Can you go to jail for writing a bad check in North Carolina?

Many people might consider writing a bad check as an inconvenient mistake in a busy life. However, in North Carolina, it can be a crime to write a worthless check, punishable by jail time.

What happens if I write a bad check in NC?

N. C. G. S. §14.107(d) states that writing a bad check “is a Class I Felony if the amount of the check or draft is more than two thousand dollars ($2,000).” A Class I Felony in North Carolina can result in up to twelve (12) months of incarceration.

What is a worthless check charge in NC?

Punishment structure is based on the amount of money the worthless check was made for. For a check or draft $2,000 or less, this crime is punished as a class 2 misdemeanor. If the check or draft is made for more than $2,000, the crime is punished as a class I felony.

What level misdemeanor is worthless check in NC?

Punishment. If a person is guilty of writing a worthless check on a closed account, they are guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor under N.C. Gen. Stat.

What to do if someone pays you with a bad check?

You have several options.

1. Contact the district attorney. Some states have a bad-check restitution program where the DA’s office has someone contact the check writer and urge them to pay up.
2. Work through a collection agency.
3. Use a check recovery service.
4. Take your customer to court if they refuse to resolve things.

What does simple worthless check mean in NC?

In North Carolina, as in most other states, it is illegal to knowingly write a bad check. Officially referred to as a “worthless check,” North Carolina law defines a worthless check as a check that is written from an account that does not have sufficient funds to cover the amount of the check.

What is a Class 1 felony in NC?

Class A felonies are the most serious and include murder, while Class I felonies, such as larceny of a dog, credit card fraud, and domestic violence, are the least serious.

What does worthless check mean?

Worthless check refers to a check that is dishonored for the reason of insufficient funds or the non existence of the checking account. It is also known as hot check, bad check, rubber check, dry check.

What recourse do I have if someone writes me a bad check?

If the bad check writer honors the check, he or she must usually pay the amount of the check plus a reasonable processing fee and the cost that the bank may have charged you for the bad check. If the bad check writer does not honor the check, you may proceed by going to small claims court to pursue the case yourself.

How do you press charges against someone who wrote a bad check?

Send the letter certified mail. Visit your local district attorney’s office if you do not hear back from the debtor. Bring your correspondence with you and a copy of the bad check. He will take the case over, and likely prosecute the check writer.