Vendor Cheats Me Out of $170: My CRAFT SHOW Nightmare!

[ChefJWarren]

I did a craft show in November. The vendor (handmade tutu skirts) next to me chatted all day and had a good time. She ended up placing a $170 order with me at the end of the day! The packaged was delivered 11/21; I called and left her a message saying I hope she was enjoying her merchandise and to call me if she needs anything. Well, about 2 weeks later I receive notice that her check bounced!!! I call her 3 more times about this, leaving her nice messages regarding her check. I know people make mistakes and maybe it was a small mix up. One of those times I talked to a live person who said she was her sister and would give her the message about the check. Well, never heard from her so sent a certified letter (12-6) trying to collect my money. The letter was finally returned to me 12-30, unclaimed. I called her once more and left her a message saying that I was going to file an affidavit with the criminal district attorney if I did not hear from her within the next couple of days. I figured I would give her one more chance. Then, I called the church where they had the craft show and let them know that a fellow vendor had written me a bad check and was ignoring me! They called me back and gave me more info on her including her business partners number. It turns out I was not the only one she wrote a bad check to that day! Can you believe it!!! I called her business partner and told her my problem. By then, she was tired of hearing from all the people her friend cheated that day! She said she would call her for me.

Well, she called me today to say that she never received the merchandise and that she had called me and told me back in November!!!! What the &^$$&*&*!!!!!! I want to go to her house and beat her up. What a liar! She said she never got any of my 4 messages - only the first one, which is why she says she called to say that she never got the stuff. I told her that I didn't believe her and that she could fight with the constable when they come to her house for writing bad checks.

I'm going to call home office in the morning, but what are they going to do?? Its too late now, even if she really didn't get the stuff. Fedex says they left it at her door, but there is really no guarantee. I still really don't believe her though.

I want to scream!!!!!!

 

[JAE]

EEWW! That stinks. Hoping this never happens to you again. Keep doing what you're doing. File the report. Call HO. Sorry this happened to you.

 

[dannyzmom]

Yikes!!!
I never put an order through unril a check clears - I am paranoid that way after having TWO checks bounce on a show last November.

 

[tabnat80]

Oh, that totally sucks! Good luck getting your money back.

 

[JAE]

My bank said it takes a few weeks before they really know if a check totally clears. I wouldn't be able to wait that long.
Carolyn, how long do you wait?

 

[ChefBeckyD]

I just had a check come back Friday that I deposited on Dec 12th. For $91.00:grumpy: :grumpy: You can't wait that long for a check to clear!

 

[JAE]

Yes, that's what I was thinking. We are really taking a chance with checks.

 

[dianevill]

Someone was saying they take each of the checks to the banks from which they were issued. She cashes them and then deposits the money into her account. The she submits the show.

I don't have time (or gas money) for that - I do the deposit into my account, say a quick prayer, and hope the dreaded NSF letter doesn't appear in my mail box.

 

[JAE]

I don't have time for that either. I mostly only take checks from the host, so I could go to that bank if there is one in my town. so far I've known the hosts well enough to not even think of finding the hosts' banks. I'll start checking though.

 

[DebbieJ]

most banks around here charge a fee for you to cash a check if you don't hold an account with them.

 

[katie0128]

most banks around here charge a fee for you to cash a check if you don't hold an account with them.

Even if the check is drawn on that bank?

 

[janetupnorth]

Jessica - you need to contact HO right away. Do you REALLY believe the items weren't delivered? I'm sure tracking shows they were left there...just another piece in her web of lies, I'm sure.

As for the check, you need to go after her for that...file a police report if you need to.

 

[Shawnna]

If the check is drawn on the bank they won't charge you a fee. They will tell you if there is no money in the account to cash the check. Did you try the bank? It might be worth it to go there and ask them. Otherwise I would just give it to the DA and let him/her sort it out.

 

[GeorgiaPeach]

Well, she called me today to say that she never received the merchandise and that she had called me and told me back in November!!!! What the &^$$&*&*!!!!!! I want to go to her house and beat her up. What a liar! She said she never got any of my 4 messages - only the first one, which is why she says she called to say that she never got the stuff. I told her that I didn't believe her and that she could fight with the constable when they come to her house for writing bad checks.

What about not picking up the certified letter? Guess she "never received" that notice either!

It's one thing to bounce a check, realize your mistake, and rectify it. It's another to ignore all attempts. I'd send her another certified letter with all the details.....date and time package was delivered, dates and times you've attempted to reach her..and then give her a date that you expect to receive a cashier's check, money order, or CASH. Then follow up with the constable if she doesn't follow through.

If you have to go that far, I'd hook up with the other vendors that were stiffed also and see if you can file something together...might have more "uumph".

I'm sorry you are having to deal with this. Just be glad it's the exception and not the rule

 

[ChefJWarren]

Part of it was my fault. The check was from out of state. I was too trusting. I just didn't figure that a fellow vendor at a church event that I talked with all day would cheat me! I did contact the bank and they said there was no money.

And I REALLY DON"T believe her claims that she never received the items!

 

[amy07]

If the check is drawn on the bank they won't charge you a fee. They will tell you if there is no money in the account to cash the check. Did you try the bank? It might be worth it to go there and ask them. Otherwise I would just give it to the DA and let him/her sort it out.

I had a check once for a set of cookware that I took to the lady's bank & they would NOT cash it without a FEE ($25) because I did not have an acct at the bank. I asked them if they could cash it (enough funds), once they said yes I then deposited into my acct. I think it varies from bank to bank and state to state.

 

[BethCooks4U]

I had a check once for a set of cookware that I took to the lady's bank & they would NOT cash it without a FEE ($25) because I did not have an acct at the bank. I asked them if they could cash it (enough funds), once they said yes I then deposited into my acct. I think it varies from bank to bank and state to state.

