2 wks ago I sold a 16 wk pup to a couple in my area (didn't know them previous).They came and left a deposit (by cheque) then came back a few days later and took the dog again paid by cheque included price for food and vacinations.A week later the 2nd cheque came back,I've been contacting them every day and maybe what they are saying is genuine but they keep putting it off.I know what you think and it's very rare I take cheques but they did seem like good people (foolish me!!).Has anyone had this happen or can any one give me advice

The only advice I can offer is to visit them in person. Offer them their cheque in return for cash. If they can't do that, take back the pup. This happens more often than you would believe. :(

Take Jeangenies advice, tell them you are coming & they should either have the cash, or, give the pup back, I NEVER take cheques for pups, had too many sob stories through my business...

Good luck
Geoff :)

This is tricky, what excuse are they telling you about why the cheque has bounced and what did they say they will do about it?? Did they sign anything when they took the dog?

You poor thing!!Its such a shame when someone shows so much trust in someone only to cruelly have it thrown back in their face basically!!Is the pup KC registered??If so contact the kc,they may be able to help you if you have given them the papers already which i would suspect you have if the pups registered!!You could send them proof of the dodgy cheque and then there MUST be something they could do to perhaps void the registration????Doesnt bare thinking about but if these people could be so mean to do this to a decent trusting human being,then i pity the life of the poor pup!!Good luck,i think you gonna need it,there must be some way of getting the poor pup back!!

If I sell a puppy I take the deposit in a cheque then if they want to pay by cheque again ask them to send it a week before the pup is picked up and make sure it clears.
I felt terrible some years ago when a pen freind I made in america who i'd spoken to for years asked me about a pup I didnt have any but recomended a freind the freind then on my recomendation sent one of his best pups to the states before the money came (silly I know)he never got the money it was awful I was so mad about it never heard from the penfriend again and the worry of the lack of contact about the pup was the worst thing.

Would you believe that we even get bouncing cheques for donations to rescue :(

Could I just add that you can take a cheque without worry of it bouncing IF you get the cheque guarantee card number on the back of it...PLUS some other form of ID (after all , it IS possible to half inch a cheque book and card ;) )

The card is your guarantee that the bank will honour the cheque

Melody :)

Sorry Mel thats not quite right we have had cheques bounce with a card number on the back if the money isnt there the bank will not honour the cheque

Mattie , I would check on that if I were you ...the card is there to protect the seller and not the buyer ..I would have insisted the bank honoured their guarantee :)

Not many cheque cards will cover the price of a puppy ....

No , usually they are for £50 or £100 aren't they?

As a rescue we cannot afford to lose money and up to about three years ago never had a bouncing cheque but I have all the cheques which have bounced still in my files not all had card numbers on but some did one was drawn on a bank account which had been closed and one had been cancelled not sure about the others but the bank would not honour them and im a pretty forceful person but they wouldnt budge on it :( :(

I dont really like to insist on a card number for a donation for a dog it looks cheeky and I thought whats the point anyway if they can bounce, I also know that the seller has to write the card number on, if the payee writes it that can also invalidate the guarantee too.

As to the people referred to above it is a very dishonourable thing to write a dud cheque so if they do that they immediatley shake your faith in them so I would be round there quick as a flash and take the puppy back regardless of feeble excuses because if they cant pay for the pup how the heck can they pay Vets bills etc..

Dont know about dishonourable , I think it is actually illegal :) Also ..if a bank account has been closed there is no way that YOU as a seller could know that ..it is the banks duty to ensure bank cards and cheque books are recovered from the person wioth the bank account. I would be sorely tempted to go to the banking ombudsman about that

Melody

You could go to the police. These people have obtainted goods by deception which is illegal.

Some years ago I uncovered a fraud (long story). The person concerned had been systematically forging her bosses signature on cheques (over 2 years at least 1 cheque a week - total of £65,000+). The bank would not take any responsibilty for checking signatures on the cheques (even tho' the forgery looked nothing like the real thing) - the only thing that they payed out on was for two cheques that were over the signatories limit :( Banks are wonderful at making their own rules to avoid responsibilty :(

Daisy

even if you get a cheque guarentee card number the bank will still bounce a chq due to insufficient fund if it is to be credited to a personal account. The sneaky buggers presume that if your banking a cheque from them you must know them and will just go take it up with them.

Upon issuing a cheque guarentee card the bank does in effect take resposibility for payment of that cheque bein honoured even though they wouldnt admit to this.

So as long as you have all relevant information on the chq (card no. expiry. value guarenteed) they do have to honour it.

hi,

i wrk in credit control so come across things like this quite a lot.

The first thing you should do is stop lettin them put you off (i bet by now their car has broken down and most of their family has passed away) or at least they will have told you so.

As it is actually an act of fraud to present a chq for payment which will not be honoured it is a criminal offence. I would firstly start by letting them know this and give them a deadline by which to pay you or you will have no alternative but to go to the police.

Usually works for me lol.

Hope this helps.

Andy

If i accept a cheque i insist that it is accompanied by an up to date bank statement. If the person in question does not like my system i simply tell them its either that or cash!

I paid by cheque for Sparky, but paid the breeder about 3 weeks before I picked him up -she was keeping him for a few weeks longer for me, and I thought it might help her cashflow with expenses.

I've only ever took a cheque once,but did have the cheque a week before they collected the pup,which gave the cheque chance to clear,you've got to remember there is a lot of people out there that will gladly take you for a ride,you can't trust anyone no matter how nice they seem,i myself would call on these people and ask for the cash,or return of the puppy,if you have any problem's with them,when doing this i would call the police

O dear, I would go get pup back if they cant afford to pay for pup how are they going to pay for food,vets bills, collars, leads, bowls etc etc etc

Have they still got the pup because this is how the cons work they buy pups in with cheques that bounce and then sell the pup/s on so you need to just turn up at there door with some one else to be with you and take the pup back if it is there dont feel sorry for them think of your pup.

I paid by cheque when I collected my puppy a couple of months ago and never even thought twice about it, will have to remember next time to check before hand to see if paying by cheque is ok, it never occured to me that it might not, guess because I know if I wrte a cheque it will not bounce or I wouldn't write it. Never thought that the breeder didn't know me etc. Thank goodness it was ok this time.

Hiya
I never accept a cheque always cash for things I am selling and gave cash for my pup too, it never occured to me to pay by cheque as I didn't think anyone accepted them, there are so many unscrupulous people about. A cheque guarantee card only normally covers £50, so it wouldn't be of any use when selling a pup. Have you got their address and gone round to see them?
Gina

hi, a cheque written by the bank or building society doesn't normally incurr any extra charges to the payee and therefore when written by the bank is a guaranteed payment as the bank or building society would not write the cheque if the funds weren't there. I often pay by this method from my building society as they do not issue a cheque book with my type of account. Only used bankers drafts with the bank which do incurr a £10.00 charge. Lesley