I would spend that money on an attorney instead, if it were me. They waited until you were good and attached to your baby, now they're hitting you up for more money. Believe me, they got their money already or you woulda heard from them LONG ago. Please don't do anything until you speak with someone who KNOWS something, k?

If that bank isn't yours to begin with, how can they say NSF? They would have said account does not exist. I would go in person to the sheriff department and request to see the alleged paperwork they have.
Also see if you got charged for the puppy, if you did not get charged, you will have to pay for her.

They may just have a carbon copy when it was put thru the machine.
I hope this will all work out soon. Hang in there.

Willow I am glad that you are getting help with this, but BE CAREFUL! When they ran that check that money came from somewhere for you to get a reciept. DON"T pay twice!!!

OK I am trying to keep my head clear on all this, yes we think something is up too...but the money I thought I had paid on Maddie did not come off the credit card, so for all intent and purposes, I do still owe them the money for Maddie.

The check has been froze. The card has been froze. I know they didn't make a copy of the check because the check didn't leave my hands until we met at the petstore and I handed the check to the store owner. The breeder met me there with Maddie.

They ran it through a machine, said it was good, handed me the check back with the receipt stapled to it and void written across the check in permanent black marker.

Yes, the breeder got her money because they took it out of the drawer at the pet store and gave it to her. Right now it is the pet store that is saying they are out the money. I told the "sherriff" that I didn't buy her from the petstore....he said he already knew that, he knew that I had paid a cash deposit, and that the store owner wasn't upset or anything they were just "concerned" because they had called several times and left messages and I hadn't returned the calls. That is not true. She has never called me. I told him think about it, you call me and leave a message and I call right back.

My local sheriffs department thought it sounded fishy too. He told me to make copies of everything, and that is what I am doing. We also are going to tell the cc company that we want to cancel the card completely because we don't want these people to try to run the check again after we pay this.

First, let me say I'm glad your getting to keep your Maddie. TG for your Angel!

Second, it sounds like the store clerk AUTHORIZED your check (card) for the amount of the sale but neglected to charge it to your card. An authorization only places a hold on the money for about 24 hours. Hotels and gas stations usually authorize your card first (before you use their room or pump their gas) and then, upon check out, or filling your tank they BILL the actual amount. That sounds like employee error to me and I'm surprised you'd be liable.

I agree. I'm sorry that the store messed up but it's not Willows problem. For all intense purposes the store ran the check, authorized it and gave the money to the breeder. I find it odd for the breeder to run her business through the petstore too. That should raise some red flags for the authorities. I'd question that she's an actual breeder.

I also see Willow's point though. Her card was never charged the money so technically she would till owe for Maddie. But you know what, again, it's the stores error. I have a friend who has used his debit card for purchases to not ever be charged for them. If the store fails to process the transaction then it's the stores issue. No one ever tracks him down because they don't know how to reach him, the don't know where the error happened. So why is the store now contacting Willow?

I still say find out your consumer rights. Call attorney generals office.

can you not check your statements and cc activity online? thats waht i do with everything it says when i bought something and where i bought it from. its shows everything. I have mine with chase and go the chase.com website

I just now saw this. I definitly think somethings not right...Why would they wait so long? If a check doesn't clear or funds don't go through, they would find out a lot sooner than 2 months later! Hopefully everything is straightened out.


I'm glad you are able to keep Maddie! Whomever helped you out, they are a blessing and that was very sweet of them!

I work for a bank, and everytime someone tries to deposit or cash a cc check we have to sent it to collections the reason why is because it is very hard to collect the funds from the cc company and the whole process can take up to 90 days so I was thinking if the pet store took the check to their bank and the bank sent the check to collections that is why it could had taken that long for them to notify you, but at the same time if they didn't even have the real check but only a copy of it ther is no way that the bank could had taken a copy of a check and deposit it.
I agree with everybody else here that there is something fishy about the whole ordeal.
In the meantime, I'm so glad that you are keeping Maddie and that there is always an angel watching over us.:)

After reading all of these posts, this (above) sounds exactly what has happend. We have a business and use credit..The authorization she had to start with, was accurate in the begining, and then she more than likely didn't follow through with A.) not doing a "close out" on her machine or B.)for some reason held on to the check until later, a month or so, and you used the card elsewhere and by the time she did run the check, the card didn't have that much room left for that amt. of $$ You can obtain authorization for the checks or card accts. themselves, but it does only hold that authorization for a certain amount of time and unless the bus. owner "closes out" the day or weeks charges/credits, the lending bank of the credit card holder never follows through with the transaction, because it was never completed...its kind of complicated, but bus. owners know how its supposed to go...well....most of them:rolleyes: So the pet store owner could have held on to that check and never closed out the machine, maybe remembered or found the check misplaced for a month or more, runs it again, at that time the card is maxed out and she's got a cc check thats on an acct. thats NSF...That is so sad for you Alycia....THATS not your fault....Its the store owners fault! They do know within 3-5 days if the bank that they use for their CC transactions has deposited all the CC charges they have made throughout the day or week though..so it only makes sense that they sat on this check/transaction:( When I do a days business, and I close out my machine, I know within 3 business days if my money is in the bank or not. I may have authorization on each transaction I did, and the customer has a receipt for it, but if I don't close out my machine to finalize my days or weeks charges, all I got is a batch of approved money, to be mine and never get it..does that make sense?????? Look on the "sherrifs" copy of the check or anywhere but your check, and see if you can see when the pet store attempted to run the transaction...I bet you'll find it was ALOT later than the day that you actually got Maddie.

