Check forgery is different then someone using your personal information to open new accounts and would be handled differently. There are many versions of check forgery but I will try to summarize a few key points. I personally write very few paper checks because in my opinion they are the most unsafe financial instrument available to us as consumers. The U.S. currency has undergone how many changes to enhance its security features and checks……..well you can buy a forgery kit…..I mean check printing program at any store. Frank Abignail was a brilliant con man who repented ( Catch me If you Can) If you read Franks book Art of the Steal he will will confirm that bad business practices and technology had made check forgery very simple.

If you have a problem with check forgery you should attempt to make a police report either with your local police department or with the police agency where the check was passed. If you dont get a police report do not panic. What carries more weight is an Affidavit which you can download from the Federal Trade Commission. The affidavit will list the check as fraud and you will have it notarized. Send the affidavit to the company who is trying to collect the debt from you. If there are multiple checks you will unfortunately have to continually send a affidavit to those companies sending you collections letters.

If you are still having problems writing checks at stores it is because the company such as telecheck or scan has failed to clear your information from their databases. You can send them an affidavit as well but I have heard stories where they still do not clear some of your information from their databases which makes them decline checks you are writing on your own account. This could be because they have your drivers license information inside their database. Do not try to change your drivers license as this is not something DPS prefers to do since our drivers license numbers are easily bought and sold legally. Instead apply for a Texas ID card and use it solely for writing checks. This number will not be in SCAN or Telecheck so the check should clear.

You can also order a checking account credit report which is similiar to the credit report you would get from the 3 major credit bureaus. A checking account credit report will show checking account information under your personal information which can be very helpful. For further information about how to do this visit http://www.chexhelp.com

Im currently reading Dave Liebers WatchDog Nation. The first chapters have already impressed me. Im constantly appalled at the lack of due diligence by companies which is creating this climate of Identity theft. The utility companies are the worst in more ways then Dave has even written. They fail to perform credit checks which creates numerous fraudulent accounts and then put consumers through an awful collections process…….and occasionally turn off your power during the dispute.

More to come

M.B. Dana
DPD Forgery