Frequently Asked Questions

How much do I pay for the Prosecutor’s Office to enforce payment of my check? 
Nothing! This service is free to merchants and other victims of bad checks. The Check Enforcement Program requires the check writer to pay the full amount of the check to the victim.

How do I register for the Program?
You can contact the Check Enforcement Program at 1-608-785-9604 and speak with a member of our staff. 

If I have stores in another county, can I also submit the worthless checks passed at those stores?
For a check to qualify, it must have been physically passed within La Crosse County. Bad checks passed in other counties may be submitted to the Attorney’s Office for the county in which they were passed. 

When will I receive the money the Program recovers?
Any restitution that is received by the Check Enforcement Program is passed on to the victim at the end of each month.

Why can’t I submit any check that was refused by the bank?
Certain checks are not eligible for the Check Enforcement Program. Some of these are considered civil matters. Some checks are considered more serious criminal matters and the check writer is not eligible for a diversion program and must face prosecution. Some bad checks are impossible to prosecute because proper identification was not taken at the time of the transaction. Some checks do not qualify as valid payment instruments because of no signature or no amount entered.

NOTE: If you are unsure whether a check qualifies for the Check Enforcement Program, submit it anyway. If the check does not qualify, it will be returned with an explanation of why it did not qualify.

What can I do about worthless checks that don’t qualify for the Check Enforcement Program?
If your check does not qualify for the Check Enforcement Program you may consider turning the check over to a private collection agency or seeking recovery through other civil remedies.

What do I do if I think a check is forged?
Forged checks should be immediately submitted to the Sheriff’s Office or local Police Department. 

Why do I have to contact the check writer first?
It is good business practice to give a check writer an opportunity to make a check good. Honest people make honest mistakes and by letting them know, you can save hard feelings and potentially keep a good customer. A sample demand letter is provided on this site that is intended to be a cordial but firm notification. If you have notified the check writer and he or she fails to respond within five (5) days, you should immediately submit the check to the Check Enforcement Program.

Why can’t the District Attorney's Office take all the non-complying check writers to court?
Checks are a legal document. Checks must be complete and the various elements such as signature, address, and other identification must be verifiable. That’s why it is so important that merchants follow the Program Guidelines when they accept any check.

What can I do to make sure a check qualifies for prosecution?
The Guidelines that are provided on this site outline the steps that a person should take to insure that a check is handled properly at the time of the transaction. If one or another of these steps are overlooked, the check may not qualify for the Check Enforcement Program. Even if a check technically qualifies for prosecution, overall case loads in the District Attorney's Office may preclude a particular check case from being prosecuted.

Please download a copy of the Guidelines and share it with all management and personnel who handle bad checks. Go over your store policy for handling bad checks - in detail. If you need help developing a solid set of check handling policies, please contact our office.

Can I put more than one check on a Complaint Form?
Yes. You can put multiple checks on a single complaint form BUT, all the checks on a single complaint form must have been received from a single check writer.

What can I do about a worthless check that is returned because the Program can’t prosecute the case?
When a check is returned by the Program, a letter will accompany it that states the specific reason it could not be enforced. If your check does not qualify for the Check Enforcement Program you may consider turning the check over to a private collection agency or seeking recovery through other civil remedies.