Some people still have this misplaced confidence in the deterrent effect of Batas Pambansa (BP) Blg. 22, also known as the Bouncing Checks Law (full text here). Here are some things a layman should know:
1. The issuer is not automatically liable simply because the check “bounced”. A check generally “bounces” when dishonored upon presentment (reasons include, account closed, drawn against insufficient funds or DAIF). However, it is indispensable that the issuer must be notified in WRITING about the fact of dishonor, and he has 5 days from receipt to pay the value of the check or make arrangements for the payment thereof. (Please see update on this matter at the Philippine e-Legal Forum).
2. Filing fees are generally not required for criminal cases. For B.P. 22 cases, however, the complainant is required to pay the filing fees (based on the value of the check/s and the damages claimed, just like in civil cases) upon filing of the case in court.
3. One major deterrent against bouncing checks is the threat of a warrant of arrest being issued once the criminal case is filed in court. This is no longer true. No warrant of arrest is issued unless the accused fails to appear when required by the court.
4. Even if a criminal case under B.P. 22 is filed, the court can’t issue a hold-departure order (HDO). All violations of the Bouncing Checks Law, regardless of the amount involved, are filed only with the municipal/metropolitan trial courts. These courts cannot issue an HDO.
5. Courts have the discretion of imposing: (a) imprisonment only; (b) fine only; OR (c) both. It is entirely possible that only a fine, without imprisonment, is imposed.
(See also: Basic Reminders in Preventing Check Fraud)
Dear atty.,
I have a personal loan with banco de oro P100,000. After paying it for 18 months ( 24 months ko dapat bayaran) I defaulted Aug 2007 due to financial problem. January 2009 I received a summon for sum of money worth P102t from Makati MTC na hindi ko sinagot and several other notices na hindi ko inattendan.
Just this wed, june 10, I received the court decision ordering me to pay 102t plus 8t attorney’s fee. Mabait naman palagi ang diyos, I now have some resources to pay. i don’t know personally any attorney so I don’t know what I should do next. Here are my questions:
1. What will happen next? Sheriff ba agad? Ayoko naman ma sheriff pa ako.
2. Shall I contact the attorney or the bank?? What will I do?
3. Puede ko pa bang i-installment yung payment?
Kindly enlighten me on the legal processes after the decision. Thanks a lot.
Jig
a Criminal case of Estafa and Viol. of BP 22 is filed before the Prosecutor’s office, without alleging the civil aspect e.g. damages. Would this ommission deter the complainant from claiming damages?
i have a question regarding credit card debt.. i used to work in dubai and i have some credit card debt and issued cheques when i took the loan there. Now the credit card company and collection agent is threatening me that they will file a case and send me to jail if i don’t pay them. I am willing to pay them but I can’t afford to pay the whole amount. I do’t want to give them my contact info and where I work now here in the phils. because i know they will harass me. What should I do because they are calling my family members all the time. Please give me some answers and advise. Thanks!
