Issuing a bad check is a crime

Abdullah Al-Anazi Checks are fundamental parts of many business transactions and are frequently used. They can, however, bring a lot of trouble if abused or taken lightly. Issuing a bad check is a crime that can be punished with a prison sentence and a fine. The laws governing issuing a check warn against committing this crime and call on people who do not have sufficient funds in their accounts not to issue checks. The Commercial Papers Law stipulates that a person who intentionally issues a bounced check will be imprisoned for a period of no more than three years or slapped with a fine not exceeding SR50,000, or given both forms of punishment. It is, therefore, a serious crime. Some people treat checks as a guarantee, which is wrong and against the law. Once a check has been issued, regardless of whether there are sufficient funds, it becomes payable even if it is a post-dated check. Other commercial papers can be regarded as guarantees of payment, but not checks. Unfortunately, some finance companies and car companies require customers to give them post-dated checks as a guarantee of payment. Customers do it not realizing what they have got themselves into. Some customers who issue such checks while having insufficient funds in their accounts get themselves into legal trouble and commit offenses that are punishable. I advise readers not to use checks in this way. If they want to give a guarantee for a deferred amount of money, they should use promissory notes or order notes because such notes are specifically used for this purpose. Never make out a check to someone unless you know for sure that you have sufficient funds in your account. Please be careful.