The Solicitor’s Worthless Check Unit (WCU) was created to collect restitution for victims of bad check writers. The WCU, designed to assist merchants and small businesses in collecting payment on bad checks, aims to conserve law enforcement resources and to educate worthless check writers about the consequences of their crimes. WCU is a FREE service offered at no cost to victims who receive worthless checks.

What is the Worthless Check Unit? 

The WCU is a diversion program within the Solicitor’s Office to provide for the collection and distribution of restitution to victims. The program transfers the collection process from the victim to the Solicitor’s Office, eliminating much of the victim’s time and expenses associated with collecting on bad checks. 

The WCU program is a self-supporting unit under the control and supervision of Solicitor David Wagner, and is a joint venture between Oconee/Anderson Counties and the Solicitor. Operational costs are recovered from the offenders, not victims and taxpayers.
The WCU will:
• Mail all correspondence
• Collect restitution, service fees and all other fines and assessments.
• Disburse restitution and service fees to victims.
• Prosecute bad check writers if they do not pay restitution costs

BEFORE ACCEPTING A CHECK 
• Make sure the check is signed in your presence.
• Make sure the date and amount are correct.
• Request a driver’s license ID and record the number and issuing state.
• Compare the driver’s license/ID address with the address on the check.
• Request a date of birth.
• Verify a physical address if the check has a P.O. Box

DISCOURAGING WORTHLESS CHECKS
The Solicitor’s Worthless Check Unit offers color 4″x 6″ signs for you to post at your business to help discourage people from writing worthless checks. When full restitution for a worthless check is made, a check from the Worthless Check Unit will be sent directly to you for the full amount of the check in addition to all legally approved service charges. In the event you change your address after submitting a worthless check for collection, please notify our office.

Program Requirements 

Checks that qualify for the WCU are those:
• Given for labor (payroll checks) or personal services.
• Given as payment for merchandise, cash or services.
• Deposited by victim within ten (10) days of receipt.
• Returned by the bank due to:

• • Insufficient funds
  • Closed account
  • Stop payment order
  • Received in Anderson/Oconee County.

The WCU cannot process:

• Bad checks that were post-dated.
• Bad checks involving an agreement to “hold” the check.
• Bad checks when the person accepting the check had reason to believe the check was not good at the time of receipt.
• Forged or stolen checks, checks drawn on fictitious accounts, or checks with signature irregularities.

WCU is a FREE service for victims of worthless checks. Victims decide which bad checks to submit for collection.

Collection Procedure When you receive a worthless check and it meets program requirements, you can submit the check and complaint form to the Solicitor’s Office for collection. This relieves you of the burden of the traditional collection and prosecution process.

CAUTION: Once you submit a worthless check to the WCU, DO NOT ACCEPT PAYMENTS IN ANY FORM FROM THE CHECK WRITER. This will void collection and prosecution efforts. All contacts with the check writer concerning the worthless check must be made by the WCU.

Prosecution Procedure When the WCU receives a bad check complaint and restitution is not made in accordance with the legal requirements, a criminal charge will be filed. The Solicitor has full statutory discretion concerning the prosecution of your worthless check complaint.

“Don’t let worthless check writers get away with theft.”

Oconee County Victim/Vendor Worksheet 
or
Anderson County Victim/Vendor Worksheet

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