Life Skills Curriculum Industry News

Bad check writers are opportunists that stay on the fringes of crime. They know how to manipulate the system to their advantage. They know and take advantage of the overworked and paper-heavy judicial agencies responsible for check collections. They lie, push, delay and make numerous excuses in an attempt to avoid or delay paying off their bad checks.

County agencies assigned to collect bad checks are doing the best they can. However, because of the sharp increase in numbers of citizens choosing this form of crime, the agencies are becoming over worked. In many counties the number of checks being turned in for collections is increasing while the percentage of collections is dropping. Many check writers are using the system as a credit free loan agency by negotiating time and monthly payments; causing further expenses to the county.

The National Retail Merchants Association is alarmed at the double digit increase in check losses. They say that worthless checks represent the largest increase in retail theft. The majority of check writers would not think of shoplifting but rationalize check writing because they "intend" to pay it back. Check losses and workloads on counties will only continue to increase unless affirmative action is taken.

Labels: bad check, check writers, community crime, community offense, crime, retail theft, theft