JHB - You're always there when I need you! I have a similar letter to yours, but I really like having the principal sign it! I'm also going to add a clause that indicates the checkwriter will no longer have any checkwriting privileges at the school or PTO until the debt is paid. Now, excuse me while I try to get that $25 from the mom who wrote a bum check in March and hasn't responded to 2 letters!
Thank you JHB & jepto, those were the answers I was looking for.
In the future, I think the non payers will be exclued from future fundraisers. I know that hurts the kids, but something has got to change! I think the NSF checks should be handled the same way. Our top prize seller this year should have been disqualified, her parents wrote over a $300 bad check!! Unfotunately the prizes were handed out before we knew.
1. Make sure you send it certified.
2. Also, sometimes if you take an NSF check into the bank where the account is they will check to see if the funds are available. (Try Friday afternoons!)
3. Lastly, we have some court that we can take NSF checks to which doesn't cost us much if anything.
Also, if this was a post-pay fundraiser our group has with held the next year's items until the NSF person comes in to pay with cash/money order for the previous year and the current year.
It's not that I don't realize that mistakes happen but it really makes me angry thinking these people COLLECTED funds for the items they sold and then never turned them over. The PTO is cheated and the person who purchased the item was defrauded.
Good luck.
Here's the copy our school asked us to use. Even though it's for PTO funds, the principal signs these particular letters. It's printed on letterhead that has phone numbers and such.
*****************
Date
Dear {Name}:
Your check # ____ dated ____ in the amount of $____ has been returned to (school or PTO name} for insufficient funds.
Please contact me to pick up your check with either cash or a money order within ten (10) days. A $10 service charge will be added to the amount of your check. After the ten (10) day period, all uncollected checks will be forwarded to the {County Name} County Attorney’s office for collection.
We appreciate you taking care of this very important matter.
As the new incoming PTO treasurer, I have been handed a NSF check. The President of our organization has made a "courtesy" phone call to this parent. The parent promised to take care of it, but it never happened. Now I would like to send a letter to this parent to try to collect the money before we have to get a States Attorney involved. Does anyone have a form letter they would be willing to share? I am looking for all the advice I can get on this matter. Thanks.
