank)

[ophelia wood]

I have recently received a check drawn on a US bank. When I tried to pay it in to my account in the UK, it was returned because the writer's account had insufficient funds to cover the check. How can I go about recovering the sum owed?

[AFFA]

I wish to inform you that you can treat bad check as breach of contract and claims damages. Further for bad check you can take civil or criminal action. In criminal action you can file charges for bad check as check fraud. If you intend to follow civil action then breach of contract damages can be obtained by you.

AFF

Thank you for this information. Could you also tell me what the first step is for taking civil action? I need to find a simple route which I can take via internet, email, phone etc without visiting the US if possible. Is there such a thing as a banking ombudsman or similar which deals with such cases?

[Friend In Court]

The prosecutor (alternately, district attorney) for the county in which the perpetrator resides, from where the check was sent, can be contacted so you can file a police report and they can follow up for prosecution. The amount of the check makes it grand larceny. If you follow through with the name of the state it was sent from, we can give specific information on the laws this person violated.

Having been sent internationally, there may be other laws and remedies which I can check for you, once you reply with the state information.