Bad Checks Guidelines and Tips...
The primary duties of the Buchanan County Prosecuting Attorney’s Bad Checks Division are:
- prosecution of bad check offenders; and
- collection of restitution for crime victims.
Bad checks pose a problem for all business owners. As your prosecuting attorney, I am concerned about the negative impact bad checks have on our local businesses and consumers. Our bad checks program seeks full restitution for the victim, at no cost to the victim.
If a check has been returned to you from the bank for insufficient funds,account closed or stop payment, try to collect the check by sending a written letter by regular mail (a certified letter is required on a stop payment check) that the check did not clear and that it should be paid to you within 10 days. If no payment is received, you may bring the check to our office.
Click HERE for Sample 10 day letter
To submit a bad check to our office, follow these simple steps:
Fill out a bad check complaint form COMPLETELY (one form for each check).
Attach the check to the form after making a copy for your records.
Click HERE for Bad Check Complaint and Information Form
If you received a notice from the bank that returned the check to you, attach it also. Deliver the original check and form to our office, along with a copy or your letter, within 60 days of the date of the check. Checks over a year old will NOT be accepted.
411 Jules, Room 132
St. Joseph, Missouri 64501
If the check is at our office, DO NOT ACCEPT PAYMENT from the person. Send that person to our office. If by mistake payment is taken by you, forward the payment to our office.