Bounced Cheque

clairecuz

Advise needed please. Have recently become an AVON rep to make a bit of extra cash (and doing ok at it) but one of my neighbours paid for her order with a cheque which has been returned unpaid. I haven't been able to get hold of her, there is no answer every time I call round, although I'm sure they're in, and I'm not sure how to procede. I have now paid the bill so am out of pocket. Should I put a note through asking for the cash or keep on trying to see her in person. She lives on my road and her son is in the same class as mine so I don't want to rock the boat too much!

grumbler

I don't want to rock the boat too much!

I wouldnt bother about a worthless person that is able to defraud a neighbour and incur a bank charge for the bonced cheque - and all this just to get hold of some absolutely unnecessary Avon product (not even food or medicine!).

I think you can go by a small claim court route, although I think others here will give you more expert advice.

ukbill69

Just get a friend to go there with you, get them to knock on the door and see if they answer, make out your a delivery firm with a clip board and a box and if they answer the door, surprise them hehe.

LyndsM

Do you think she realises that this has left you out of pocket, rather than the cost just being absorbed by Avon?
If you are concerned about getting into a 'neighbour dispute' or there being trouble with your kids in school or just a general bad atmosphere, it might be worth first dropping a note round along the lines of "I'm not sure if you've been away or ill but I have tried to contact you frequently in the last few weeks to let you know that your cheque was returned. I have since paid for your items myself as Avon do not absorb the cost of returned cheques - could you let me know when you will be able to reimburse me so that I can balance my own account?" and give contact details again.
I know you know she hasn't been away, but at the very least it might shame her into coughing up and if not, then you also have some extra backup should you need to take it further.
You could also make it clear in your letter that you really don't want to have to take it further, as you're sure it's just an oversight, blah blah blah, but as this is a job and you rely on the money it brings in you have to recover owed money regardless of whether it's from a friend, neighbour or stranger.
Then if all else fails get tough and get the CAB to help you recover the money.
Or you could tell your kids to ask hers about it: imagine her face when little Jonny pipes up with "Mum, everyone at school says we're thieves and that you steal make up from your friends..."
(I am joking about that last bit!!! Don't all jump on me!)

Hope it works out
Lynds

oldnick

That is why you should never take a cheque that isn't backed by a guarantee card.

Even when you do the bank will still sometimes return them marked "insufficient funds, refer to drawer"

If that happens endorse it "accepted in good faith under the cheque guarantee scheme" and represent it.

Like every other business, if they can wriggle out of their obligations, they do!

As to the whole subject of accepting cheques, do you realise that you use the funds at your own risk?

I discovered that the funds can be recalled from your account at any time within 6 months if the cheque has been issued fraudulently.

I had funds that I had been paid by a company i was doing freelance work for recalled by the receiver because they had been trading while insolvent!

As for getting your money, you are in a horrible position. I would put a polite note through her door saying you expect her to make good for the cheque and your bank charges or you will raise an action in the small claims court which will end up costing her a lot more.

It really depends what sort of neighbourhood you live in. If it is private houses that will probably do the trick. If you live on a council scheme then you would probably get your house smashed up.

The problem you have is if you do nothing you will find out that word soon spreads and more and more people will try and take advantage of you.

That is exactly why my ex wife gave up Avon.

Debt_Free_Chick

Let's try the friendly guilt-trip first. How about a letter ....

Dear ....

I'm sorry to tell you that your cheque for £xxx has been returned by your bank, unpaid. I've settled your bill directly with Avon so can continue use the goods and do not need to return them. Could you find a moment to let me have £xxx in cash, within the next week please?

Leave it a week and then a slightly less friendly letter ...

Dear ......

I don't seem to have received payment from you. Would you contact me and let me know what the difficulty is, please?

Take photocopies of everything you send, as a paper trail like this will only help if you do have to go to the small claims court.

HTH

clairecuz

Many many thanks for all your replies. I will start by writing a polite letter and take it from there. I dont usually take cheques for avon orders. This was a one off and won't be happening again.
Thaks again guys
Claire

Poppy9

With Avon can't you return goods for money back if you are not happy? So couldn't she just return the goods if she can't afford them?

I used to buy Avon all the time as I loved their lippies. However one poor rep put me off. I bought a bottle of perfume which I kept in my draw at work. It only cost £10 on offer but when the bottle was only 1/3 used the spray stopped working. When the rep next called into my office to take my order I asked her for a replacement. She got all huffy and said it would come out of her pocket etc. One lost customer.

superscholesy

oldnick wrote:

It really depends what sort of neighbourhood you live in. If it is private houses that will probably do the trick. If you live on a council scheme then you would probably get your house smashed up.

Well i live in a road which is 90% council and we get letters through our door every other week asking are we looking to sell becasue people are desperate to buy down our road, so not all council places are the same and its narrow minded comments like that which make people think like that

clairecuz

Poppy 9. Yes you can just return goods if you are not satisfied but it takes ages for avon to credit you back so its not a route I will be encouraging.

superscholesy, I agree with you. My estate is housing association with some privately owned, but it is lovely and there is no way you would have your house smashed up as suggested earlier in the thread.

Astaroth

Does Avon itself not provide advice/ support to deal with these kinds of situations?