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Kern County D.A. - Checkbusters
  Street Address
1300 18th Street, Suite F
Bakersfield, CA 93301 		Mailing Address
P. O. Box 2327
Bakersfield, CA 93303 		 
Phone: (661) 868-8500   Fax: (661) 868-8575
E-mail: Email DA Investigation

Overview | Statistics | Eligibility | How To Apply
Suggested Check Acceptance Policy

Overview

Kern County merchants lose millions of dollars because of bad checks and pass on that loss to the consumers. The District Attorney’s Checkbusters unit is dedicated to tracking down bad check writers, returning the money to the victims and deterring future offenses through a diversion program. If a bad check writer refuses to pay restitution, a criminal arrest warrant is issued in those cases where "intent to defraud" can be proven.
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Statistics

Years of Operation: 15
Amount recovered: 10 million dollars
Cost to taxpayers/victims: free; restitution and all fees used to support the Checkbuster program are paid for by the bad check writers themselves.
Collection rate: 63%

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Eligibility

Any person who receives a bad check is eligible to participate in the program if the following conditions are met:

  • The check must have been written and passed within the county of Kern
  • The victim must submit a "Non-Sufficient Funds" or "Closed Account" check to the bank a minimum of one time before referring it to the program.
The check must not be:

  • a stop-payment check
  • Government checks and warrants.
  • Payroll checks.
  • Postdated checks.
  • Checks held for an agreed time.
  • Checks for which partial restitution has been received.
  • Checks for payment of a personal loan or for ongoing credit accounts.
  • Checks which have already been given to a private collection agency for collection.
  • Bad checks resulting from a service charge on a checking account by a financial institution.
  • The following checks should be brought to the local law enforcement agency:
    • forged checks
    • fictitious checks
    • out-of-state checks
    • false instruments

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How To Apply

  1. Obtain the original bad check(s) from your financial institution.
  2. Obtain and fill out a Bad Check Report. Options include: You may include up to six checks by the same check writer on each report.
  3. Staple original check(s) to the back of the Bad Check Report and:
    MAIL TO: District Attorney's Office
    Checkbusters
    P. O. Box 2327
    Bakersfield, CA 93303     		OR BRING TO: District Attorney's Office
    Checkbusters
    1300 18th Street, Suite F
    Bakersfield, CA 93301
    Telephone: (661) 868-8500
    Fax: (661) 868-8575
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Suggested Check Acceptance Policy

Sample Check

A. Read every check carefully for the following eight points:

  1. Must be Personalized - Complete name and address pre-printed by the bank (no P.O. Boxes).
  2. Date must be current - Never post dated or more than 30 days old.
  3. Bank I.D. #
  4. Payee must be your company.
  5. Amounts written and numerical must be the same.
  6. Bank name and address must be printed on check.
  7. Bank and customer computer numbers must be printed on check.
  8. Customer signature - Must be signed in your presence.
B. Ask to see one of the following types of identification:

  1. California driver’s license.
  2. California I.D. Card.
  3. Military I.D.
  4. Current Employment I.D. with photo.
C. Ask to see a secondary identification:

  1. Credit card.
  2. Other card with photo or signature.
  3. Bank check guarantee card.
D. Ask and note the person’s place of employment.

E. Look to see that signatures on the check and I.D. match.

F. Do not accept out of area checks.

G. Do not accept non-personalized checks.

H. Cash back checks:

  1. Personal checks should be for the amount of purchase plus a maximum of $25.00 cash back.
I. Avoid taking:

  1. Two-party checks.
  2. Out-of-state checks.
  3. Altered checks.
  4. Income tax checks.
  5. Insurance claim checks.
  6. Money orders.
  7. Counter checks.
  8. Post dated or stale-dated checks.
  9. Non-personalized checks.
J. Check guarantee cards:

  1. Can be used on pre-printed checks.
  2. Will not guarantee for more than $200.00.
  3. Must be drawn on the same bank.
  4. Do not accept bank teller cards.
K. Payroll or business checks:

  1. Payee must be local.
  2. Company should be known.
  3. The Payee and check writer should not be the same person.
  4. Must be pre-printed with company name and address.
  5. Must be endorsed in your presence with name exactly as printed on front of check.
  6. One I.D. used should always be a California driver’s license, California I.D. or a Military I.D.

REMEMBER

  • Use common sense: If in doubt, call the bank and verify that check is good.
  • Weigh the possible loss you may take against the possible gain.
  • Be doubly cautious on weekends and holidays.
  • Do not permit yourself to become flustered by the shopper who is in a rush; be courteous, but careful.
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