I am looking for legal advice. Stop payment check for services.

[daniel121]

I am looking for legal advice .Stop payment check for services.

I have a registered alteration home business in Edmonton,Canada. I altered a wedding dress for a customer and her mother made the payment for the service with a $845.00 cheque. I deposited the cheque at the bank. After a few days the cheque was cancelled by the customer. Soon after I received an injurious letter from her, informing me that the dress hasn’t been done properly so that’s why she cancelled the cheque. She was informing me also that she is willing to pay half of the amount we agreed on, when she took the wedding dress.

So along with the injurious letter I received a new checque,$400.00, but I couldn’t cash it because she used a different name than my business, even though she used the correct one on the mailing letter (on the mailed envelop the name of my business and all the information were correct, not on the cheque though).

I have done some investigation on the internet and I found pictures from the wedding and the bride looks impeccable in the dress that I have altered and she seemed very happy and satisfied.

I am very upset with all this predicament and I don’t know what I can do about it.
Should I take legal action? Can my husband represent me or do I need a lawyer? Should I go for the Small Claim Court? Where can I find information about similar cases?

Any information will be really appreciated.

Hi there -- sorry to hear about your predicament. Many times people do not realize it, but stopping payment under certain circumstances can be tantamount to committing a form of theft. Your husband cannot represent you in this unless he has actually been called to the Bar (a licensed attorney). However, you do need legal counsel. Fortunately, I know that WLD has attorneys in Canada. My best recommendation is to go to their main page as soon as possible and request referral information. Hope it all works out for you. AJJ