Some banks here charge a fee if you don't have an account even though it is their check. Others allow it. It really depends on the bank.

 

[vwpamperedchef]

So frustrating!! I try to get credit card orders at events, this way, if it declines, I am not so much out of luck. Sorry that happened, and I agree she is lying.

 

[pamperedlinda]

Some banks here charge a fee if you don't have an account even though it is their check. Others allow it. It really depends on the bank.

That just doesn't sound right to me. If the check is drawn on them don't they have to cash it for you regardless? I worked in banking for @ 20 years and that was the policy at the banks I worked for.

 

[lkprescott]

I would contact HO immediately. They'll have record of what was sent where and received by whom. Hold onto all your documentation including the returned certified letter, phone logs, get all the info you can from HO and see what'll take to file a claim in court. If nothing else, pushing it that far will send the message that what she did was illegal and wrong and just plain rude.

 

[finley1991]

That just doesn't sound right to me. If the check is drawn on them don't they have to cash it for you regardless? I worked in banking for @ 20 years and that was the policy at the banks I worked for.

My father banks at Comerica... he wrote me a check and I went there to cash it and they wouldn't let me because I didn't have an account there. Of course, if I wanted to open an account that day, no problem! I lived out of state at the the time and wasn't about to do that! Every bank can have their own policy. My mom's bank won't let me cash a check drawn from there either unless I pay the $5 processing fee. I guess everyone needs to make money somehow...

 

[baychef]

Regardless if she didn't get the merchandise (liar, liar, pant on fire). She still bounced a check. Call your DA and file a bounced check. There is all the proof in the world that her merchandise was delivered in good faith. If you call HO, they MAY send her new merchandise, but she will never make good on this check. That is where the problem is.

I just finished chasing a person down for $22.61 from a May party. Her CC didn't go through, the host said she'd get the check, etc. LUCKILY, this woman's husband happened to go through her e-mails and found my e-mails to her. My last was....going to call the DA on Dec. 26th if she hadn't resolved this. He just sent a money order to me certified mail. Had her not intercepted, I would have been screwed. I have been stiffed by a host for $216. Her guests paid her, but she fell upon "hard times" and strung me along for a year. Now, I can not longer reacher her...she is a thief and her husband is in the military. VERY SAD.
GO AFTER THIS THIEF!!

 

[ChefNic]

I know she says she never got the products...((Oh Come On!))
but maybe if you let her know that she can return all the products for a refund, this may work?

you don't loose your commission on it if she does this.

How do people have ZERO in the moral department???????

AHHH!
Sorry you are going through this!

 

[pamperedlinda]

My father banks at Comerica... he wrote me a check and I went there to cash it and they wouldn't let me because I didn't have an account there. Of course, if I wanted to open an account that day, no problem! I lived out of state at the the time and wasn't about to do that! Every bank can have their own policy. My mom's bank won't let me cash a check drawn from there either unless I pay the $5 processing fee. I guess everyone needs to make money somehow...

That should be illegal!

 

[finley1991]

That should be illegal!

UGH! Don't get me started! I agree... but what can we do?

Another bummer was once when I went to pay my credit card bill online (like I do each month and have been for about 6 years and always on time, mind you) and the website was down for maintenance. So I called to pay it over the phone so I wouldn't be late and they wanted to charge me a fee of $19.99 to process my virtual check. I said, "No.... it's not my fault that your website is down. That's the way I pay each month and I've never been late so I don't think that since YOUR website is down, I should have to pay $20." Then he told me, it's not $20, it's $19.99. Whatever! And that he would have to charge me because that's what it costs them to process the virtual check. I asked to speak with a supervisor and was put on hold for no more than 10 seconds and he came back and said they would waive the fee ONE TIME ONLY. What a guy! Yes, things like that SHOULD be illegal, but they aren't. What can we do?

 

[PCJenni]

I know Bank of America has a voice check verification service on their customer service automated phone system.

Sometimes getting the check from the hostess doesn't work either... I have a catalog show for Nov that I am still waiting for a check for the whole show from the hostess. She told me she used the $$$ from the guests to buy her son a tricycle for Christmas! I hope she thinks of me every time she sees him get on the bike!!!

 

[pamperedlinda]

I know Bank of America has a voice check verification service on their customer service automated phone system.

Sometimes getting the check from the hostess doesn't work either... I have a catalog show for Nov that I am still waiting for a check for the whole show from the hostess. She told me she used the $$$ from the guests to buy her son a tricycle for Christmas! I hope she thinks of me every time she sees him get on the bike!!!

The entire show $$ - must be a really nice trycicle!

 

[heather223]

I don't know about all banks, but many will let you call either their 800 number or the branch and ask if the funds are available. You can do this before you cash/ deposit the check. With the new check laws where the check can clear the same day, hopefully having NSF checks will not happen so much! :chef:

 

[DebbieJ]

Even if the check is drawn on that bank?

Yes, even if it is drawn on that bank.

 

[chefann]

Sometimes getting the check from the hostess doesn't work either... I have a catalog show for Nov that I am still waiting for a check for the whole show from the hostess. She told me she used the $$$ from the guests to buy her son a tricycle for Christmas! I hope she thinks of me every time she sees him get on the bike!!!

I was involved in a similar situation about 5 years ago. My TW lady used the checks from my party (I was the host) to pay her rent. And lied to me about why we hadn't received our products 3 months after the party. I had to take her to small claims court. We settled, and the check she sent me to cover the second half of the funds (she gave me cash as the first payment) was bad. I went to her bank every day until I could cash it. Needless to say, I no longer do business with her. :grumpy: