Tuesday, August 4, 2009

Allen County Bad Check Restitution Program Update

The program was started in November of 2003 by Karen E. Richards, Prosecuting Attorney for Allen County to combat the negative impact of bad checks passed to local businesses. Millions of dollars are lost every year by merchants as a result of this ongoing problem.

The Bad Check Restitution Program has been organized to assist local merchants with bad check losses. The primary goal of the program is to obtain full restitution for the victim without adding to the financial burden of the criminal justice system.

Program Statistics:

As of June 30, 2009 $740,000 in bad checks had been restituted.

Checks reported as of June 30: 19,743 (likely to be 20k by end of July or early August)

Offenders completing the class as of 6/30: nearly 3,200 people

Other recent program updates:

Ability to check status of submitted checks online through an ID and password that is assigned by the program and via an automated phone system (as long as they have their merchant number) or via a merchant care rep on the toll-free hotline.

The program still has an easy to use, one page complaint form and is offered at no cost to the victim.

For more information visit: www.checkprogram.com/allencountyin

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