keep us posted.

I might also add that its against every single Banks policy to allow a customer( Pet Store owner) to run funds through their account to be paid out to a third party. I can't have another business run their customers cc through my account and me pay the business, just because they aren't set up to do transactions of this type. Thats a big no no. That can get real sticky, as you can see in this situation...in a hypothetical situation...she takes you to court and she is asked... (Judge) ok, you sold her a dog and she wrote a check that is NSF...and she replys...well no, it wasn't my dog, its was someone elses dog, but she didn't have a CC machine to take a check on the CC company the check was on.... (Judge).so you didn't provide any service to this lady who wrote you this check...well no, but this other lady did and she is already paid, by me and now....you see how this can get

So happy you are keeping Maddie
 

:confused: Please let us know the outcome of this "mystery".

Right now we have it arranged to go in on Wednesday when the Deputy Sheriff is scheduled to work again, get a copy of the NSF from him that he says he has, and have him accompany us to pay the $600. That way he witnesses that I did indeed pay.

Ok I am copying part of an IM I had with a friend of mine who owns her own business. She knows some of the legalities of this, and she doesn't think I can be held liable for this.

Me: I am just going to call the bank in the morning
Me: it is in Dover too
Down Goods: I still don't see what this bank has to do with anything
Me: that is what the CC comp said too
Me: that they couldn't issue a NSF when they never tried to run it
Down Goods: they can't
Down Goods: noone can issue an NSF except the bank/cc that a check/charge is written on
Down Goods: for instance
Down Goods: I take a check to my bank from a customer in TX
Down Goods: my bank runs in through the bank the check is written on
Down Goods: the bank in TX says the acct is overdrawn and the check is NSF and they can't/won't honor it
Down Goods: my bank contacts ME
Me: the check is returned and you go after the customer
Down Goods: I'm held responsible for the fees and then I turn it over to the DA
Me: Ah I see
Me: but in this case, my bank wasn't given the chance to say NSF
Down Goods: exactly
Down Goods: they were completely bypassed
Down Goods: and THAT is why you should NOT be able to be held liable
Down Goods: you made a payment in good faith that they would follow through on their part, received a receipt WITH an authorization number I might add.......an authorization is also a funds approval number saying the funds are available for said purchase
Down Goods: they aren't issued unless the funds are available
Me: the authorization number is on my receipt
Down Goods: it's then the store/biz responsibility to close the receipts for the day or no more than 3 biz days (actually 24 hours is the max I believe) so that the proper bank can reimburse the store for issuing a temporary line of credit
Down Goods: because that is what it amounts to when a store agrees to accept cc and cc checks
Down Goods: that store is issuing a temp line of credit, payable to them by the bank the cc or cc check is issued on.......they turn in the proper forms for reimbursement and then you make payments to the cc
Me: right
Down Goods: they can't miss a step, cut out the cc bank and come after you
Down Goods: that's illegal
Me: Ernie said shouldn't the check number have printed on the receipt? because that is what the cc company said
Down Goods: yes
Me: ok check number didn't print on the receipt
Down Goods: BUT you have an authorization number issued by whomever checked the account
Down Goods: verisign, vericheck, whomever it was
Down Goods: that says they were in contact with the cc
Down Goods: that says the cc is good and the funds are available
Down Goods: it's INSTANT
Down Goods: if it's overdrawn, it comes back denied instantly
Down Goods: if it's NSF it comes back instantly
Me: that is what they said, that if it went through I could leave with Maddie
Down Goods: there is NO approval number issued brb
Me: but they are saying it didn't on Dec 21....32 DAYS AFTER THE TRANSACTION
Down Goods: but you have it in writing
Down Goods: that it was
Down Goods: on that receipt
Down Goods: that's like me holding a customer liable for lazy bookkeeping wherein I didn't do something in order to be paid by their bank or credit card and going after them after I've already given them a receipt
Down Goods: it's bullsh*t and I wouldn't dream of holding someone else responsible if I f***** up

Lazy bookkeeping is exactly what I think has happened here...some reason that cc check wasn't followed through with until Dec. 21st . but still weird because your cc issuing bank doesn't have a record of the transaction or denial???? Further more, the pet stores bank shouldn't even be in the picture, except if they get the check back stamped NSF and returned it to the Pet Store>>>>This has got to be a nightmare mystery...I am so thankful for you that your special angel has come to your rescue so that your able to keep Maddie..