hello attorney
goodmorning po sana po matulungan nu ako sa isyu ng bounce check. kasi po last last mnth nagloan po ako sa isang tao na private lending lang sya at ang taas tass po ng patong kaso nataon pong gipit ako noon kaya sinuob ko yung loan na yung, nagloan po ako ng 40kphp ke ms.ria, ang nakuha ko lng po is 32thousang lng po kasi po me bawas na agad na interes ng 8kphp, ganyan po ang tubo nya at patong, gipit po ako noon, pinagisyu nya po ako at ng agente ng checke,, alam ko pong wala fund kaso kelangan lng me maiwan na para magtiwala lng na babayran ko yung utang ko, then nitong march 13 po nakadate yung checke,ngayun po yung agente nagalit po sakin at dahil sa hindi namin pagkakaunawaan, ang ginwa nya po ,hinharas po kami sa txt at sa phone, nung agente at nananakot na idedeposit na nya yung checke kapag hindi ako nakabayad ng araw ng march 12, dahil kelangan na nila yung pera, ang problema mo atty, wala pa po akong sapat na pambayad, kaya nakiusap po ako kahit na alam kong malaki na naman ang patong nila na bgyan nila ako ng palugit na isang buwan pa,nagbgay po ulit ako ng checke sa kanila bagong date ,ngayun po another interest na 8thousang po ang hinigi at renew daw ng contract sa isang notary public, atty. willing naman po akong makabayad kaso pano ako makakabayad kung patuloy nilang papatungan ng malaki ang utang ko at ang taas ng patong, parang lumalabas interes pa lng ang binabyaran ko…pano po ba to.. ngayun april 13 due date na nung check natatakot po ako na baka harasin na naman nila akong idedepo yung check kapag hindi ko na nabayaran yung 40kphp na utang ko, ang problema ko po, 10k lngang naiipun ko pa sa ngayun dahil sa hirap po ng buhay wala pa akong maibayad.parang nararamdaman ko po kasing lam n alam nilang wala akong laban dahil hawak nila ang checke ko kaya nananakot na ipapapulis daw ako kahit naman nakikipagusap ho ako ng maayus sa kanila..atty, hindi naman po ako tumatakot, actually nagsasabi naman ako ng totoo sa knila na tlaga gipit ako now at willing akong makabayad ng utang kaso ang problema ang taas ng patong nya sa utang kong 40kphp naging 8kphp monthly ang patong ano po bng magandang gawin ko dito kapag ganyan ulit ang nangyari
Good Day atty,
Is a scanned copy of a bounced checked sufficient as an evidence?
Good day atty!
I am an OFW since 2004 and have been home (vacation) in 2006 and 2008 - just recently I asked my mother to request for an NBI clearance for immigration purposes.
I was informed by my mother that I am WANTED for case filed against me in violation of BP 22 @ 2 cts. since then I really have not had much sleep and depressed about this whole situation. I do remember taking a loan for my placement fee for overseas employment.2001.
Dahil nga po sa hirap ng buhay nagdecide po ako magabroad pero hindi po para takasan ang kaso na ito. Naranasan ko din po maharass ng mga kolektor kaso po wala naman po tlga ako maibabayad ng mga panahon na un- 2002 -nagresign po ako ng trabaho pero nagiwan po ako ng forwarding address - eventually nagsara po ung opisina na iyon.
Napagalaman ko po na Feb 2003 po finile ung kaso -pero dahil po wala po ako natatanggap na sulat or notice po mula sa collector-ayaw din po ako kausapin na ng lending co dahil nasa collection agency na daw po. Sa awa po ng Diyos, nakapag abroad po ako ng 2004 - nakakuha din po ako ng NBI bilang isa sa requirement pero po wala po nailagay dun na may kaso po ako. Hnaggang sa umabot po last week ng nalaman ko po ito- Simula po ng umalis ako ng bansa -sa regular ko po na pagpapadala sa pamilya ko- kung sakali man po may naningil sa mga utang ko pwede na po ako makabayad dahil may work na po ako.
Ngayon po natatkot po ako ksi - hindi ko po alam ang gagawin ko- willing naman po makipagayos ako sa pamamagitan po ng mother ko ara po maayos po ito.
Ang tanong ko po..pwede po ba na mother ko -kc po OFW po ak onasa labas po ako ng bansa- ska isa pa po natatakot po ako na makulong kasi po pag nagkaganun kawawa nman po pamilya ko-mababaon na naman po kami sa utang.
willing po ako makipagayos- in good faith ko po na aayusin ang kaso ko po–kaso po sa ngayon takot po ako.
salamat po.
Dear Atty,
What is the best thing to do, when a case filed in BB22 and with A PROMULGATION WITHOUT THE APPEARANCE OF THE ACCUSED AND WITH A BENCH WARRANT.
Is it possible that a judge will promulgate judgement even the accused is not around, and not appeared in court.
What is the best remedy, or an appeal is still possible,
It is possible that a case filed on BP 22 ten years ago could have a promulgation of both imprisonment and payment of fine and the principal amount, not either of the two punishment.