Any person who receives a bad check is eligible to participate in the Bad Check Program if the following conditions are met.
Check was passed in San Luis Obispo County or received by mail in this county.
Check must come back to the recipient stamped non-sufficient funds or account closed.
Victims must complete a Bad Check Report form. The form is available on this web site or by calling the Bad Check Program. Please provide as much information as possible about the check writer. If you’re a business, please identify the name of the employee who accepted the check. Attach the original check or a copy of the front and back of the check to the form. We would rather have an original check whenever possible but we realize many banks no longer provide the original check. Please retain a copy of the check for your records. If you were charged fees from your bank for handling the check, please enclose a copy of your statement reflecting those fees. We will collect a maximum of $10 in bank fees.
Once the check is submitted to the District Attorney's Office, please do not accept payment from the check writer. The check writer must make payment directly to the District Attorney's Office.
Ineligible Checks:
Checks passed outside of San Luis Obispo County
Agreement to hold checks (This represents an agreement between the check writer and the merchant that the check will not be deposited until after a certain date.)
Post-dated checks
(Checks that come under these various areas are often referred to Small Claims Court and are considered civil matters.)
Police Referrals:
Forged checks
Stolen checks
Fictitious checks, travelers' checks, and money orders
If you are unsure whether the check you possess is eligible for the program, please contact the Bad Check Program at 781-5896 for information.