I feel like regardless of what happened, if the money wasn't paid by your cc company then you owe the money.No matter who made a mistake you have a dog that wasn't paid for.The Petstore is out 600.

Ok so I called the sheriff's office that the officer called me from and GUESS WHAT...the deputy on duty COULDN'T FIND A SINGLE CASE FILE ON IT! He took down my name and number and the name of the business and the dates of the transaction and he agreed with me that I should investigate and find out if I really owe the money before paying, but since HE HAS NO CLUE OR PAPERWORK that he can find pertaining to this "case" he said he will just leave a message for Hitchcock to call me first thing Wednesday morning. I asked him then if what Hitchcock is doing is wrong by calling and scaring me when there is no case can't he be in trouble for this? And he replied with I don't know and he got really nervous sounding and told me I had to talk to Hitchcock when he comes back on Wednesday because he can't find anything on it. I think the guy thought I was nuts!

I called the bank...they have NO RECORDS OF A CHECK BEING ISSUED AS NSF and they said they wouldn't send it to the police AND that THEY want a copy of this supposed check themselves. Oh and the bank is going to investigate further into it too because they want to know how someone got a check as NSF from them that they didn't send.

The prosecuting attorney's office has NO RECORD of it and they said that they have to have proof from the bank and if the bank is saying at this point it doesn't exist, don't worry about it! They said I cannot be held liable for an instore mistake especially since I have a receipt with an authorization number showing that the check was accepted. They said for me to go ahead and call myself an attorney tho just incase, so I called the one who has done work for us before and they said if there is no proof against me there is no case but if this cop tries to have me arrested on Wednesday then I am to call my attorney ASAP and they will get my case transferred to the local county office that this would have to take place in.
Because they have to have PROOF that I owe the money to get the money, and at this point I have proof I paid the money and there is NOTHING to prove that the check was a bad check or Nonsufficient funds whatever.

OOOOO sounds like someone is trying to make a few bucks AND on County time:mad: I guess they've heard that we Yorkie owners will do anything for our babies.

I'm so glad that you weren't all quick to pay them. While in all reality, you may actually owe the money, it's THEIR problem that they didn't follow the proper steps, not yours. So they should be willing to take payments if it comes down to that.

:thumbup:

You owe the money and should pay it regardles if it was a mistake or not. Just because there was a mistake made doesn't mean you don't have a legal and MORAL obligation.
The petstore owner was doing the breeder and you a favor and is out 600 bucks.

I am glad you are investigating this further...it just didn't make any sense. My friend at the Sheriffs dept said it didn't work that way. I hope everything gets worked out to a mutal resolution soon. You probley will not have to pay them the money because of the fraud they are commiting by trying to intimidate you into paying money they never collected on.

I do agree, even though you gave the check at the time and the money was there, if they were to run it through again to collect it now, its not there. So you do owe money somewhere in this. I don't think there is a time limit that they have to deposit the check in. I know you can hold a check for 6 months here before it becomes stale dated..

Wow, this is incredible!! You go girl!! Don't let those people get away with trying to scam you!! CREEPS!! :mad:

PLEASE keep us updated!! I hope these creeps get into serious trouble!

PS - I'm so glad you are able to keep Maddie and also whoever that special angel is, you're a wonderful person.

I am not getting where you guys think there is a scam going on here.Looks like a honest mistake was made.
For instance I ordered a chair form Office Max and was to pick it uo three days later, well it didn't come, didn't come.I was getting irrated and they told me to come pick up the floor model and I did,Well two weels go by and the chair was never deducted from my account I had given them my debit/credit card at time of order.I call the store and they had never charged my card and thanked me for calling, the next day I was charged. Now, there is no way I would have felt right letting this go (call me stupid) I have found throughout my life thigs like this will always come back and bite you where it hurts. How could you have not know your cc was never charged?

Rather they made a mistake or not, I wouldn't pay them for the simple fact that they got the polic involved just to scare you, and the sherrif lied about a police report! If there was a store mistake, they should've been honest to you about it from the beginning, and not take 2months to notify you. That was there mistake, and they went about fixing it the wrong way. I would say that's there loss, and maybe in the future they'll be more carefull. The petstore should take this as a learning reference for the future, and not to be so negligent. Besides, you do have your reciept...your baby is yours!

I find it very suspicious about the sheriff and that there's no case file about this. As of right now, I seriously think there is something fishy going on. I wish Willow all the best of luck (I'm glad she's keeping her little Maddie) and I hope everything gets resolved.

:thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup: